Fed up with your bosses? Chinese workers have found a decidedly 2026 way to fight back by turning them into AI pets. The trend is gaining popularity among young workers in China, who are using AI to transform photographs of bosses into tiny digital characters that crawl, bow, kneel, apologise, or perform other humiliating tricks on their computer screens.

Those lacking the technical skills can hire someone to make one. An Internet user, Jiuyuechushi, demonstrated the idea using Elon Musk, whose virtual avatar could bow, serve tea, and even hit itself. Others have programmed boss-pets to demand “no more overtime” or “promotion and pay rise”.