LayarHijau – Streaming platform iQIYI is drawing widespread attention after reports emerged that it has signed authorization agreements with around 100 actors to develop “AI actors” for future film and television production. The initiative includes the use of actors’ facial data, voices, and performance records, including well-known names such as Chen Zheyuan, Cheng Lei, and Zeng Shunxi.
According to reports circulating online, iQIYI is building an “AI actor database” by combining this collected data with motion capture technology. The system is designed to generate digital versions of real actors, which can then be used in AI-generated dramas and film productions.
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The development has sparked strong reactions from the public. Many viewers describe the resulting AI-generated characters as unnatural, with some calling them “uncanny” or visually unsettling. At the same time, legal experts have warned that the use of facial and voice data in this way could raise legal concerns, particularly regarding portrait rights and voice rights, meaning that actors need to carefully review such agreements before signing.
Responding to the discussion, iQIYI CEO Gong Yu explained that the project is essentially a form of “performance transfer,” where real actors are digitized and their performance characteristics are preserved for use in AI-generated content.
He emphasized that the system operates within existing industry frameworks. Rights to an actor’s image and digital likeness remain managed by their agencies or representatives, and usage is limited to specific agreed projects. Each use requires proper authorization rather than unrestricted reuse of previously licensed material.
“This is no different from the traditional production process. Actors still read scripts, choose roles, and decide on participation together with their agencies and production teams,” he said.
Gong Yu added that AI technology is expected to significantly reshape the entertainment industry by reducing production costs and increasing content output. However, he stressed that high-quality productions will still rely on human performances.
Earlier, iQIYI launched its AI-driven platform “纳逗Pro,” which supports the entire production workflow from script generation to final output. Its IP library and actor library are part of a broader ecosystem supporting AI-driven content creation.
At the iQIYI World Conference, Gong Yu also suggested that in the future, live-action productions featuring real actors may become increasingly rare, though they will not disappear completely.
Update: Chen Zheyuan’s team denied ever granting any permission for AI usage in any form. Read the news here.
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