Wu Wuliu, a visual designer based in Shanghai, recently caused significant controversy online when he used AI to “bring his late grandmother back to life” and engaged in a conversation with her in the video he posted
After mimicking his late grandmother’s appearance, voice, personality, and memories through AI applications, Wu input her photos into the programs to create a lifelike image and uploaded her verbal messages to simulate her voice and accent. Finally, he turned the AI-generated language into conversations between him and his “grandmother”, who can blink, nod, and even laugh heartily. When Wu asked her if she had prepared holiday goods for the Spring Festival, she responded in dialect, “I bought two bottles of cooking oil and they smell good.”
Upon the release of the video, it gained popularity on Bilibili, accumulating over 670,000 views and receiving thousands of likes from netizens. Nevertheless, the comments section was filled with heated debates. Some netizens said they were deeply moved by the video as it reminded them of their own deceased loved ones, believing that such actions help convey their grief and are meaningful. On the other hand, many netizens could not accept Wu’s approach, claiming it to be “disrespectful of life” Some argued that technology like this should be banned, as it may lead to an “existential crisis”. There were also concerns that scammers might take advantage of Al technology for fraudulent (诈骗的) purposes.
Wu said in an interview that he posted the video to honor his grandmother, who brought him up as a child and died in January. They were only able to exchange a few simple words during her last days leaving him not coping with the loss. By “talking” with her, Wu said he could ease the pain of his loss.
“From a psychological perspective, compared to traditional items such as photographs and personal belongings. AI technology can better preserve the image and personality of deceased loved ones, providing comfort to those who are grieving,” said Chen Zhilin, a psychological counselor. “However, over-reliance on it should be avoided. More importantly, we must learn to cherish the present.”
【小题1】What does the underlined word “controversy” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Debate | B．Quarrel | C．Interest | D．Praise |
| A．She gained popularity on Bilibili upon the release of the video. |
| B．She provided verbal messages to simulate her voice and accent. |
| C．She had conversations with her grandson after coming back to life. |
| D．She was created as a lifelike image with personality and simple movements. |
| A．Some were worried as they had been cheated by AI. |
| B．Some were angry as the approach was not respected. |
| C．Some were anxious as the technology would lead to death. |
| D．Some were touched as it reminded them of their late loved ones. |
| A．Time heals all wounds. | B．The present is a present. |
| C．Make hay while the sun shines. | D．Those who play with fire will burn themselves. |
