A significant controversy has erupted in the entertainment industry concerning iQiyi Inc.'s recently announced AI actor database. The dispute intensified following public statements made by the platform's CEO, Gong Yu.
On April 20, 2026, at the iQiyi World Conference held in Beijing, the platform officially announced that its Nate Pro AI Actor Database had enrolled 117 performers. iQiyi claimed these artists had authorized the use of their likenesses, voices, and performance biometrics for creating AI digital doubles and producing television series. Concurrently, CEO Gong Yu made remarks suggesting that "100% live-action filming might become intangible cultural heritage in the future." The Nate Pro "Actor Database" is described as a platform where AIGC creators can select artists and quickly communicate with them regarding collaboration rights and execution details.
However, as the situation developed, numerous artists named on the list collectively denied granting any such authorization, leading to widespread public backlash and placing iQiyi at the center of both public opinion and legal compliance controversies.
Following the announcement, which featured a wall of images including actors such as Zhang Ruoyun, Yu Hewei, Chen Zheyuan, Wang Churan, and Li Yitong, topics like "#iQiyiAIActorDatabase" and "#iQiyiHasNoBottomLine" quickly trended on social media. Starting on the afternoon of April 20, several listed artists and their studios began issuing public statements uniformly denying any AI-related authorization agreements. Zhang Ruoyun's studio explicitly stated it had never signed any AI authorization contract and that legal counsel was involved. Teams for Yu Hewei, Wang Churan, and Li Yitong similarly confirmed no agreements had been reached with iQiyi for the use of their likenesses or voices, stating the online information was inaccurate. While Chen Zheyuan's representatives acknowledged preliminary contact regarding inclusion in the database, they emphasized that no formal authorization for AI use in film and television had been signed.
In response to the collective denials and public scrutiny, iQiyi released a statement on Weibo clarifying that an artist's inclusion in the Nate Pro database merely indicates an expression of interest in potential AI project collaboration and does not constitute a formal signed authorization. The platform stated that specific AI film and television applications require separate, project-by-project negotiations and confirmations, denying any unauthorized inclusion of artists and attributing the confusion to misinformation during communication. Gong Yu personally added on social media that artists in the database had only expressed a willingness to discuss collaborations and that not all had completed formal authorization signings.
Regarding his comment about live-action filming potentially becoming "intangible cultural heritage," Gong Yu provided clarification on Weibo. He stated that his live remark was speculative, suggesting that purely physical works without technological integration might, after many years, be considered for designation as world cultural heritage, similar to how stage plays continue to exist. He emphasized that the ideal scenario is for technological innovation to invigorate the industry, allowing all forms of content to thrive.
Public reaction to the event has been mixed. On the evening of April 20, renowned screenwriter Wang Hailin commented online that many popular artists promoted by platforms already lack a sense of authenticity and could reasonably be replaced by AI, as their performances might not surpass those generated by AI. Other netizens criticized iQiyi, stating the incident reveals an industry in decline where even leading companies are compromising their ethical standards.
The incident has also highlighted significant legal and compliance risks. Reports from outlets like China Economic Net note that an artist's likeness and voice are personality rights strictly protected under China's Civil Code. Using an artist's biometric information to train AI models or generate digital performance content without clear, comprehensive, and bounded written authorization potentially infringes upon portrait and voice rights. Industry insiders point out that there are currently no unified judicial standards for AI performance rights, secondary data usage, or model training溯源. Vague expressions of collaborative intent can easily lead to loss of control over an artist's digital image, difficulties in rights protection and evidence collection, and long-term risks like data leaks and unauthorized cross-scenario misuse.
The debate over AI replacing human actors is not new. In September 2025, the variety show "Trump Card vs. Trump Card" featured a debate on whether AI can replace actors. Guests including Liu Tao and Eric Tsang argued that AI cannot replicate an actor's genuine emotions and that performance is irreplaceable. In contrast, Tang Guoqiang, President of the China Federation of Radio and Television Associations' Actors Committee, held the opposite view, stating that actors would be replaced. He argued, based on Stanislavski's system, that acting is essentially simulating emotions, and that big data can deconstruct all performance details, allowing AI to accurately simulate emotional expression.
In a recent interview with China Film Report, Tang Guoqiang described AI as a new quality productive force. He suggested the relationship is not merely one of a辅助 tool but creates a sense of crisis or urgency for actors. He noted that since acting is simulation, AI could potentially simulate emotions more completely, delicately, and accurately. However, he also mentioned that this threat could serve as a form of motivation for actors.
On April 2, the Actors Committee of the China Federation of Radio and Television Associations issued a statement highlighting the frequent occurrence of infringements such as AI face-swapping, voice cloning, unauthorized alteration of film and television materials, and unauthorized scraping of actor images and audio for AI model training. These actions, the statement said, seriously infringe upon the legitimate rights and interests of performing arts professionals and disrupt industry order. The committee issued a stern declaration, stating that unauthorized AI use of artist images does not qualify for exemption from liability and demanding the industry strictly adhere to the boundaries of personality rights and creative rights.
Regarding iQiyi's financial performance, the company's 2025 financial report showed total revenue of 27.29 billion RMB, a year-on-year decrease of 7%. This marked the second consecutive year of annual revenue decline following 2024. The platform's two core businesses both weakened: membership service revenue was 16.81 billion RMB (down 5% YoY), and online advertising revenue was 5.19 billion RMB (down 9% YoY). Revenue from content distribution and other businesses also fell by 12% and 4%, respectively, indicating pressure across all four major business segments.
In terms of profitability, under full-year GAAP standards, the net loss attributable to iQiyi was 206 million RMB, a swing from a net profit of 764 million RMB in 2024. Excluding items like share-based compensation and intangible asset amortization, Non-GAAP operating profit was 640 million RMB, a sharp decrease of 73% year-on-year, while Non-GAAP net profit was 281 million RMB, down 81% compared to the previous year.
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