An analysis piece traces how the battle for attention has shifted from television to mobile short video and now AI-generated short dramas, citing DataEye figures that the AI short drama "Who Says a Playboy Can't Be Top Scholar" on Douyin has drawn over 1.78 billion cumulative plays across 788 episodes of under a minute each on a paid model. It cites industry data that roughly 221,900 new AI short dramas and animated dramas appeared on Douyin in the first half of 2026, with only 1,055 (about 0.47%) exceeding 100 million plays, and about 1.3% clearing a 50 million-play reference threshold for breaking even. The article also notes that China's micro-drama regulations taking effect September 1, 2026 require platforms to regularly audit and validate algorithm mechanisms, models and data and bar algorithms from inducing addiction or excessive spending, arguing AI cuts production costs but not the scarcity of attention.