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Alice Yan

A woman in China who was diagnosed with cancer and lost her hair has used artificial intelligence (AI) to alter her appearance so her 86-year-old grandmother thinks she is still healthy.
The woman, who uses the name Guojiang on Douyin, said that because her grandmother is elderly she would find it upsetting to learn she is unwell.
“My family told her I was working in Beijing,” said Guojiang, who lives in Heilongjiang province in northeastern China.
She said she had lost all her hair due to the chemotherapy treatment, and that it had also affected her complexion. Her grandmother began to worry because she had not seen a photo or video of her granddaughter for some time.

In a recent online chat, Guojiang sent an AI-generated image based on a photo of her lying in a hospital bed.
“Am I beautiful?” she asked her grandmother on WeChat.
“Baby, you look so gorgeous in this photo. I am glad to see you so grown up. My granddaughter is so beautiful,” her grandmother said.
Guojiang later shared the message on Douyin, saying her experience had changed her perception of AI.
“In the past, I was disdainful of AI, thinking it was a cold-blooded product. Sometimes I was outraged with its face-changing application because people can use it to commit crimes,” Guojiang said.
“AI has helped my grandmother see a still-beautiful version of me. This fake photo cannot fool young people, but it can a lady who is nearly 90 years old. The face-changing technique I had looked down upon before is what made my grandmother feel relieved.
“Based on my experience, I think AI is truly changing our lives for the better,” she added.

Her story has sparked a lively discussion on mainland social media about the controversial technology.
“It is not AI. It is your future. I believe you will feel like this next year,” one online observer said.
“I am moved to tears. Everything will get better. You are such a considerate girl,” another person wrote.
“AI is supposed to be a tool serving humans. I hope you will recover soon,” said a third.


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People & Culture

Treatment affects appearance so woman turns to artificial technology


A young Chinese woman was so concerned about how her cancer treatment would affect her 86-year-old grandmother that she used the latest technology to disguise her symptoms when on WeChat.


Cancer

Artificial intelligence

Hairless cancer-hit China woman uses AI to soften looks blow for grandmother

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Treatment affects appearance so woman turns to artificial technology