iQIYI's AI Actor Database Sparks Debate as Over 100 Artists Sign Up, Some Denounce Inclusion

iQIYI, one of China's leading online entertainment platforms, has ignited a firestorm of controversy after announcing that more than 100 performers have signed agreements to join the AI artist database of its professional-grade film and television production platform, Nadou Pro.

Liu Wenfeng, senior vice president of iQIYI, announced yesterday that actors including Ma Su, Cheng Taishen, Chen Zheyuan, Zeng Shunxi, as well as talkshow comedian Fang Zhuren and comedy actor Jiang Long, have joined the database. The platform is designed to help creators efficiently select and connect with performers for AI-driven projects.

"The core value of the artist database lies in efficient selection, allowing creators to directly choose the most suitable artists and quickly establish connections during the creative process," Liu explained. He added that creators can use iQIYI's platform to communicate with artists' teams about cooperation terms and execution details.

"Essentially, it allows artists to participate in AI project creation in a new way, creating a shortcut between professional performance and AI collaboration," Liu said.

However, the announcement was quickly met with public pushback. Several high-profile artists, including Yu Hewei, Zhang Ruoyun, and Wang Churan, have issued statements through their teams denying any authorization for AI usage. Following verification, none of the three had joined the Nadou Pro database. Some artists reportedly denied involvement due to being named in unverified online lists.

Early today, iQIYI released a follow-up statement clarifying that no artists had been added to the Nadou Pro database without their consent.

The company reiterated that the database serves as a standardized cooperation platform for efficient communication between AIGC creators and artists.

"An artist's inclusion only indicates their willingness to explore potential collaboration in AI film and television projects," the statement read. "Whether and how an artist participates in a specific project is subject to separate negotiations, consistent with the standard process for traditional live-action productions."

AI actors, or AI-generated performers, are virtual characters or digital humans created using artificial intelligence technology. They can simulate human appearance, expressions, movements, and voice for use in film, television, gaming, and other fields.

According to The Paper, iQIYI's Nadou Pro platform began trial commercial use in March. The platform integrates large language models, intelligent agents, iQIYI's intellectual property, digital asset libraries, commercial cooperation channels, and creator communities. Creators provide narrative direction, aesthetic choices, and creative ideas, while Nadou Pro automates execution and coordinates production processes — for example, turning a novel into a script with one click or generating continuous long takes lasting tens of seconds at low cost.

The "artist database" within Nadou Pro allows AIGC creators to select performers and quickly communicate with artist teams regarding cooperation rights and execution details.