AI Genius or AI Scammer: The AI Training Scandal of Liyizhou

AI Genius or AI Scammer: The AI Training Scandal of Liyizhou

Navigating the AI Training Landscape: The Difference Between Quality Education and Exploitation

Background:

Li Yizhou presents himself as an AI specialist, asserting that he holds a Ph.D. from Tsinghua University and has established multiple technology ventures. He has marketed AI training courses across platforms including Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and WeChat, charging a fee of 199 RMB per course. His offerings promise to instruct individuals, even those without prior experience, on utilizing AI tools for content creation, ranging from videos and images to poetry and music. Additionally, he claims to have developed proprietary AI models, such as the Yizhou XL, which he alleges surpass the capabilities of OpenAI’s leading models.

Ambitious Beginnings

Controversial Figure

Li Yizhou has become a controversial figure in the AI education space. He has been criticized for selling AI courses and promoting his AI platform, “一舟智能” (Yizhou Intelligence), which some claim are of low quality and overpriced.

AI Courses

He has offered AI courses, such as “每个人的人工智能课” (Everyone’s AI Course), which has been sold in large numbers, reportedly generating significant revenue. However, there have been complaints about the content and value of these courses.

Trouble in Paradise

Educational Background

Li Yizhou claims to have a Ph.D. from Tsinghua University, but there are doubts about the veracity of his academic credentials and his expertise in AI. Some reports suggest that his Ph.D. is in design from Tsinghua University’s School of Art and Design, and he also has a background in design from Hunan University’s School of Design and Arts.

AI Platform

Li Yizhou’s AI platform, “一舟智能,” has been accused of using third-party AI models without proper authorization or attribution. It has been suggested that the platform’s architecture was built by an outsourced team and that it lacks proper备案 (official registration).

Downward Spiral

Public Criticism

Li Yizhou has faced public criticism for his business practices, with some accusing him of exploiting the AI industry and misleading consumers. His courses and platform have been compared to “割韭菜” (a term used in Chinese to describe the act of exploiting followers for financial gain).

Account Restrictions

In response to the controversy, Li Yizhou’s WeChat mini-program “一舟一课” (Yizhou’s Course) has been suspended, and his personal video account has been restricted from being followed. His courses have been removed from his WeChat mini-programs and his Douyin (TikTok) and Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) accounts.

Media Coverage

The situation has attracted significant media attention, with various outlets reporting on the controversy and the impact on the AI education industry.

Trying to Uncover the truth

Insider Information

Recently, I became part of a community of Chinese AI developers and image generation model trainers. During our discussions, it was revealed that Li Yizhou’s claims regarding his qualifications and accomplishments are questionable, and he has been accused of appropriating others’ work without proper attribution or compensation. His marketing strategies and the quality of his course content have also come under scrutiny for being misleading and subpar.

Several model trainers on liblib claim they have never been informed nor acknowledged regarding the commercial use of their models.

Testimony

The group’s administrator successfully engaged with a representative from the AI tool platform that collaborates with Li Yizhou, inviting them to address the group’s inquiries about their business partnership, including the division of profits and the payment of copyright fees to model trainers for the use of their models on the platform. However, the representative was evasive, offering only free trial coupons for the platform instead of direct answers to the group’s questions.

Screenshots of the conversation between various liblib model trainers and the manager from Liyizhou’s alleged Own AI Platform.

More Complaints

Subsequently, accusations emerged from group members that the AI tool company had utilized their trained models, published on liblib, on Li Yizhou’s platform under his name without consent or acknowledgment. Despite demands for an explanation and compensation, the representative offered only noncommittal assurances. The exchanges were documented by a group member on their blog, leading to widespread dissemination and further allegations against Li Yizhou, with legal actions reportedly initiated by various parties.

Screenshots of the conversation between various liblib model trainers and the manager from Liyizhou’s alleged Own AI Platform.

Sanctions

In the wake of these events, Li Yizhou’s AI courses were removed from his WeChat mini-programs, and his personal video account faced a ban on new followers. His Douyin and Xiaohongshu accounts ceased sales of AI courses, now only offering his books. Li Yizhou has not addressed the allegations directly or extended apologies to his customers or the model trainers. Instead, he has stated that he is addressing the matter and that the incident has been misconstrued and overblown. A member of the group documented the discussion and subsequently shared it on their professional blog. The content rapidly gained widespread attention, complemented by an increasing number of articles shedding light on the practices of Liyizou. Concurrently, legal proceedings initiated by various entities are already in progress.

Screenshots of the discussion over an article published and went viral minutes after the above confrontation occurred with screenshots that did not encrypt any personal information. Group members went on a livestreaming sessions in the purpose of discussing trained model rights protection with AI lawyer.

Latest development has it that as of today, Li Yizhou’s AI courses have been taken down from his WeChat mini-programs and his personal video account was banned from being followed. His Douyin and Xiaohongshu accounts also stopped selling his AI courses and only showed his books for sale. Li Yizhou himself did not respond to the allegations or apologize to his customers or the model trainers. He only said that he was sorting out the relevant content and that the incident was misunderstood and exaggerated.

Liyizhou is allegedly “white-labeling” private models on his platform without consent of the model trainers. All of his Yizhou AI classes have been taken down and livestreaming also stopped ever since. Liyizhou has not released any public statements towards the various allegations as of the date this article was created.

The recent controversy involving Li Yizhou has sparked a broader dialogue regarding the integrity and efficacy of online AI education and tools. Numerous individuals have voiced their dissatisfaction and frustration, citing instances of deception and exploitation by Li Yizhou and his associates. In response, there is a growing emphasis on the importance of due diligence when selecting AI educational resources and tools, to prevent falling victim to fraudulent schemes.

It is believed that Liyizhou’s classes are banned due to the illegal usage of VPNs, the alegations towards him on plagerism remains unresolved according to verious model trainers.

Fallback on the AI Education Industry

Following the exposure of Li Yizhou, a prominent figure in the AI training industry, there would be a notable shift towards stricter regulations and oversight of AI educational content. The incident has also raised awareness among consumers about the need for critical evaluation of AI training programs, leading to a more discerning approach to selecting courses and a demand for higher quality educational resources in the field.

Netizen AIGCLINK: Liyizhou is the lighthouse to death of the AI education industry, he successfully destroyed the whole industry solely with his own hands.

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