Beijing – Move over, TikTok dances – there’s a new trend captivating Chinese social media: AI-powered historical figures berating modern audiences with pointed questions and demands for answers. These short videos, dubbed Answer Me! are generating millions of views and sparking heated debates about history, culture, and modern life.
The trend, which has exploded in popularity in recent weeks, features AI-generated likenesses of famous figures from Chinese history, ranging from emperors to poets to renowned doctors. Using sophisticated AI technology, these digital ancestors deliver rapid-fire questions and criticisms directly to the viewer, often with a humorous and provocative tone.
One particularly viral video features Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, known for his love affair with Yang Guifei. The AI Xuanzong, eyes blazing, demands, You criticize me for being obsessed with love and neglecting the country? I played the leading man for a lifetime, can’t I enjoy myself? Could you handle Yang Guifei’s talent and beauty? Do you even understand soulmates? Didn’t the Kaiyuan era GDP explode? Isn’t ‘The Song of Rainbows and Feathers’ trendy? Isn’t the top CP [couple pairing] heartbreakingly good? Answer me! Look in my eyes! Tell me why? Why baby why?
Another popular video features Wen Zhengming, one of the Four Great Talents of the Jiangnan region, a renowned painter, calligrapher, and writer. Visibly agitated, the AI Wen Zhengming retorts, I admit I failed the imperial examination nine times! But I ask you, wasn’t I eventually appointed to the Hanlin Academy? Answer me! Was I lacking in calligraphy, painting, or literature? Wasn’t I one of the representatives of the Wu School of painting? I was still creating at 90 years old, can you do that? This particular video was even produced by the Suzhou Museum, showcasing the unexpected intersection of cultural institutions and internet trends.
The trend extends beyond emperors and artists. Li Shizhen, the famed pharmacologist and author of the Compendium of Materia Medica, appears in videos scolding modern youth for their unhealthy habits. You eat late-night barbecue with ice-cold beer, and spicy food every meal – won’t your stomach explode? Answer me! This has led to a chain reaction, with other medical luminaries like Sun Simiao, Bian Que, Zhang Zhongjing, and Hua Tuo joining the fray, each delivering their own health-related rebukes.
The Answer Me! videos have struck a chord with Chinese netizens, who have responded with a mix of amusement, agreement, and defiance. Some users have even created their own Answer Me! videos, offering rebuttals to the AI ancestors’ criticisms. One popular response to the medical experts: Do you even have medical licenses? Answer me!
The popularity of the Answer Me! trend raises interesting questions about the role of AI in shaping our understanding of history and culture. While some worry about the potential for misrepresentation or historical inaccuracies, others see it as a creative and engaging way to connect with the past and spark critical thinking about the present.
As AI technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more innovative and thought-provoking applications of these tools in the realm of education, entertainment, and cultural preservation. The Answer Me! trend is just the beginning of a fascinating conversation about the intersection of AI and our shared human history.
References:
- 一睁眼就被老祖宗追着骂，AI古人「回答我」视频火了（附教程） [AI Ancestors Scold You the Moment You Open Your Eyes: Answer Me! Videos Go Viral (with Tutorial)]. Machine Heart. Retrieved from [Insert Original Article Link Here if Available]
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