Artificial intelligence unlocks silver screen for people with disabilities

The screening hall fell quiet as the film began. Soon, a steady narration described the gestures, expressions and moments that could not be seen by people with visual impairments. For them, cinema unfolded not through images, but through language.

That calm, precise and unmistakably familiar voice belonged to Chinese actor Hu Ge, recreated through artificial intelligence.

"I may not be able to go offline to tell stories in person to my blind friends," Hu said in a recorded message. "But my voice is online. Whenever they want to watch a movie, they can come and listen to me tell it."