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ByteDance's Seedance 2.0 Turns Kanye West Into a TikTok Digital Puppet — episode cover art
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ByteDance's Seedance 2.0 Turns Kanye West Into a TikTok Digital Puppet

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ByteDance's Seedance 2.0 floods TikTok with AI clips of Kanye West and Hollywood stars — and a copyright fight. HSK 3 Chinese listening practice.

This is an HSK 3-4 Chinese listening episode that runs about 7 minutes. The full Mandarin script is shown with tap-for-pinyin and a line-by-line English translation, so you can listen and read at once — comprehensible input in the sense of Stephen Krashen's i+1 theory. It teaches 16 key vocabulary words such as 吃惊、引起、动作 and walks through 5 grammar patterns, each explained in English with examples. The same news story is retold at 4 difficulty levels — use the level selector above to find the version that is challenging but still understandable for you.

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原文

Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.

最近非常吃惊技术就是 Seedance 2.0
跳动公司推出一个新的视频工具
大家可能知道 TikTok这个工具也是他们做的
上周刚刚发布马上引起很大轰动
简单来说一个可以 AI 视频软件
但是以前 AI 工具完全一样
以前 AI 视频人的看起来总是有点奇怪
这种奇怪感觉我们恐怖效应
但是这个 Seedance 2.0 出来视频非常真实
视频动作自然光线漂亮
最厉害的是他们嘴巴声音配合非常
如果仔细根本看不出电脑做的
这种技术好莱坞电影公司感到非常害怕
为什么他们这么害怕
我们看看网上现在流行一些视频
有人做了一个美国歌手 Kanye West 视频
视频出现一个中国古代宫殿
穿着古代衣服一首中国
虽然听起来搞笑但是画面看起来真的一样
还有做了成龙打架视频
功夫明星看起来都很年轻电影
甚至还有好莱坞明星 Brad Pitt Tom Cruise
有人做了一个只有十五视频
明星屋顶打架动作非常
他们头发随着衣服自然
他们表情说话声音完全一样
简直就是好莱坞电影水平
但是并不电影公司花了亿美元出来
只是普通家里电脑出来
制作这样视频其实非常简单
不需要复杂电脑代码
只需要软件提供一些照片声音
比如可以明星照片
然后一段想要声音或者音乐
最后一段文字告诉 AI 想要什么
比如我要这个下雨街上跳舞
只要分钟AI 视频出来
而且这个软件现在可以免费试用
即使以后收费价格非常便宜
大概只需要美元一个
很多电影开始担心自己工作
电影一个编剧看了这些视频绝望
他在网上我们完蛋了
因为如果 AI 做得这么需要真的演员
对于普通来说可能是一件非常好玩事情
我们可以很多有趣视频网上
但是对于电影公司来说一个巨大危险
迪士尼这些公司已经开始行动
他们跳动公司律师
他们要求跳动马上停止使用他们内容
这些公司认为这个 AI 软件偷了他们东西
因为 AI 需要很多视频才能学会怎么视频
这些 AI 可能看了很多成龙电影
学习这些明星动作表情
但是跳动没有电影公司
涉及到了非常复杂法律问题
首先是关于电影版权问题
电影法律保护艺术作品
不能随便别人电影训练你的 AI
其次是关于明星肖像问题
也就是明星控制自己照片形象权利
Tom Cruise 这样明星他的就是品牌
他的名字非常
如果 AI 做了一个从来没演过电影什么
一些从来没的话
不仅侵犯他的权利可能欺骗观众
如果有 AI 明星视频卖东西怎么
或者明星一些不好的话破坏他的名声怎么
就是现在最大问题
虽然法律上有很多争论但是技术已经出来
就像倒在地上收回
除了跳动还有很多公司也在类似技术
未来电影行业很大影响
一方面视频变得越来越容易
任何创意只要有一台电脑导演
不需要很多也不需要很多演员
对于很多电影年轻来说机会
可以你的梦想变成真的视频
但是另一方面带来很多道德问题
我们以后网上看到视频可能大部分都是假的
我们可能分不清什么真的新闻什么 AI 做的
而且原来演员导演可能失去工作
如果电脑演得更好为什么付钱明星
现在法律跟不上技术发展速度
未来法律可能规定必须经过明星同意才能 AI
或者使用这些 AI 软件必须电影公司付钱
但是现在这些规定没有完全建立起来
所以现在一个非常混乱非常有趣时期
大家都在疯狂下载使用这个软件
因为大家觉得可能时间就不能
律师肯定办法限制这种技术使用
所以现在网上到处都这种 AI 视频
死去明星视频复活
不同角色在一起打架
甚至还有做出自己心里完美电影
确实一个充满想象力时代
虽然我们不知道未来怎么但是现在有趣
如果视频感兴趣现在最好的机会
可以看看能不能做出好莱坞水平视频
不过我们这些视频时候也要小心
记住眼见不一定
看到明星可能只是一个聪明数字木偶
就是科技带给我们快乐烦恼
世界变得精彩变得复杂
English transcript reference

Speaking of technology that has surprisingly recently, that would be Seedance 2.0.

This is a new video tool released by ByteDance.

Everyone probably knows TikTok; this new tool was also made by them.

It was just released last week and immediately caused a huge sensation.

Simply put, this is software that can use AI to make videos.

But it is completely different from previous AI tools.

In previous AI videos, human faces always looked a bit strange.

This strange feeling is what we call the "Uncanny Valley" effect.

But the videos produced by this Seedance 2.0 are very realistic.

The people's movements in the video are very natural, and the lighting is also beautiful.

The most impressive thing is that their mouths and voices match very well.

If you don't look carefully, you can't tell at all that this was made by a computer.

This kind of technology makes Hollywood movie companies feel very afraid.

Why would they be so afraid?

Let's first take a look at some videos that are currently popular online.

Someone made a video of the American singer Kanye West.

In the video, he appears in an ancient Chinese palace.

He is wearing ancient clothes and singing an old Chinese song.

Although this sounds very funny, the image looks just like it's real.

Someone else made a video of Jackie Chan and Jet Li fighting.

These two kung fu stars look very young, like they are filming an old movie.

There are even big Hollywood stars Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise.

Someone made a short video that is only fifteen seconds long.

These two big stars are fighting on a roof, and their movements are very fast.

Their hair moves with the wind, and their clothes are also very natural.

Even the expressions on their faces match their speaking voices exactly.

This is simply the level of a big Hollywood movie.

However, this was not filmed by a movie company spending hundreds of millions of dollars.

This was just made by ordinary people at home using computers.

Making videos like this is actually very simple.

You don't need to know how to write complex computer code.

You only need to provide the software with some photos and audio.

For example, you can upload a few photos of a celebrity.

Then upload a piece of voice or music you want.

Finally, you write a text to tell the AI what you want.

For example, "I want this person to dance on a rainy street."

In just a few minutes, the AI can create the video.

Moreover, this software is currently free to try out.

Even if it charges fees in the future, the price will be very cheap.

It will probably only cost a dozen or so dollars a month.

This has made many people who work in movies start worrying about their jobs.

A screenwriter for the movie "Deadpool" felt despair after watching these videos.

He said online: "We are doomed."

Because if AI can do it so well, who still needs to hire real actors?

For ordinary people, this might be a very fun thing.

We can make many interesting videos and post them online.

But for movie companies, this is a huge danger.

Big companies like Disney and Paramount have already started to take action.

They sent lawyer's letters to ByteDance.

They demanded that ByteDance immediately stop using their content.

These big companies believe that this AI software stole their stuff.

Because AI needs to watch a lot of videos to learn how to make videos.

These AIs may have watched many movies starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li.

It learned these stars' movements and expressions.

However, ByteDance did not give money to the movie companies.

This involves very complex legal issues.

First is the issue regarding movie copyright.

Movies are artistic works protected by law.

You cannot just take other people's movies to train your AI.

Second is the issue regarding the stars' "portrait rights."

That is, the right of stars to control their own photos and image.

For a big star like Tom Cruise, his face is a brand.

His face and name are very valuable.

If you use AI to make a movie he never acted in, what does that count as?

You make him say things he never said.

This not only infringes on his rights but might also deceive the audience.

What if someone uses AI to make fake videos of stars to sell things?

Or makes the star say something bad to ruin his reputation?

This is the biggest problem right now.

Although there are many legal debates, the technology is already out.

It's like pouring water on the ground; it's hard to take it back.

Besides ByteDance, many other companies are also developing similar technology.

This will have a huge impact on the future movie industry.

On one hand, making videos has become easier and easier.

Any creative person, as long as they have a computer, can be a director.

You don't need a lot of money, nor do you need to hire many actors.

This is a good opportunity for many young people who want to make movies.

You can turn your dreams into real videos.

But on the other hand, this will also bring many ethical problems.

The videos we see online in the future might mostly be fake.

We might not be able to distinguish what is real news and what is made by AI.

Moreover, original actors and directors might lose their jobs.

If computers can act better, why pay money to stars?

Current laws cannot keep up with the speed of technological development.

Future laws might stipulate that AI can only be used with the star's consent.

Or, using these AI software programs requires paying the movie companies.

But right now, these regulations have not been fully established yet.

So now is a very chaotic but also very interesting period.

Everyone is frantically downloading and using this software.

Because everyone feels that maybe after a while it won't be usable anymore.

Lawyers will definitely figure out a way to restrict the use of this technology.

So, the internet is currently full of these AI videos.

Some people have made deceased stars "resurrect" in videos.

Some people make different anime characters fight each other.

Some people have even created the perfect movie in their minds.

This is indeed an era full of imagination.

Although we don't know what the future will be like, it is very interesting right now.

If you are interested in making videos, now is the best opportunity.

You can go try it and see if you can make a Hollywood-level video.

However, we must also be careful when watching these videos.

Remember, seeing is not necessarily believing.

The star you see might just be a clever digital puppet.

This is the joy and annoyance that technology brings us.

It makes the world more wonderful, and also more complex.

Listen again

Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.

What vocabulary does this episode teach?

词汇
chī jīngto be surprised

A common verb/adjective meaning to be shocked or startled.

yǐn qǐto give rise to / to lead to

Often used with abstract nouns like attention, sensation, or debate.

dòng zuòmovement / action

Refers to physical movements or motions.

pǔ tōngcommon / ordinary

Used to describe average people or common things.

miǎn fèifree (of charge)

Literally 'exempt from fee'.

wēi xiǎndanger / dangerous

Can be a noun or an adjective.

xiàn zhìto restrict / limit

To place limits on something.

fù zácomplex / complicated

Opposite of simple (简单).

hōng dòngsensation / stir

A great stir or sensation caused by an event.

kǒng bù gǔUncanny Valley

A specific term in aesthetics/robotics describing the eerie feeling when something looks almost, but not quite, human.

jué wàngdespair / hopeless

To lose all hope.

bǎn quáncopyright

Legal right to print, publish, perform, etc.

xiào xiàng quánportrait rights / right of publicity

The legal right to control the commercial use of one's identity/image.

qīn fànto infringe on / to violate

Often used with rights, territory, or sovereignty.

fù huóto resurrect

To come back to life.

mù ǒupuppet

A doll moved by strings or hands; metaphorically used here for digital avatars.

* beyond level超纲词

What grammar patterns appear in this episode?

语法
连...都...

An emphatic structure meaning 'Even... [is/does]...'. It emphasizes a specific instance that is surprising or extreme.

连他们脸上的表情都和说话的声音完全一样。

只要...就...

A conditional pattern meaning 'As long as... then...'. It indicates that a certain condition is sufficient for a result.

只要几分钟,AI 就能把视频做出来。

任何有创意的人,只要有一台电脑,就能做导演。

即使...也...

Meaning 'Even if... still...'. It introduces a hypothetical concession, indicating the result remains unchanged despite the condition.

即使以后要收费,价格也非常便宜。

看起来

Meaning 'looks like' or 'appears to be'. Used to describe visual impressions.

以前的 AI 视频,人的脸看起来总是有点奇怪。

这两个功夫明星看起来都很年轻。

并不

Used to emphatically negate something, often correcting a wrong assumption. Means 'not at all' or 'certainly not'.

但是,这并不是电影公司花了几亿美元拍出来的。

但是,字节跳动并没有给电影公司钱。

Proper Nouns

专有名词
Seedance 2.0Seedance 2.0Seedance 2.0字节跳动Zì jié tiào dòngByteDanceTikTokTikTokTikTok好莱坞Hǎo lái wùHollywoodKanye WestKanye WestKanye West成龙Chéng LóngJackie Chan李连杰Lǐ Lián jiéJet LiBrad PittBrad PittBrad PittTom CruiseTom CruiseTom Cruise死侍Sǐ shìDeadpool迪士尼Dí shì níDisney派拉蒙Pài lā méngParamount

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