AI-generated actresses are moving from short online dramas into advertising in China, and brands are paying for them. Producers say they cost less and are easier to control than human performers, according to a China Daily report.
One case scenario is Fang Taozi, an AI-generated actress with blunt bangs, long straight black hair and two distinct moles. She became known through the AI drama The Laid-off Girl, which debuted on Douyin on June 12. By Aug 25, her Douyin account had more than 510,000 followers. On Aug 27, the fashion magazine Cosmo Crush previewed her on its official Weibo account.
Fang’s account posts lifestyle content such as cooking, fitness and commuting, not only drama clips. Hou Wenjie, secretary-general of the Shanghai-based Yu Ce Think Tank, said this gives viewers the sense of daily companionship that human influencers offer. It also builds loyalty and supports higher advertising rates.
Rates listed on Douyin’s Xingtu influencer marketing platform have reportedly ranged from:
- 168,000 yuan (around ₦33.6 million) for videos of up to 20 seconds
- 208,000 yuan (around ₦41.6 million) for videos of 21 to 60 seconds
- 258,000 yuan (around ₦51.6 million) for videos longer than 60 seconds
Listed rates do not always match what brands actually pay. Hou said the reported rate of about 160,000 to 250,000 yuan (around ₦32 million to ₦50 million) per video is higher than what many mid-tier human influencers charge.
Why are Brands Choosing AI Actresses?
- Consistency: An AI character keeps the same appearance and can appear in different scenes without a film crew.
- Scheduling: Brands can plan campaigns without relying on a performer’s availability.
- Lower risk: Hou said brands face fewer problems from personal scandals.
- Cost: Some industry reports put AI short drama production at about 80,000 yuan per minute (around ₦16 million), though costs vary. Producers can also change a scene by editing the text prompt instead of reshooting.
The DataEye Research Institute estimates that China’s AI short drama market could exceed 40 billion yuan (around ₦8 trillion) in 2026, up about 138 per cent from last year. It said the market passed 22 billion yuan (around ₦4.4 trillion) in the first five months. These figures cover AI short dramas in general, including animated ones, not AI actors alone. They are industry estimates, not official statistics
Hou said brands must consider audience trust and whether a character can hold attention after a viral moment. An advertisement featuring Fang was reportedly removed over concerns that its claims could mislead consumers. Hou also said the industry needs clearer labels for virtual-person advertising, and clearer rules on likeness rights and content authenticity.
Human actors are now feeling the effect. Actors in Shanghai Theatre Academy report that day-rate jobs that once paid more than 1,000 yuan ($150, around ₦200,000) have become hard to find.
