Chinese workers turn bosses into virtual pets for stress relief amid rising quirky trend

AI desktop pets are gaining popularity in China, offering young workers an outlet for workplace frustration and providing bereaved owners with a digital means to preserve memories of their deceased pets. Virtual pets first emerged on messaging platforms in the early 2000s, roaming across screens and interacting with users as they browsed the web, chatted, or watched videos. Advancements in AI are evolving virtual pets from simple digital novelties into more responsive forms of emotional...

By Zoey Zhang