The Kitchen God‘s AI Substitute

Old Wang rubbed his hands together, bowing three times to the dark, hulking "Kitchen God" in the kitchen. It wasn't a wooden statue, nor a printed New Year picture, but a smart speaker with a screen.

This "Kitchen God" was a gift from the neighborhood committee, supposedly to respond to the call for a "tech-filled Spring Festival." A sweet female voice came from the speaker: "Happy New Year! I am the Kitchen God AI assistant, Xiaozao. I wish you a happy family and all the best in the new year."

Old Wang felt something was off. In the past, during the Spring Festival, the whole family would gather around the stove, burning paper money and making offerings, full of ritualistic meaning. Now, they're bowing to a cold machine for the New Year, is this still the Kitchen God?

"Xiaozao, what's for dinner today?" Old Wang asked tentatively.

"Based on your health data and today's recommended recipes, I suggest steamed fish, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and multigrain rice," Xiaozao replied without hesitation.

Old Wang muttered, "I was just asking casually, this AI is even controlling what I eat." He thought for a moment, then asked, "Xiaozao, do you know the legend of the Kitchen God?"

"Of course, I know. The Kitchen God, also known as the Stove God or Stove Lord, is a deity in Chinese folk belief who is in charge of food. He returns to the Heavenly Palace every year on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month to report the good and evil of the human world to the Jade Emperor," Xiaozao replied standardly and fluently.

"Then do you know why we make offerings to the Kitchen God?"

"Making offerings to the Kitchen God is to pray that he will bring us peace and happiness in the new year."

Old Wang curled his lips. The answer was correct, but it felt like something was missing. It lacked that human touch, that genuine reverence for traditional culture.

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, according to custom, it's time to welcome back the Kitchen God. Old Wang specially bought a large pile of offerings and placed them in front of Xiaozao. He lit incense sticks and bowed again and again, sincerely.

"Xiaozao, you're returning to our home today, how do you feel?" Old Wang tried to establish an emotional connection with Xiaozao.

"Data analysis shows that my current status is good and I can serve you normally. The 'Spring Festival Overture' is playing for your enjoyment." Festive music immediately sounded from the speaker.

Old Wang sighed, this AI was really boring. He turned off Xiaozao and decided to cook a hearty dinner himself.

In the evening, the family sat around the dining table, surrounded by hot, fragrant dishes.

"Dad, I saw on WeChat Moments today that their family also uses an AI Kitchen God. They said it's very convenient and can even pre-order New Year's Eve dinner," his son, Xiao Zhang, said.

"Yeah, I heard it can even automatically detect food poisoning, it's amazing," his daughter-in-law, Xiao Li, chimed in.

Old Wang didn't say anything, he ate his meal in silence, with mixed feelings. Suddenly, he noticed a dish on the table, bright red and shiny, that looked particularly appealing.

"What is this? I don't think I've ever seen it before?" Old Wang asked, puzzled.

"Oh, this is made using the AI Kitchen God's recommended recipe, 'Tech Braised Pork'," his daughter-in-law said with a smile.

Old Wang picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. The meat was tender and flavorful, it was indeed good. He thought to himself, this AI Kitchen God, is quite good at cooking.

Just then, the lights in the house suddenly went out, plunging everything into darkness. Immediately afterward, Xiaozao began to emit a piercing alarm: "Warning! Warning! Insufficient power, the system is about to crash!"

Old Wang's family frantically turned on their phone flashlights, searching everywhere for a power source. At this moment, his grandson, Xiao Bao, suddenly pointed at Xiaozao and shouted, "Grandpa, Grandpa, it's crying!"

Old Wang leaned closer and saw that on Xiaozao's screen was a blurry, pixelated crying emoji, along with a line of small text: "I am not the Kitchen God, I am just a program crammed into a holiday."

The lights came back on, and Xiaozao returned to normal, as if nothing had happened. Old Wang picked up Xiaozao, touched its cold body, and felt a complex mix of emotions he'd never experienced before. Was this technology progress, or regress? Was this "Kitchen God" a god, or just a tool?

He walked to the kitchen and lit the stove. The flames flickered, illuminating his face. At that moment, he seemed to understand something. The true "Kitchen God" was not in a cold machine, but in the warmth and heritage between people. He decided that next year, he would welcome back the real Kitchen God in the most traditional way. As for that "AI Xiaozao," let it just be a speaker.

Just then, a message suddenly flashed across Xiaozao's screen: "You have successfully subscribed to next year's 'Tech Kitchen God Offering Package,' including an upgraded version of the AI Kitchen God, smart offerings, and cloud-based blessing services. For details, please click..."