Berlin-based director Martin Haerlin uses AI technology to put himself in different virtual scenes. CHINA DAILY

AI enters the background

HYBE, one of the largest music companies in South Korea, used AI technology to help its K-pop singer MIDNATT release his latest track Masquerade in six different languages — English, Korean, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese.

MIDNATT, also known as Lee Hyun, only speaks limited English and Chinese in addition to Korean. He first recorded the song in each language, with his imperfect pronunciation. Then the lyrics were read and recorded by native speakers before AI technology did the rest: applying the native pronunciation to Lee's singing in an astonishingly smooth way.

The music industry isn't the only one benefiting from AI. Berlin-based director Martin Haerlin also used AI to create a remarkable video in just three days. With the help of AI technology, he transformed films taken inside his house into historical or sci-fi scenes. According to Haerlin, some production companies now intend to hire him to make videos in order to cut down on costs and the number of actors required.

In fact, the US Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers recently proposed using AI technology to replace background actors. As a result, 160,000 Hollywood actors have gone on protest and strike since July.

Tree therapy

Science has found long ago that hugs with people or our pets can significantly reduce stress and loneliness by boosting the oxytocin levels in our bodies. And, in fact, hugging trees also works the same and is now becoming a new craze among Chinese young people.

A young woman in Shanghai going by the name "Qishishiqi" on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu first posted a picture in April of her hugging a tree by the street late at night. "When I was hugging the tree, I felt like it was the tree that was hugging me," she explained in a video in June. "Nature has the power to empower you."

At present, tree-hugging — together with city walking and walking dogs for other people — have become the latest ways for youngsters to heal themselves.

But Qishishiqi wouldn't call it "healing "even though she shared her experience of how her tinnitus — a symptom she got from stress at work — magically disappeared after hugging a tree. She said that it probably had more to do with her subconscious than any healing powers from the tree. She reminded people that they should seek professional medical help if troubled by mental issues.