An AI replica of Konosuke Matsushita, founder of Panasonic Corp., is designed to generate responses to questions by imitating his thoughts and voice. (Provided by Panasonic Holdings Corp.)

Photo/Illutration Konosuke Matsushita in 1973 (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

OSAKA--Panasonic Holdings Corp. showcased an artificial intelligence replica of Konosuke Matsushita, the company’s founder, that was described as eerily similar to the original when he was alive.

At a news conference, an image of Matsushita appeared on a laptop screen. When a user talked to the AI, it generated responses that Matsushita might have said.

For example, it was asked, “Does living a good life mean living a long life?”

The image’s mouth began to move as the AI answered, “I believe it is a practice of good production and good consumption.”

The AI was jointly developed by PHP Institute Inc., which was founded by Matsushita and published many of his books, Panasonic Holdings and other institutions.

Based on about 48 hours of audio recordings, the AI re-created Matsushita’s voice of the time when he was around 70 years old.

Matsushita’s speaking habits and inflections were faithfully imitated by the AI, including the way its voice became quieter and harder to hear toward the end of a sentence, officials said.

To make the content of its responses seem realistic, the AI was trained on a collection of Matsushita’s statements and improved by receiving feedback from researchers.

The real Konosuke Matsushita died in 1989.

One of the founder’s family members reportedly said the AI “scarily resembles” Matsushita himself when he was alive.

Since the number of employees who have met Matsushita in person is decreasing, the company intends to use the AI to pass on Matsushita’s management philosophies to the next generation.

The company will also use the AI to make company training programs and improve it so that it can give business management advice.

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