Chinese company Youhug Media made a high-profile announcement on its official Weibo account on the afternoon of March 18, revealing that it has signed two new "AI digital artists" named "Qin Lingyue" and "Lin Xiyan."
In the released videos, the two made their debut, introducing themselves and promoting their upcoming dramas, while also launching accounts on social platforms including Xiaohongshu and Douyin.
The move sparked considerable discussion on social media. Some netizens pointed out the similarities between the two AI actors/actresses and certain real-life stars, questioning whether this constitutes copyright infringement. Others noted that AI still has certain shortcomings in replicating human expressions, such as a noticeable difference in blink frequency compared to real people, which "feels a bit off."
Some expressed opposition, arguing that production companies intend to use AI to cut costs while crowding out market opportunities for real actors. However, others were indifferent, stating, "After all, celebrities aren't necessarily better than AI."
The AI-generated film Huo Qubing, which caused a sensation earlier, gained widespread attention for its high-quality visuals and ultra-low production cost. Now, with the official announcement of AI actors, one CEO of a capital enterprise stated that "roles below the second lead may be entirely replaced by AI."
The news trended on social media, with many expressing concerns that the film and television industry might be facing a new wave of challenges.
In response, renowned Chinese television producer/showrunner Yu Zheng shared his thoughts in a lengthy post. He suggested that AI might only be a temporary trend, emphasizing that human performance and humanity's imagination and need for connection cannot be fully replaced by AI. However, he noted that individuals without talent might face elimination as a result.
"Actors with true acting skills, talented screenwriters, and capable directors need no worry. Humans will prevail. We must adapt to the times while maintaining confidence in ourselves... AI brings only benefits to the film and television industry, with no downsides—it simply has the potential to weed out those without talent..."
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