Paul Bao Xiaobo, the 59-year-old Taiwanese musician who has been in the industry for 40 years, has finally obtained a doctoral degree from the College of Management at National Taipei University of Technology after eight years of hard study. At the graduation ceremony on June 13, he delivered a speech titled “The Voice of the Future: A Graduation Blessing from Love and Technology.” Using AI technology, he enabled his daughter Bao Rong, who passed away in 2021 from a rare disease, to 'attend' his graduation ceremony. He choked up several times and moved the graduates present.
Bao Xiaobo’s older brother Bao Weiming, his twin brother Bao Xiaosong, and 'Michelle' from his protégé girl group 'Michelle & Vicky' were all present. Vicky, who is overseas, also recorded a video to send a bouquet and her congratulations from afar. His wife of 30 years accompanied him the whole time in a low-key manner and did not step forward for the group photo, choosing to leave the spotlight to her husband.
In the AI-generated images, Bao Rong appears in a graduation gown, congratulating her father in both Chinese and English and saying that because of AI technology, she is able to interact and be with her parents once again. She said that today’s graduation ceremony means much more than just earning a degree, and also kindly reminded Bao Xiaobo to thank the principal, which allowed the father and daughter to 'attend' the ceremony together.
After completing his master’s coursework in 2018, Bao Xiaobo was encouraged by his professor to enter the doctoral program. At first, he aimed to finish his studies in seven years, but ultimately graduated in the eighth year. He draped his daughter’s university honor sash over his doctoral robe, saying, “If I couldn’t graduate, I’d be letting my daughter down.” He thanked his wife for her support all along, and also thanked his daughter for coming into his life: “With your brief time, you taught Dad the meaning of eternal love.”
Bao Xiaobo said that the process of learning was full of pressure, setbacks, and self-doubt, and none of it was easy or relaxing. He hoped to encourage his fellow students by saying that the hardest part of learning is never about intelligence, but whether you can still persevere in the face of pressure; whether you’re willing to stand up again after being rejected; and in loneliness and adversity, whether you still have a sense of responsibility.
He said the future would be a great age of AI, but he did not know whether 'tomorrow or an accident' would come first. The future will certainly hold many unexpected challenges, but there’s no need to be afraid. What makes people grow is never a smooth ride. No matter how AI evolves, it can never be separated from the drive of human love. Technology may make the world more efficient, but only love can make the world warmer.
In the AI-generated images, Bao Rong appears in a graduation gown, congratulating her father in both Chinese and English and saying that because of AI technology, she is able to interact and be with her parents once again. She said that today’s graduation ceremony means much more than just earning a degree, and also kindly reminded Bao Xiaobo to thank the principal, which allowed the father and daughter to 'attend' the ceremony together.
After completing his master’s coursework in 2018, Bao Xiaobo was encouraged by his professor to enter the doctoral program. At first, he aimed to finish his studies in seven years, but ultimately graduated in the eighth year. He draped his daughter’s university honor sash over his doctoral robe, saying, “If I couldn’t graduate, I’d be letting my daughter down.” He thanked his wife for her support all along, and also thanked his daughter for coming into his life: “With your brief time, you taught Dad the meaning of eternal love.”
Bao Xiaobo said that the process of learning was full of pressure, setbacks, and self-doubt, and none of it was easy or relaxing. He hoped to encourage his fellow students by saying that the hardest part of learning is never about intelligence, but whether you can still persevere in the face of pressure; whether you’re willing to stand up again after being rejected; and in loneliness and adversity, whether you still have a sense of responsibility.
He said the future would be a great age of AI, but he did not know whether 'tomorrow or an accident' would come first. The future will certainly hold many unexpected challenges, but there’s no need to be afraid. What makes people grow is never a smooth ride. No matter how AI evolves, it can never be separated from the drive of human love. Technology may make the world more efficient, but only love can make the world warmer.