LayarHijau – The issue surrounding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in China’s entertainment industry has drawn widespread attention after reports circulating on Weibo claimed the existence of an “AI artist database” linked to iQIYI.
In the circulating reports, several actors were mentioned as being included in the alleged AI-related list, including Chen Zheyuan, Cheng Lei, Zeng Shunxi (曾舜晞), among others, which quickly sparked public discussion online.
Next articles
The attention surrounding the issue further intensified after iQIYI CEO Gong Yu (龚宇) spoke about the future direction of the film and drama industry. He stated that productions involving real human actors could become increasingly rare and may even be regarded as a form of “intangible cultural heritage,” although he emphasized that human actors will not be completely replaced.
However, amid the growing discussion, representatives of the mentioned actors clarified that they have never signed or granted any permission regarding the use of their facial likenesses or voices for artificial intelligence purposes in any form.
Chen Zheyuan’s team was among the first to issue a clarification, followed by similar statements from representatives of Zhang Ruoyun, Wang Churan, and Li Yitong, all stressing that no authorization had ever been given for the use of their identities in any AI system.
These statements have fueled broader public debate on the ethical boundaries of AI usage in the entertainment industry, particularly concerning the rights over an actor’s face, voice, and digital identity in an increasingly AI-driven era.
