AI summary
Summary of article:
A large number of AI-generated “Xiaohai” characters have appeared on China’s short-form video platforms, using their tragic life experiences to garner sympathy from their elders and motivate them to sell goods. A 79-year-old woman also had a misunderstanding and went far for a walk. Experts point out that if malicious fraud is done to mislead consumers, it may also involve fraud.
Recently, a large number of AI-generated Internet celebrities named “Xiao Hai” have appeared on China’s short video platforms. Crying about their tragic life experiences such as single parents and poor families, many elders had tears in their eyes and gave orders for help. A 79-year-old woman also believed it and took a train alone to go to other places. Only after boarding the train did he realize that the person was an AI.
Global Times reported that in May this year,Xinjiang When Urumqi Railway Police officers inspected the carriages, they found a 79-year-old man traveling alone in the long train, who looked worried. After interrogation, it was found that the old man was illiterate and was unable to tell his exact destination. All he knew was that he was going to Yuncheng, Shanxi Province, to “visit relatives” and to meet a poor child who called him “auntie” on his mobile phone every day.
With patient persuasion and the assistance of the police, the old man finally got off the bus and took the return ticket pre-purchased by his family to go home.
CCTV news client pointed out that these “caring juniors” who worry about the elderly do not actually exist. They are all “digital humans” synthesized by AI.
These AI-generated images of teenage boys are, without exception, playing out the painful script of “making sense, embarrassed and distressed for their elders.” In some videos, “Xiao Hai” has tears in her eyes and shows the steamed buns in her hand to the camera: “Auntie, I am Xiaohai. All my classmates have gone to eat, and I am hiding in the classroom to eat steamed buns. Auntie, I have delicious steamed buns. I also bought a meat bun for my aunt and my mother. Xiaohai wants to give delicious food to my aunts and mothers. Is…”
In another promotional video, “Xiaohai” suddenly transformed into a “caring junior” who understands the hearts of the elderly best and began to recommend donkey skin gelatin.
Zhao Jingwu, associate professor at Beihang University School of Law, pointed out that there is no essential difference in legal qualifications between digital people selling goods at a loss and real people selling goods at a loss. If an operator maliciously fabricates stories and uses false stories to gain sympathy and promote products, it may constitute fraud.
Zhao Jingwu also emphasized that even if the video is labeled “AI generated”, it does not mean that the elderly people who were defrauded should bear their own responsibility. This type of label only means that the video was created using AI tools, but it does not mean that the content is not misleading. If the operator deliberately targets the emotional needs of the elderly and uses imaginary life experiences to gain sympathy, this may still involve malicious misinformation. For the entire industry chain, the operator of the account or live broadcast room is the first responsible person.
Summary FAQ
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Because these films use sad stories such as single parents and poverty to gain sympathy, and then use the trend to sell products, many elderly people feel distressed and place orders. The content is actually mostly synthesized by AI, which is clearly misleading and emotionally manipulative.
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She mistakenly thought that the person who called her “aunt” every day on her mobile phone was a living child, so she took the train alone to Yuncheng, Shanxi Province, despite being illiterate. Only after getting into the car, I discovered through persuasion that the other person was actually AI.
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Experts believe that if an operator deliberately fabricates false life experiences and uses sympathy to sell goods, there is no essential difference in law from real people selling goods at a bad price, and it may be fraud; Even if it is marked as generated by AI, it does not mean that it is free from liability.
