Baidu pulls virtual girlfriend from VR product after sexism concerns
iQiyi unit of Baidu issues apology and pulls female virtual digital assistant function from its virtual reality headset
Baidu, one of China’s biggest technology companies, has pulled a female digital assistant from its virtual reality (VR) headset after a US media report raised concerns that the product promoted disrespect towards women.
Baidu referred a query to iQiyi, its video unit that embedded the virtual assistant in the VR headset, which said it took notice of the issue raised by the media and has taken the product offline for further modification.
“The earlier version of the product was a beta test designed to gather user feedback,” iQiyi said in an emailed statement on Thursday. “We’d like to make an apology for the concerns it might have raised.”
Baidu said it would not issue a further statement apart from the one provided by iQiyi.
A South China Morning Post report last week profiled iQiyi virtual reality user Ma Xiangli from Cangzhou, Hebei province, who said he liked to chat with Vivi, the “virtual girlfriend” dressed like an office secretary.
Powered by artificial intelligence technology, the virtual assistant could answer simple questions and perform tasks like choosing videos based on a user’s viewing history. VR headset wearers could also flirt with Vivi and “touch” her in the virtual world.