Chinese Youth Creates AI 'Professor' to Counter Parents' Advice

A Chinese youth has devised an unconventional approach to dealing with parents who frequently believe in myths and offer outdated advice. Instead of engaging in lengthy debates, he created a fake ‘professor’ using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The professor appears as a virtual character designed to resemble a dignified middle-aged man. This persona is the main figure in a social media account named ‘Lao Zhao jiang dao li’. Translated into Indonesian, the account name roughly means ‘Mr. Zhao Speaks Reasonably’. The themes addressed are closely tied to contemporary youth issues, such as pressure to marry quickly and parental decisions on career paths. The young creator admitted intentionally introducing the ‘Mr. Zhao’ character because his own advice was often dismissed. He noted that his parents were more likely to trust an older, educated, and authoritative figure than their own child. He also mentioned receiving articles with outdated views and advice deemed irrelevant to today’s youth. Examples include the notion that children must marry quickly or that certain professions are viewed as more successful than others. In China, such articles are commonly referred to as ‘toxic chicken soup’, a term for advice seen as overly preachy, outdated, or unrealistic. Frustrated with arguments, the youth opted to convey his message through the fabricated ‘Mr. Zhao’ persona, which parents found more credible. Additionally, the figure was claimed to have studied in Singapore and published academic works, though all credentials were entirely fictional. The account creator also revealed that 18 articles were uploaded on the first day of the account’s launch.