"Losing Jobs and Selling Bean Sprouts: Why They Left a Job Earning 6.76 Million Won per Month"

AI Craze Shakes Up Chinese Short-Form Market: "Cyber Massacre"


AI Actors Trigger Industry Freeze


122,000 Short-Form Videos Created with AI in the First Half of the Year

Recently, as generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology has advanced in China, it has also come to dominate the Chinese short-form content market. Without the pressure of paying actor fees, production staff wages, scenario writing, or lengthy production periods, creators can now produce their desired works in a short amount of time. As a result, many creators are turning their attention to the AI market.

On the 26th, Zhonghua Net in China reported that an actor, who mainly played charismatic roles in dramas, lost his place to AI and returned to his hometown to sell onions and bean sprouts. Getty Images Bank

On June 26, China.com reported that an actor who mainly played charismatic roles in dramas lost his place to AI and returned to his hometown, where he now sells onions and bean sprouts.

According to the report, while he was working as an actor, he earned a monthly income of 20,000 to 30,000 yuan (approximately 4.5 million to 6.76 million won). He has now invested his savings of 400,000 yuan (about 90 million won) to purchase farmland and start farming. However, AI-generated short-form dramas can now be completed in just a few days, and the production costs are less than one-tenth of those for live-action filming.

Chinese Media: "The Popularity of AI Short-Form Dramas Is a Cyber Massacre"

In the first quarter of this year, about 128,000 short-form videos were produced, and among them, 122,000 were created using AI technology.

Example posted on the website of a Chinese AI production company. Baidu China.

Sina Entertainment described the popularity of AI short-form dramas as a "cyber massacre" and examined the phenomenon. According to the report, the number of shoots at Chinese drama filming sites in the first half of this year dropped by more than 70% compared to last year. Studios that once operated 24 hours a day are now largely empty. A member of a filming crew stated, "Around this time last year, there were seven to eight filming teams working simultaneously, with hallways bustling with people, but now there are many days when the studio is empty all day long."

The rise of AI has also made scenario generation easier. Without production staff or actors, it is now possible to mass-produce short-form content at low cost, following the desired direction. Without the high costs and long production times of live-action filming, production costs have dropped by more than 70%, and the number of productions has also decreased by more than half. Just last year, live-action short-form dramas accounted for more than 70% of the market supply. In less than a year, the market has changed dramatically.

Why Creators Are Turning to AI Short-Form Content

An actor who usually played charismatic roles has lost his place to AI and is now returning to his hometown to connect with fans. China Weibo.

Popular actors receive more than 20,000 yuan (about 451,000 won) per day in appearance fees, and lead actors are paid 400,000 to 500,000 yuan (about 90 million to 120 million won) per episode. For an actual shoot, set construction and prop rental alone cost several hundred thousand yuan. On top of that, the wages for dozens of staff members responsible for lighting, filming, sound, makeup, costumes, and production assistance are significant. When editing, retouching, and music composition are added, the total cost exceeds at least 2 million yuan (about 450 million won).

However, AI actors do not require makeup, hairstyling, or travel. Once you check the character type—whether it's a cold, stern boss or another charismatic figure—the AI can accurately express desired emotions such as crying, laughter, anger, or despair, down to the wrinkles around the eyes. While producing a live-action drama used to take several months, it can now be completed in just two to three days.

One AI short-form content operator explained, "If you simply enter keywords such as ‘charismatic CEO,’ ‘contract marriage,’ ‘innocent woman,’ ‘revenge,’ or ‘wealthy family,’ a story template will be created. Once you complete the basic story outline—such as the opening, development, and ending—the script and dialogues are automatically generated."

The Entire Entertainment Industry Takes a Major Hit

Chinese AI dramas are gaining popularity. Baidu in China.

However, these developments are bringing negative impacts to the industry as a whole. Lighting equipment rental shops have seen their sales drop by 60%. One-third of costume shops have closed down, and even vendors selling box lunches in front of drama sets have reportedly switched to other jobs.

Extras are facing similar difficulties. Last year, extras could earn 150 to 200 yuan (about 33,000 to 45,000 won) per day, but this year, their pay has dropped to 30 to 50 yuan (about 6,000 to 11,000 won). The voice acting industry is experiencing the same trend. Short-form voice actors’ per-minute appearance fees have decreased from 115 yuan (about 26,000 won) to 45 yuan (about 10,000 won).

Sina Entertainment emphasized that AI-based content and rapidly changing content trends are fundamentally changing the industry's direction, and this cannot be attributed solely to external factors. The report continued, "Top stars generate higher incomes than regular actors through variety shows, live-streamed sales, and various advertising activities, even if they do not appear in works." It also pointed out that sometimes, heartfelt performances can move audiences more than the mere presence of a popular actor. The report further criticized actors who insist on high appearance fees or only pursue specific roles of their choosing, stating, "Only those who hone their acting skills and move the emotions of the public will survive."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.