Chinese production company Youhug Media recently announced the signing of two AI-generated digital artists, Qin Lingyue and Lin Xiyan, in a move that has caused a stir online.
Youhug Media dropped a video where their two new male and female “artists” introduced themselves. They also have their own social media accounts, promising content such as “sharing updates” and saying “we read every comment.” Both AI actors are set to star in an upcoming AIGC (AI-generated content) short drama series titled Qinling Bronze Mystery Records (秦岭青铜诡事录). Qin Lingyue plays a retired soldier named Qin Yue, embarking on tomb explorations, while Lin Xiyan portrays geologist Bai Xiaoyun, a character with a hidden mission.
Many have called out what they noticed as resemblances between the two AI actors and current stars saying that Qin Lingyue bears a strong resemblance to actor Zhai Zilu, while Lin Xiyan is said to combine facial features of several actresses, including Zhao Jinmai, Zhang Zifeng, and Liang Jie.
There’s been growing industry speculation that AI could increasingly replace human actors. Some insiders claim platforms are exploring the idea that aside from the two main leads, they’d “replace actors from second lead onwards with AI characters.” Given the debates about having AI actors, online reactions have been intense. Some netizens have already called for a boycott. Some fear this trend could usher in a harsh “winter” for the Chinese entertainment industry, while others like producer Yu Zheng who admits he’s exploring AI dramas, expressed the belief that genuine talent will ultimately endure.
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HL
This is bad….
Coralie
i know this is bad…but god dang it, I’m intrigued too! now instead of complaining about how actors and actresses are acting, we can now complain about directing and characterization work, which is how it should be!
Joni
We will still complain about the acting. Too jerky, too fake, too OTT, too similar …. cos they are all programmed from the same database. They could probably replace to an AI director too.
avarachika
Agree! I don’t mind AI for animation (even these look robotics), but if they are planning to replace the leads then that’s crazy.
Dee
Just as I have rights not too match them … I can’t even tolerate ai audio so I’ll stick to real actors .. audience push back is key to this .. we might as well make our own stories and create our own dramas
Joni
Yeah, but some are getting too real for easy differentiation already. They must create a new category to differentiate real from AI. We have anime category, cartoon category … etc.
Raya
right? this AI thing is getting ridulous!!! it’s Wall-e coming true.
Du
This comes as expected. If you take into account the amount of tech work used in post-production, much of it is already AI-generated, but the audience has no clue. Having seen absolutely the best quality of AI, I see this as a great opportunity for true talent.
Traffic stars with high face value but low acting skill, huge followings, and speedy careers will be jeopardised , and I will not shed a tear for them. True acting skill will finally become more important than a pretty face as that will be the only thing that sets apart quality from glossy entertainment.
What damaged the industry more was the shift toward high-traffic stars rather than technological advancement. We ended up with the same scripts and the same dramas refilmed again and again, as traffic stars turned actors acting range is limited. Audience always wants more as they are in it for glorified tiktok video. No one is complaining, audience consume content as it is produced.
No matter how shiny the costumes are or how sizzling the love scenes look, you forget such dramas in a matter of days. No impact, no artistic value, no acting, just shiny show business. In that world why shift to AI actors would be bad. Productions will be able to produce more of meaningless content for entertainment only.
On the other side true art, acting and quality will stand out even more. Impact will be deep, art will talk to your soul as it should be. Separation and divide btw entertainment and art will be even more visible. I say bring it on!
Applefish
Yea, now u will have great actors who use their skill to act but with an AI face 🙄 yay! 😒
Dee
It’s fun and games until the same happens to all jobs
Arduinna
Please do not refer to these AI creations as “actors”, they are nothing more than muppets and an insult to the thousands of hardworking actors currently struggling to find roles. Humans want to relate to humans even if it’s on screen.
The attempt to give these muppets a “personality” by creating “behind the scenes” footage for them is even more ludicrous. There is no “behind the scenes”. When the computer is switched off, the muppets are erased.
Dee
This !!!! thank you I was surprised to see more people for it than against it
Du
Very well said 👏👏👏 Terms ‘actor’ or ‘actress’ are truly generously used in show business today. Many entertainers are called actors while they obviously lack the talent, skill and training. AI generated ‘actors’ are no actors at all, as you rightfully said. Plus, many popular celebrities featuring in dramas are no actors as well.
Arduinna
True. The cult of traffic stars (pretty faces, but no discernible acting skills) and the current obsession with data rather than quality has unfortunately paved the way for these tech-muppets.
Sadly, many of the audience no longer know what good acting feels like.
Applefish
lol, I see Zhao Jin Mai n Zhai Zi Lu 🙄 good job being original! Oh wait, forgot you are an AI, where originality isn’t a concept That you will grasp EVER!
Coralie
have y’all seen the new AI music videos of Kanye West on Seedance? i mean it’s based off a real person, but if you didn’t know it was AI, it could’ve fooled a lot of people.
but this brings up another stickier point – since these are AI created and AI for the most part is opensource, who owns the “rights” to these AI actors/actresses? Who’s to stop the common man from making shows and series themselves with these AI creations? so then shows that users want to see will no longer be the sole right of hollywood or entertainment industries. it’s possible to opensource entertainment by everyday folks like you and me.
ive seen some of this possibility already with people make clips of fights between JC and Jet Li or other fantasies. now instead of relying on industry giants, the tiny person can create a show entirely on their own as director, scriptwriter, cinematographer and actor. the possibilities are insane