Chinese streaming giant iQIYI has sparked outrage after unveiling an AI actor database linked to celebrities, prompting legal and ethical debates about digital replacements and actor rights.

iQIYI has triggered a storm of criticism in China after unveiling an initiative that links performers with creators of AI-generated film and television, fuelling fears that the country’s biggest streaming platforms are normalising digital replacements for human actors. The backlash erupted after the company outlined a new “AI artist” system at its annual conference in Beijing, where executives said more than 100 celebrities had joined the platform.

The uproar has been sharpened by public denials from actors and their representatives, several of whom said they had not agreed to any such arrangement. According to Technode, the studio for actor Zhang Ruoyun said no AI-related authorisation had been signed and that legal steps were being considered, while other well-known names were also reported to have distanced themselves from the scheme. On social media, fans accused iQIYI of trying to push human performers further out of work.

iQIYI has sought to calm the controversy, saying the reaction stemmed from a misunderstanding. Senior vice-president Liu Wenfeng told AFP that the company was not currently licensing actors’ likenesses, but was instead building a tool to help AI creators and performers connect more quickly. He said any use of an actor’s image would still require confirmation on a case-by-case basis, including the specific scene or drama in question.

The debate widened after chief executive Gong Yu was reported to have suggested that fully human-made productions could one day be treated as a form of cultural relic. That remark, highlighted by several outlets, drew particularly strong criticism online and helped turn the issue into a wider argument about the future of acting, artistry and employment in China’s fast-expanding entertainment sector. Legal experts have also warned that once an artist’s image data enters training systems, it can be vulnerable to leakage, fine-tuning and reuse beyond the performer’s control, creating risks that may be difficult to reverse.

Source Reference Map

Inspired by headline at: [1]

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Verification / Sources

  • https://hongkongfp.com/2026/04/21/outrage-in-china-after-streaming-site-iqiyi-debuts-ai-actor-database/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
  • https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/technology/984659/outrage-in-china-after-streaming-site-debuts-ai-actor-database/story/ - iQIYI, China's equivalent of Netflix, faced backlash over a new initiative facilitating the use of actors' likenesses in AI-generated dramas and films. Over 100 celebrities joined a platform connecting them with AI content creators. Chinese actors took to social media to declare they had not or would not sign up to the 'artist database', with fans decrying iQIYI's apparent move to reduce work for human actors. iQIYI clarified that actors would retain control over how their image was used in AI-generated content. Experts warned of risks such as data leakage and unauthorized secondary training. (gmanetwork.com)
  • https://technode.com/2026/04/21/iqiyis-ai-artist-library-faces-growing-storm-as-actors-deny-authorization/ - iQIYI's AI Artist Library initiative, which claims over 100 artists have joined, has faced growing controversy as actors publicly deny authorization. Zhang Ruoyun's studio issued a statement denying involvement, stating no AI-related authorization had been signed and that legal action was underway. Similar denials came from parties associated with other well-known Chinese actors, casting doubt on iQIYI's claims. iQIYI clarified that the artist library is a matchmaking infrastructure for AI-generated content creators and actors, with actual participation requiring case-by-case negotiation. Legal observers flagged risks related to ownership, control, and long-term rights management. (technode.com)
  • https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/04/21/tech/china-streaming-ai-actor-database/ - iQIYI, China's equivalent of Netflix, faced backlash over a new initiative facilitating the use of actors' likenesses in AI-generated dramas and films. Over 100 celebrities joined a platform connecting them with AI content creators. Chinese actors took to social media to declare they had not or would not sign up to the 'artist database', with fans decrying iQIYI's apparent move to reduce work for human actors. iQIYI clarified that actors would retain control over how their image was used in AI-generated content. Experts warned of risks such as data leakage and unauthorized secondary training. (japantimes.co.jp)
  • https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/outrage-in-china-after-streaming-site-debuts-ai-actor-database - iQIYI, China's equivalent of Netflix, faced backlash over a new initiative facilitating the use of actors' likenesses in AI-generated dramas and films. Over 100 celebrities joined a platform connecting them with AI content creators. Chinese actors took to social media to declare they had not or would not sign up to the 'artist database', with fans decrying iQIYI's apparent move to reduce work for human actors. iQIYI clarified that actors would retain control over how their image was used in AI-generated content. Experts warned of risks such as data leakage and unauthorized secondary training. (straitstimes.com)
  • https://www.tonboriday.com/2026/04/iqiyi-faces-backlash-after-claiming-100.html - iQIYI faced backlash after unveiling AI actors using celebrity faces and voices, as Weibo trends with fury over its controversial digital drama plan. The phrase 'iQIYI has gone Crazy' trended on Weibo after the streaming giant unveiled one of the most controversial plans Chinese entertainment has seen in years. At the latest iQIYI World Conference 2026, executives revealed that more than 100 artists had reportedly signed agreements allowing the platform to use their faces, voices, and performance data to build AI-generated actors for future productions. The backlash intensified after iQIYI chief executive Gong Yu made remarks many online users considered astonishingly blunt. He said AI in film and television is unstoppable, while live-action productions could become increasingly rare and may one day be treated like intangible cultural heritage. iQIYI later explained that this was closer to 'performance transfer' than replacing people outright. Rights to their digital likenesses would remain managed through contracts, with each use requiring permission. That clarification did little to calm critics, who noted that legal wording and real-world enforcement are often two very different dramas. Industry observers say the bigger issue is trust. Streaming platforms are under pressure to cut costs, release content faster, and keep investors happy. AI promises all three. But entertainment is not a factory line, and viewers are famously ruthless when they sense something fake. For now, iQIYI has certainly achieved one thing: everyone is talking about it. Whether this becomes a bold industry leap or a spectacular misread of what audiences actually want remains to be seen. (tonboriday.com)

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We've since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The article was published on April 21, 2026, and reports on events from April 20, 2026. Multiple reputable sources, including AFP and The Straits Times, have covered this development, indicating the information is current and not recycled. (straitstimes.com)

Quotes check

Score: 7

Notes: Direct quotes from iQIYI Senior Vice President Liu Wenfeng and CEO Gong Yu are included. These quotes are consistent across multiple sources, suggesting they are accurate. (straitstimes.com) However, the article does not provide direct links to the original statements, making independent verification challenging.

Source reliability

Score: 8

Notes: The article is sourced from Hong Kong Free Press, a reputable news outlet. The information is corroborated by other established media, such as The Straits Times and AFP, enhancing credibility. (straitstimes.com)

Plausibility check

Score: 9

Notes: The claims about iQIYI's new AI initiative and the subsequent backlash are plausible and align with known trends in the entertainment industry's adoption of AI technologies. The reactions from actors and fans are consistent with concerns over AI's impact on employment and creative control. (straitstimes.com)

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The article provides current and plausible information about iQIYI's AI initiative and the resulting backlash. While the content is corroborated by other reputable sources, the lack of direct links to original statements from key individuals slightly reduces the ability to independently verify some claims. Therefore, the overall assessment is a PASS with MEDIUM confidence.