To preserve local accents and pass down culture, iFLYTEK is committed to protecting dialects as an important cultural medium for communication.
The iFLYTEK Input Method initiated the "Dialect Protection Program" in 2017 to innovate dialect protection through AI. Since 2021, the iFLYTEK Input Method and iFLYTEK Suzhou Research Institute have collaborated with Studio Shenlouzhi to release the “Gusu Trivial Records” short films. The short films use technology to dub the Suzhou dialect, combine modern images with ancient local accents, and fully integrate short videos and modern new media technologies to creatively preserve traditional cultural heritage through text, sound, and video formats.
In December 2021, the dialect cultural short film, “Gusu Trivial Records: Gold-Thread Garments,” was released online. In March 2022, the second dialect cultural short film, “Gusu Trivial Records: Lazy to Paint Eyebrow,” was released. The final dialect cultural short film, “Gusu Trivial Records: Celestial Maiden,” was released in August 2022.
These films aim to engage interest in traditional culture through innovative dialect expressions. Since the “Gusu Trivial Records” release, over 1.9 million have viewed the short films, and over 100,000 have participated in their interactive components. The films were promoted as part of the broader "Suzhou Dialect Special Plan."