Recently, the leading domestic long-form video platform, iQIYI, officially launched the "AI Actor Library" feature, which has caused a stir in the film and television industry. This feature allows actors to create their own digital virtual identities on the platform through authorization. Currently, some top-tier popular actors have already joined, paving the way for the digitization of real actors.

According to reports, the core of this technology lies in digitizing the image of the actors. Under strict protection of the actors' right to their own image, iQIYI plans to apply these AI characters in various emerging content scenarios such as short drama production, interactive video development, and virtual live streaming. For the platform, this move aims to address the pain points of traditional film and television production, such as long cycles, high costs, and difficult coordination, by achieving substantial cost reduction and efficiency improvement through generative AI technology.

However, this cutting-edge attempt has not received unanimous praise from the industry, but rather triggered intense concerns about survival. Many industry observers and professionals have expressed worries that if this trend gets out of control, it may lead to large-scale replacement of real actors by digital humans. Critics point out that this technology-driven innovation might be "digging its own grave," potentially undermining the emotional creation foundation of the film and television industry centered around "people."

iQIYI is currently at the forefront of applying generative AI. Finding a balance between technological innovation and protecting the industry ecosystem is not only a challenge that video platforms need to face, but also a problem that the entire film and television industry must solve in the AI era.