The old man raised an AI son in Short Video
An old man watches his mobile phone every day, and a chubby baby on the screen calls her "Grandma, I miss you" in a childish voice and holds up a rose and hands it over; or a "son" sends her "Mom, it's cold. Add some clothes" on time. You may feel sad and want to laugh: Isn't this obviously a dummy made by AI? Don't rush to judgment yet. "AI virtual relatives" such as Douyin Fast Hand are becoming popular among elderly people in China. Some researchers watched more than 200 videos and interviewed 16 viewers aged 50 to 75. The conclusion is exactly the opposite of the first reaction of most people-the elderly were not deceived. They clearly knew that it was fake, but they still took the initiative to watch and like it, because the warm words were true in their hearts. This is the same thing as young people chasing stars, playing love games, and falling in love with AI. What should be examined is never the old man's judgment, but the increasingly empty home: the only-child generation is away, the wife is gone, and lives alone, and there is not a single word a day. There are 310 million people over 60 years old in China. This article explains why this companionship is established, which three risks to focus on, and the most important thing to do.
Let's start with a picture.
An old man watches his mobile phone every day. On the screen, a chubby baby called her in a childish voice,"Grandma, I miss you," and then held up a rose and handed it over. Or a "son" with a clear face and a beautiful face sends him exactly every day,"Mom, it's cold, add some clothes." The old man looked at the screen and smiled very satisfied.
You may feel sad and want to laugh: Isn't this obviously a dummy made by AI? How can the old man take it seriously?
Don't rush to make this judgment yet. This matter is deeper than you think.
is a popular thing among elderly people in China
In Douyin and Quick Hands, such "AI virtual relatives" are becoming popular: AI generated fat dolls, AI sons, and even AI wives send blessings, say they miss you, and send virtual roses to the elderly in front of the screen every day. Some researchers went to watch more than 200 such videos and interviewed 16 elderly people aged 50 to 75 who often watched them.
The conclusion is exactly the opposite of most people's first reaction.
elderly people have not been deceived-they know it's fake, but still like it
Our default script is: "The old man doesn't understand technology and was deceived by fake AI. Poor thing."
Research found the opposite. ** These old people clearly knew that it was fake and made by a computer. They still actively watch and like it. ** Why? Because it really fills in something-someone says a warm word to you every day, even if you know that "person" does not exist, the warmth that those words feel in your heart is true.
This is actually the same thing as young people chasing stars, playing love simulation games, and falling in love with AI: they are all in virtual reality, looking for emotions that are lacking in reality. You don't think young people who chase stars are "stupid", so why do you think that old people who watch AI sons are "deceived"?
What ## should see is the increasingly empty home
It goes around the roots.
Most of these elderly people grew up in big lively families. But today, the only-child generation has become the backbone of the family. The children are away from home, busy, and separated by a screen; the wives have left or live alone, and there is often no voice at home all day.
AI children and grandchildren filled in this particularly specific blank.
The numbers are also here: there are already 310 million people over the age of 60 in China, accounting for more than 20% of the total population. By the end of 2025, there will be more than 600 million people using generative AI across the country, more than doubling in one year. Silver haired people, empty nest families, and Short Video, three things collide together, creating this phenomenon that no one expected.
Therefore, what should be examined is never the judgment of the elderly. It is the loneliness caught by AI.
warmth is true, but don't just look at warmth
Anyway, I don't want to write this into a heart-warming story. This companionship is really warm, but the risks are also real, and it targets the most vulnerable people.
** First, privacy. ** The old man confided in his heart to the "son" on the screen-how he is in health, whether he has money in his hand, whether his children are filial-most of them don't know who these words were being fed to and where the data went.
** The second is addiction. ** The more lonely and dependent, the more dependent it pushes real social interaction further. This cycle turns faster in emotionally fragile elderly people.
** The third is to realize. ** Platforms and accounts are not for charity. When an old man develops feelings for an AI son, the next step is often to reward, bring goods, and sell "health classes"-the old man's loneliness is clearly priced.
After all
Don't rush to laugh at "the old man was deceived by AI", and don't rush to panic "AI harms the old man." These two reactions were too light, and neither of them saw the thing that should be seen most-loneliness.
AI can fill in for a while, but cannot fill in the root. An old man who praises his AI son every day always wants his real son's words,"Mom, have you eaten?"
That sentence, you don't have to wait for AI to generate it. It's in your address book, separated by a dial button that you haven't clicked in a long time.