AI Is Mass-Producing Virtual Stars; What's Left for Human Celebrities?
A single industry analysis republished on Huxiu and 36Kr argues AI star-making has moved from concept to scale: it says 430,000 micro-dramas went online in China in the first eight months of the year, with AI-made titles accounting for more than 90%. The article maps four categories — AI actors and AI couples such as Duan Yan from the animated drama, AI influencers such as Fang Taozi of "The Girl Who Got Laid Off" (reportedly over 400,000 followers in about 30 days), AI singers such as Yuri, who has worked with brands including Yijing Auto and vivo and appeared in a live concert, and AI idols such as Baidu's AI Star Project with Du Hua, which produced HeyDream, plus Bilibili's AI idol audition contest with CCTV.com and Wajijiwa. It credits video-generation models such as Seedance with lowering production barriers and argues AI's edge lies in standardized round-the-clock output, controllable personas and stable brand deals, while human stars retain real life histories, unpredictability and genuine interaction, so the idea of a "star" may stratify rather than disappear.
It signals that value in entertainment may shift from manufactured images toward real lives and real interaction, offering a snapshot of how AI is redividing labor in the industry.