Iconic actress Joey Wong has made an unexpected return to the screen two decades after retiring, not through traditional filmmaking but via artificial intelligence (AI) technology. This summer, Chinese tech giant NetEase released a two-minute video featuring AI reconstructions of some of Wong’s most memorable roles, including her portrayals of the beautiful ghost in *A Chinese Ghost Story* and the snake demon in *Green Snake*.
Wong’s digital revival highlights a broader shift within China’s entertainment industry toward AI-generated short dramas, which have surged in popularity in the country’s rapidly growing mini-drama market. These microdramas, characterized by their brief episodes lasting just a few minutes with fast-paced plots and frequent twists, have become a dominant format. According to data from the National Radio and Television Administration, the Chinese broadcasting authority, over 90 percent of the 430,000 microdramas launched online during the first eight months of 2023 were produced using AI technology.
Industry professionals attribute this trend to AI’s ability to expand creative possibilities that traditional live-action productions might find prohibitively expensive. Bai Jianyu, a producer at a Shenzhen-based AI comic-drama distribution platform, explained that many popular online novels involve complex settings, action sequences, suspense elements, or fantastical worlds that would require significant budgets for sets and special effects if produced traditionally. AI technologies enable such stories to be brought to life more practically and economically.
This surge in AI-driven content has also sparked demand from audiences, with some viewers expressing willingness to pay for higher-quality AI productions, particularly those that effectively translate fantasy narratives from popular online literature into visual form.
At the same time, regulatory oversight of AI-generated media has increased. In response to concerns about transparency and intellectual property, a new policy implemented this month mandates that all AI-produced episodes carry clear and prominent labels identifying them as AI-generated content. This measure aims to ensure viewers are informed about the nature of the productions they are consuming.
The rise of AI microdramas represents a significant evolution in China’s digital entertainment landscape, blending advanced technology with creative storytelling while prompting ongoing discussions around content regulation and consumer awareness.