AI has increasingly blurred the lines between reality and illusion, with some internet users struggling to distinguish the real from the synthetic.
One of the latest trends involves AI-generated images of babies engaging in everyday activities like cooking, eating with chopsticks, and cleaning.
These images have gained traction, particularly among grandmothers in China, who have become enchanted by the "AI grandsons" — virtual toddlers capable of cooking a full dinner or even lifting a roasted pig.
The trend gained significant attention during the Lunar New Year, when families returned home to find their grandmothers happily watching these AI creations, affectionately dubbed "AI grandsons."
Despite being entirely artificial, these virtual figures are perceived by the grandmothers as real children, sparking a fascinating intersection of technology and emotional connection.
Online videos featuring “AI grandsons” depict plump, cheerful infants engaging in remarkable feats.
One clip shows a toddler effortlessly carrying a roasted pig barefoot to his grandmother’s home, while another features a diaper-clad baby picking eggplants, washing vegetables, and skillfully preparing a full meal.
In other surreal scenes, an infant confidently wields chopsticks to eat a bowl of noodles drizzled with chili oil.
While younger family members easily spot inconsistencies—such as unnatural hand movements or disappearing utensils—grandmothers remain mesmerised.
One grandmother exclaimed:
“Wow, look how well he eats! He’s so young and already knows how to use chopsticks. What a delightful little person.”
In some clips, toddlers playfully interact with chickens in a yard, prompting genuine concern from grandmothers over their safety:
“Be careful, darling! I’m worried about your little eyes getting poked by the chickens.”
Despite attempts to explain that these “AI grandsons” are digital creations, the grandmothers remain unconvinced, finding joy and companionship in these virtual figures.
Social media users have shown support for grandmothers who believed the “AI grandsons” were real, as their heartfelt reactions went viral.
Many argue that their generation, unfamiliar with AI’s rapid advancements, deserves patience and understanding.
Chinese netizens, in particular, sympathise with these elderly women, recognising their search for companionship in an increasingly digital world.
One person commented:
“Instead of repeatedly telling these grandmas that it is fake, as long as they’re not spending money, just let them enjoy it however they wish.”
Another added:
“I envision a future where these AI grandsons host live-streaming sessions to market products. Just imagine a child finishing their line with, ‘Grandma, I want to eat this! It’s so delicious!’ If elderly viewers, already inclined to believe these children are real, continue watching, they may genuinely trust it and make purchases.”
Another online viewer remarked:
“These elderly individuals long for companionship, and only such AI videos can provide them with a semblance of comfort.”
But is it more comforting to embrace these virtual creations as real, or does this blurring of reality and illusion have deeper implications?
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