Agony Ayi

You’ve got questions? She’s got answers

(But you probably won’t like them)

Dear Ayi, all my colleagues are using ChatGPT at work, but I don’t trust machines and I’m scared it will make mistakes.What should I do?

Anxious Andy

ChatGPT is just like my 没用的老公 (méiyòng de lǎogōng, good-for-nothing husband)—it can’t be trusted without supervision.Sure, he shows up with his 工资 (gōngzī, pay check) at the end of the month,but you have to check the numbers carefully in case he’s hiding any 私房钱 (sīfángqián, secret stash of money).Just like how my 没良心的 (méi liángxīn de,heartless) husband might blow all our savings at the麻将桌 (májiàngzhuō, mahjong table), a robot could ruin your life when you least expected.

Use it like the 中药 (zhōngyào, traditional Chinese medicine) herbal tea I take every day—it’s good for my health but I don’t expect it to cure everything.Why is everyone nowadays obsessed with trying to find shortcuts to doing a bit of 劳动 (láodòng, hard work), anyway?

Ayi, my grandmother is obsessed with her cellphone.All she does is watch Douyin,and even sends money to influencers on livestreams! How do I get her to stop?

Concerned granddaughter

You kids are so 自私 (zìsī, selfish)! My generation辛苦一辈子 (xīnkǔ yíbèizi, worked hard our whole life), aren’t we entitled to some leisure for once?Whether it’s square dancing or watching 短视频(duǎnshìpín, short videos), your grandmother can do whatever makes her happy.What’s it to you if she spends some money? She’s not using your salary! Worried about your inheritance, huh?

And remind me, what’s the difference between grandparents buying things for our favorite 网红 (wǎnghóng, influencer) and you youngsters spending thousands on 演唱会门票 (yǎnchànghuì ménpiào, concert tickets) to see 小鲜肉 (xiǎo xiānròu, “little fresh meat” or young male celebrities) from 100 rows back? At least I get some use out of the stuff I buy online.Look at this wall of 厕纸 (cèzhǐ, toilet paper) I bought during双十一 (Shuāng Shíyī, Singles Day).I got them for next to nothing!