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ByteDance Seedance AI Videos Spark Copyright Fight — episode cover art
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AI视频太疯狂:明星变成了数字木偶

ByteDance Seedance AI Videos Spark Copyright Fight

About this story

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.

说到最近让人非常吃惊的技术,那就是 Seedance 2.0 了。
这是字节跳动公司推出的一个新的视频工具。
大家可能都知道 TikTok,这个新工具也是他们做的。
它在上周刚刚发布,马上就引起了很大的轰动。
简单来说,这是一个可以用 AI 做视频的软件。
但是它和以前的 AI 工具完全不一样。
以前的 AI 视频,人的脸看起来总是有点奇怪。
这种奇怪的感觉,我们叫它“恐怖谷”效应。
但是这个 Seedance 2.0 做出来的视频非常真实。
视频里的人动作很自然,光线也很漂亮。
最厉害的是,他们的嘴巴和声音配合得非常好。
如果你不仔细看,根本看不出这是电脑做的。
这种技术让好莱坞的电影公司感到非常害怕。
为什么他们会这么害怕呢?
我们先来看看网上现在流行的一些视频吧。
有人做了一个美国歌手 Kanye West 的视频。
在视频里,他出现在一个中国古代的宫殿里。
他穿着古代的衣服,唱着一首中国的老歌。
虽然这听起来很搞笑,但是画面看起来像真的一样。
还有人做了成龙和李连杰打架的视频。
这两个功夫明星看起来都很年轻,像在拍老电影。
甚至还有好莱坞的大明星 Brad Pitt 和 Tom Cruise。
有人做了一个只有十五秒的短视频。
这两个大明星在屋顶上打架,动作非常快。
他们的头发随着风在动,衣服也很自然。
连他们脸上的表情都和说话的声音完全一样。
这简直就是好莱坞大电影的水平。
但是,这并不是电影公司花了几亿美元拍出来的。
这只是普通人在家里用电脑做出来的。
制作这样的视频其实非常简单。
你不需要会写复杂的电脑代码。
你只需要给软件提供一些照片和声音。
比如说,你可以上传几张明星的照片。
然后再上传一段你想要的声音或者音乐。
最后,你写一段文字,告诉 AI 你想要什么。
比如说,“我要这个人在下雨的街上跳舞”。
只要几分钟,AI 就能把视频做出来。
而且,这个软件现在是可以免费试用的。
即使以后要收费,价格也非常便宜。
大概只需要十几美元一个月。
这就让很多做电影的人开始担心自己的工作了。
电影《死侍》的一个编剧看了这些视频后很绝望。
他在网上说:“我们要完蛋了。
因为如果 AI 能做得这么好,谁还需要请真的演员呢?
对于普通人来说,这可能是一件非常好玩的事情。
我们可以做很多有趣的视频,发到网上去。
但是对于电影公司来说,这是一个巨大的危险。
迪士尼和派拉蒙这些大公司已经开始行动了。
他们给字节跳动公司发了律师信。
他们要求字节跳动马上停止使用他们的内容。
这些大公司认为,这个 AI 软件偷了他们的东西。
因为 AI 需要看很多视频才能学会怎么做视频。
这些 AI 可能看了很多成龙和李连杰的电影。
它学习了这些明星的动作和表情。
但是,字节跳动并没有给电影公司钱。
这就涉及到了非常复杂的法律问题。
首先是关于电影版权的问题。
电影是受法律保护的艺术作品。
你不能随便拿别人的电影来训练你的 AI。
其次是关于明星的“肖像权”问题。
也就是明星控制自己照片和形象的权利。
像 Tom Cruise 这样的大明星,他的脸就是品牌。
他的脸和名字是非常值钱的。
如果你用 AI 做了一个他从来没演过的电影,这算什么?
你让他说了一些他从来没说过的话。
这不仅侵犯了他的权利,还可能欺骗观众。
如果有人用 AI 做明星的假视频去卖东西怎么办?
或者让明星说一些不好的话,破坏他的名声怎么办?
这就是现在最大的问题。
虽然法律上有很多争论,但是技术已经出来了。
就像把水倒在地上,很难再收回来了。
除了字节跳动,还有很多公司也在做类似的技术。
这对未来的电影行业会有很大的影响。
一方面,做视频变得越来越容易了。
任何有创意的人,只要有一台电脑,就能做导演。
你不需要很多钱,也不需要请很多演员。
这对于很多想拍电影的年轻人来说是个好机会。
你可以把你的梦想变成真的视频。
但是另一方面,这也会带来很多道德问题。
我们以后在网上看到的视频,可能大部分都是假的。
我们可能分不清什么是真的新闻,什么是 AI 做的。
而且,原来的演员和导演可能会失去工作。
如果电脑能演得更好,为什么还要付钱给明星呢?
现在的法律还跟不上技术发展的速度。
未来的法律可能会规定,必须经过明星同意才能用 AI。
或者,使用这些 AI 软件必须给电影公司付钱。
但是现在,这些规定还没有完全建立起来。
所以现在是一个非常混乱但也非常有趣的时期。
大家都在疯狂地下载和使用这个软件。
因为大家都觉得,可能过段时间就不能用了。
律师们肯定会想办法限制这种技术的使用。
所以,现在的互联网上到处都是这种 AI 视频。
有的人让死去的明星在视频里“复活”了。
有的人让不同的动漫角色在一起打架。
甚至还有人做出了自己心里的完美电影。
这确实是一个充满想象力的时代。
虽然我们不知道未来会怎么样,但是现在很有趣。
如果你对做视频感兴趣,现在是最好的机会。
你可以去试试,看看能不能做出好莱坞水平的视频。
不过,我们在看这些视频的时候也要小心。
要记住,眼见不一定为实。
你看到的明星,可能只是一个聪明的数字木偶。
这就是科技带给我们的快乐和烦恼。
它让世界变得更精彩,也变得更复杂了。
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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