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Stephen Chen

Chinese Nobel laureate Mo Yan shocked the crowd at a literary event on Tuesday when he revealed he had used ChatGPT to write a speech praising fellow author Yu Hua.
Mo was set to present Yu with a book award at the Shanghai Dance Centre during the 65th anniversary celebration of Shouhuo, a magazine that has played a significant role in shaping the landscape of Chinese literature.
The air was thick with anticipation as the two literary luminaries, both friends and rivals, took the stage.
“The person who is receiving this award is truly remarkable and, of course, he is also my good friend. He is extraordinary, so I must be too,” said Mo, who is known for novels such as Red Sorghum, The Garlic Ballads and The Republic of Wine.
“A few days ago, I was supposed to write a commendation for him as per tradition, but I struggled for several days and couldn’t come up with anything. So I asked a doctoral student to help me by using ChatGPT.”
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There was an audible gasp from the audience when the Nobel Prize winner, known for his vivid depictions of rural life in China, admitted his praise for Yu had been crafted with the help of the AI chatbot.
Mo said he gave his student a list of key words including the titles of two of Yu’s books, To Live and Wencheng, as well as the phrase “tooth extraction” – probably a reference to the fact that Yu once worked as a dentist.
It is not clear exactly how ChatGPT was used, but it is likely that the doctoral student entered the phrases into the system, which then generated text based on the prompts.
“In an instant, [ChatGPT] generated over a thousand words of Shakespearean-style praise,” Mo said.
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Mo is the first Nobel Prize winner to publicly admit using AI to help with writing. But he stressed that he had written all of his novels himself and said he was likely to continue doing so because he enjoyed the power of writing.
“When you are writing, you are one person, and when you put down the pen, you are another person,” he said. He added that writing allowed him to explore different identities and perspectives, often in a way that was better than reality.
Yu, who did not directly comment on the use of ChatGPT, challenged Mo on this point, saying that while literature could provide insight into the human experience and offer a way of exploring complex issues, it was ultimately limited by reality.
“Literature cannot surpass reality, and reality will always be broader than literature,” said Yu, whose novels typically deal with the struggles of ordinary Chinese people and the impact of political and social change on their lives.
Both writers emerged in the 1980s and 1990s as part of a new generation of Chinese authors who explored new themes and styles. They are associated with the literary movement known as “scar literature”, which focuses on the trauma and upheaval of recent Chinese history.

Video footage of the event soon appeared on Chinese social media, sparking a lively discussion. Many were impressed by Mo’s openness to exploring new technologies and tools to aid the creative process and expressed optimism about AI’s potential to help writers generate ideas and refine their work.
But a few Weibo users suggested Mo and his peers should consult a lawyer before using ChatGPT.
OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, has not yet made the service available in China. Some commenters said it was possible Mo had violated OpenAI’s terms of service by using the platform in China, and they warned this could result in legal action being taken against him by OpenAI. The Post has reached out to OpenAI for comment.
The Chinese government has also banned the use of VPN software, which is needed to access ChatGPT from China, as a means of controlling access to information deemed inappropriate or sensitive. If Mo Yan or his student were caught using a VPN to access ChatGPT, they could face penalties such as fines or imprisonment.
“Somebody may call the police,” one Weibo user said.


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Science

‘Somebody may call the police’: Chinese Nobel Prize winner Mo Yan turns to ChatGPT to beat writer’s block

Chinese Nobel laureate Mo Yan said ChatGPT helped him generate “a thousand words of Shakespearean-style praise” for an award ceremony speech. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Chinese authors Mo Yan (left) and Yu Hua are associated with the literary movement known as “scar literature”. Photo: Weibo

‘I needed to step out of the spotlight’: why Chinese Nobel Literature Prize winner Mo Yan is ready to start writing again

Mo Yan has spent much of the past five years in the public gaze, but is now refocusing on his writing. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Tung Chee-hwa (L) presents a prize to Chinese agricultural scientist and educator Yuan Longping, who is awarded the inaugural LUI Che Woo Prize 2016 in the Sustainability category, at HKCEC in Wan Chai. 03OCT16 SCMP / Edward Wong

Some copies from Nobel Prize winner Mo Yan selling in a Hong Kong at Causeway Bay. 11OCT12

The 2012 Nobel Literature Prize winner Mo Yan of China (L) receives the Nobel Prize award from King Carl Gustaf of Sweden during an awarding ceremony on December 10, 2012 in Stockholm. The winners of the Nobel Prize 2012 in the categories of medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and economics receive their awards from the hands of Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf at a formal ceremony, followed by a gala banquet. AFP PHOTO/JONATHAN NACKSTRANDthe Nobel prize awarding ceremony on December 10, 2012 in Stockholm. The winners of the Nobel Prize 2012 in the categories of medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and economics receive their awards from the hands of Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf at a formal ceremony, followed by a gala banquet. AFP PHOTO/JONATHAN NACKSTRAND

Lui Che Woo, chairman and founder of Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd., attends a news conference in Hong Kong, China, on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. Galaxy's net annual income was HK$ 10.5 billion. Photographer: Anthony Kwan/Bloomberg

Mo Yan fans beat new tourist path to Nobel winner’s childhood home

Authorities in Gaomi, Shandong province, have renovated the childhood home of writer Mo Yan. Photo: Thecover.cn

=== NO ARCHIVE IMAGE === Displayed items with caution notice in Mo Yan's house in Shandong. ATNX 1 MOYAN. Undated. Source: thecover.cn

Why writer Mo Yan thinks his Nobel Prize was a blessing and a curse

Mo Yan (right) pictured during his appearance in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Photo: Handout

News

China

Literary giant known for Red Sorghum reveals AI chatbot helped him craft speech for fellow author Yu Hua, but he stresses his novels are his own work
The admission sparks discussion on social media, with many praising him for being open-minded about tech tools and others warning him to get a lawyer


Literary giant known for Red Sorghum reveals AI chatbot helped him craft speech for fellow author Yu Hua, but stresses his novels are his own work, prompting social media users to debate merits and legal pitfalls of the tech tool.


ChatGPT and other generative AIs

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Books and literature

Mo Yan