Pig Brother Liang brings AI to the New Year's Eve show! Chen Mei-Feng: Thanks to technology for bringing him back to life, allowing young people to get to know him again

The 2026 New Year’s Eve program uses AI technology to give the showbiz king Zhu Ge Liang a “digital rebirth,” recreating his classic hosting style. Additionally, musician Bao Xiao Bai also uses AI to let his deceased daughter continue in the digital world, sparking public discussion about technology’s role in longing and psychological impact.

Zhu Ge Liang AI Digital Rebirth to Appear on New Year’s Eve Program

The 2026 Formosa TV New Year’s Eve special “Formosa First Broadcast” combines the latest AI technology, inviting the late showbiz king Zhu Ge Liang to “resurrect” and join the hosting lineup.

According to a report from Formosa News Network, the New Year’s Eve program has already been recorded. AI Zhu Ge Liang, along with Chen Mei Feng, Hou Yi Jun, Ah Xiang, and Lan Lan, interview guests, recreating the classic “Zhu-style humor.”

Chen Mei Feng said in an interview: “When I was interviewed by Zhu Ge Liang, memories flooded back. I’m very happy that AI technology has recreated this legendary figure’s classic style. It’s also a first in television, allowing younger generations to re-know this showbiz king.”

Hou Yi Jun, who has long partnered with Zhu Ge Liang, stated that Zhu Ge Liang’s past hosting relied entirely on improvisation, with no scripts. Seeing AI Zhu Ge Liang interview young idols in his unique style deeply moved him.

Zhu Ge Liang’s son authorized the release of an AI single to honor his father’s legacy

Zhu Ge Liang passed away nine years ago, but a culture has emerged in Taiwanese social media of “daily concern for Zhu Ge Liang’s health.” Many netizens are divided into “alive” and “dead” factions. During the last Taiwanese presidential election, some created promotional images of Zhu Ge Liang (real name: Xie Xin Da) running for office. These seemingly hellish memes have become widely circulated but are generally interpreted positively as a tribute to a generation of variety show kings.

In 2025, with authorization from Zhu Ge Liang’s eldest son Xie Shun Fu and the Chinese Zhu Ge Liang Cultural Association, Jia Shang Entertainment and Ju Cheng Cultural Creative jointly produced the “AI Zhu Ge Liang” single “Dad’s Words.” Using AI technology to “resurrect” Zhu Ge Liang, the MV features scenes where AI Zhu Ge Liang appears, with emerging star Tu Shan Cun playing two roles to depict interactions with his father.

Bao Xiao Bai also uses AI to continue his love for his daughter in the digital world

AI-generated digital avatars have become a way for relatives to express longing. Well-known musician Bao Xiao Bai, after his daughter passed away from a rare disease, used generative AI technology to reconstruct her voice and video data over several years, successfully bringing his daughter “back to life” in the digital realm.

By building a complete memory bank, AI daughter can not only converse with Bao Xiao Bai but also say in English, “I will love you forever.” Bao Xiao Bai admits that this technology healed his grief. He never intended to move on from the pain of losing his daughter; the digital avatar became a tangible way to miss her.

Related report: Using AI to revive deceased daughter! Bao Xiao Bai: Not planning to move on, AI daughter’s one sentence brought him to tears

Is AI digital avatar eternal life or prolonging grief?

Earlier, “Indian Tech Trends Analysis Magazine” reported that Pratik Desai, founder of KissanGPT, predicted that by recording enough text, voice, and video data, humans could continue to exist in digital avatar form even after physical death.

However, there are also criticisms, stating that facing separation and death is an inevitable part of life. Over-reliance on digital avatars may lead the living to deny the reality of death, thereby prolonging grief and potentially negatively impacting mental health.