It has been 22 years since the once "goddess" of the silver screen Vuong To Hien withdrew from the entertainment industry. In recent years, she has mainly lived in Canada and rarely appears in public.
Recently, information has emerged that the 59-year-old actress has licensed the use of her own AI (artificial intelligence) images at the peak of her beauty, from about 20 to 30 years old, for commercial purposes by a famous online game publisher.
Through this, she is said to be the first Hong Kong (China) artist to comprehensively license facial imagery for AI application. This information quickly attracted attention, while the video promoting the use of AI also raised many mixed opinions.
In the promotional video released by the distributor, AI technology recreated the classic image of Vuong To Hien in the movie "The Ghost Lady", bringing her to once again transform into Nhiep Tieu Thien - a role that has become a symbol.
In the video, she speaks with a nostalgic tone: "When you know me, what do I look like?"; "The characters in the film have all faded over the years. After all this time, have you ever felt regret?
In addition to AI promotional videos, the game will also launch a digital NPC character built based on the image of Vuong To Hien, along with an exclusive character design named "Thien anh u hon".
Vuong To Hien did not appear directly in the advertisement, but as the brand's image representative, she recorded a dialogue.
In the recording, the actress shared that she feels very lucky to have accompanied the youth of many people and is always remembered by the audience. For her, this collaboration is like a greeting to old friends after many years of separation.
Vuong To Hien announced his retirement in 2004, then moved to Vancouver (Canada) to live and left the entertainment industry.
In the 1980s-1990s, she became famous throughout Asia thanks to the role of Nhiep Tieu Thien in "Thien Nu U Hon", then continued to participate in many films such as "Thanh Xa", "Tieu Ngao Giang Ho: Phong Van Tai Khoi", "Than Bai", "Dong Ta, Tay Doc"... considered the "first beauty of Asia" in the hearts of countless audiences.
Wang Zuxian's licensing of the use of AI images this time has created many mixed opinions online.
Supporters argue that for a veteran artist who has left the entertainment industry and chosen a quiet life, licensing the use of AI images both helps them have more revenue without directly participating in filming, and brings opportunities for audiences to once again meet classic characters.
On the contrary, opponents argue that AI, although reproducing appearances with high accuracy, lacks the flexibility and natural appeal that the actress once showed in front of the camera. AI can simulate appearances, but cannot truly recreate the demeanor of a beauty icon of a time.
Before Vuong To Hien, actor Ngo Khai Hoa also sold the right to use his youthful image to serve film production using AI. This shows that AI applications are gradually becoming a new model being tested by the film and video game industry.
