Key facts
- China is using AI to produce short-form videos and micro-dramas for publicity campaigns.
- AI tools are accelerating content creation, reducing costs and production cycles.
- 95% of microdramas released in the first three months of the year were generated by AI.
- Overseas revenue for Chinese micro-dramas reached $1.5 billion in the first eight months of 2025.
- Global downloads of Chinese micro-drama apps reached approximately 730 million in the same period.
China is rapidly expanding its use of artificial intelligence (AI) to produce short-form videos and micro-dramas, aligning with directives to strengthen ideological work and guide public opinion both domestically and abroad. This strategy leverages AI for efficient and diverse content creation, which is rapidly penetrating global markets.
Micro-dramas, typically vertically shot with episodes lasting a few minutes, are gaining popularity worldwide due to shifting viewing habits that favor shorter content over traditional series. This format allows for more continuous storytelling than short videos while demanding less commitment than full-length shows.
The global expansion of Chinese micro-dramas has been swift. In the first eight months of 2025, overseas revenue reached $1.5 billion, a 194.9% year-on-year increase, according to a white paper on the industry's development. During the same period, global downloads of Chinese micro-drama apps surged by 370.4% to approximately 730 million.
This success is attributed to a lightweight expansion model that differs from traditional TV exports. Micro-dramas are distributed through apps and monetized directly via user payments, enabling faster market replication. Chinese companies are exporting not only content but also their production and distribution systems, adapting scripts for local audiences with foreign actors and local production teams.
AI is a key driver of this transformation, accelerating processes from script development and translation to editing and recommendation systems. This has lowered technical barriers, enabling broader participation in content creation and increasing efficiency. Chinese state media reported that in the first three months of 2026, over 120,000 microdramas were released, with 95% generated by AI. This shift has led to a decrease in live-action productions and job displacement for actors like Junlin, who noted a "bitter winter" for the industry.