AI is becoming a part of every aspect of our lives. With just one prompt, it can generate what we need—images, videos, and even entire stories. But have you ever stopped to ask: is this really what you want? While we marvel at the convenience of AI, we may unknowingly find ourselves caught in the traps of algorithmic bias.
On the website AI Story Generator, I entered a simple instruction: Write a story about a Chinese woman pursuing her dream in modern society. Below is the story it produced.
In this AI-generated story, Ling’s journey from a waitress in a Shanghai restaurant to a leader in a tech company seems to be inspiring. However, it reveals several gender and cultural biases inherent in AI-generated narratives.
1. Reinforcing Gender Stereotypes
External Conflict Overshadowing Internal Growth
Ling’s story focuses heavily on external pressures—her parents’ disapproval, society’s emphasis on tradition, and the tension between culture and individual dreams. This mirrors the common portrayal of female characters, whose struggles often stem from societal rules rather than internal self-exploration.
Furthermore, Ling’s success depends heavily on the guidance of Sophia, her mentor. This reinforces the stereotype that women’s achievements are tied to external help rather than their own abilities.
2. Simplistic Depictions of Chinese Culture
Family Responsibility as the Core Conflict
The story highlights Ling’s parents’ expectation for her to inherit the family business, reflecting the cultural value of filial piety and collective responsibility. However, this portrayal is overly simplistic, failing to capture the nuanced ways modern Chinese people balance tradition and individuality. Filial piety doesn’t necessarily equate to inheriting a family business—it can take many forms.
A Binary View of Modernization
The narrative sets up a stark contrast: Ling moves from a “comfortable but mundane” life to Shanghai, where she fulfills her dream in the tech industry. This framing reflects a default algorithmic preference for modernity and capitalism, equating success with urbanization and involvement in high-tech fields.Algorithms are closely linked to business models, which often define success through a capitalist lens.
The “Relationship Culture” Stereotype
Ling’s success is partially attributed to Sophia’s mentorship, which implies that personal achievement often hinges on external support from those in positions of power.
This echoes the Western perception of Chinese “relationship culture,” suggesting that breakthroughs rely heavily on connections or networks. While relationships are indeed important in Chinese culture, many young professionals in modern China achieve success through their hard work and dedication.
How to define a successful woman?
Though AI cannot craft a “perfect” story from a limited prompt, the results here clearly show how algorithms are far from neutral. Instead, they reflect and amplify mainstream narratives and stereotypes.
This makes me think about what I imagine a successful woman to be and I realize I also picture the “urban professional woman” trope. Through naming and visual strategies, certain aspects of identity can be foregrounded, often in quite subtle ways. But modern Chinese women are taking on more diverse roles. Success doesn’t have to be tied to a “white-collar” career. Focusing on family, starting a business, pursuing art, or dedicating oneself to public service are all valid paths.
If it were up to you, how would you tell the story?