Zhang Chaoyang: Real Interaction and Authentic Content Can't Be Replaced by AI

Zhang Chaoyang, founder of Sohu, recently said that real human interaction and authentic content are things AI can never replace. He believes that getting information and communicating with people are two different things, and AI can't replace human communication for now. In the ocean of information, people need to get out and interact more, making real interaction even more valuable.

Addressing content creators' anxiety about AI, he used a metaphor: AI-generated stuff makes media and content feel "plastic," like tomatoes grown with chemical fertilizer - they look shiny but taste bland; carrots with mud may not look pretty but are tasty and flavorful. At the 2026 Sohu Technology Annual Forum in May, he cited research from MIT Media Lab, noting that over-reliance on AI can shrink people's active thinking abilities.

Zhang emphasized that while AI can efficiently organize information, humans must maintain original thinking and hands-on skills. He used his own physics class preparation as an example: AI can quickly provide formulas, but only by deriving and calculating yourself can you truly understand knowledge. He called for maintaining a "thinking ratio" in the AI era, avoiding passive information consumption that degrades brain function, and believes active exploration and deep thinking are core competitive advantages that can't be replaced by AI.