Chinese streaming platform iQIYI's newly announced artificial intelligence performer database plan, under which actors can authorize the creation of digital doubles for future film and television production, has sparked broad online debate in China over whether actors could one day be replaced by AI.

爱奇艺近期公布的“AI艺人库”计划引发舆论热议。根据该计划，演员可授权制作数字分身用于未来影视拍摄，此举引发关于“AI是否会取代真人演员”的广泛讨论。

Experts said AI-generated content, or AIGC, may be suitable only for certain genres, such as science fiction and historical dramas, and that human actors, with their own life experience and understanding of characters, are unlikely to be fully replaced.

专家指出，AI生成内容可能仅适用于科幻、历史等特定题材，而真人演员凭借自身生活阅历与角色理解力，短期内难以被完全替代。

On Monday, iQIYI CEO Gong Yu unveiled the AI performer database, called Nadou Pro, at a launch event, and said more than 100 performers had agreed to join, including well-known actors and actresses.

4月20日，爱奇艺CEO龚宇在发布会上正式推出名为“纳逗Pro”的AI演员数据库，称已有超百位艺人同意加入，其中不乏知名演员。

However, by Monday afternoon, several artists issued statements denying ever signing any AI-related authorization.

但当天下午，多位艺人发布声明否认签署过任何AI相关授权协议。

iQIYI released two statements, on Monday afternoon and early on Tuesday, stressing that the original purpose of the database was "to provide a standardized platform for AIGC creators, making it easier for them to select performers during the production process and efficiently communicate cooperation details with artists through iQIYI".

爱奇艺于20日下午及21日凌晨连发两份声明，强调该数据库初衷是“为AIGC创作者提供一个规范的平台，便于其在创作中遴选艺人，并通过爱奇艺与艺人方高效沟通合作细节”。

The platform stressed that "the performers agreeing to join only means they have willingness to cooperate on AI film and television projects".

平台方特别说明：“入驻爱奇艺纳逗Pro艺人库，代表艺人有接洽AI影视项目的意愿”。

Whether they would participate in a specific project or play a particular role would still require separate negotiations and authorization, it said, adding that this process is consistent with traditional film and television cooperation.

但是否参加某个具体项目、是否出演某个具体角色，都需要进行单独的商谈和授权。这一流程与传统的真人影视项目合作流程是一致的。

"The integration of AI and film and television creation is still at an exploratory stage," the platform said, saying in the future, it will "embrace technological change while protecting the interests of performers, creators and audiences".

“AI与影视创作的融合尚处探索阶段，”平台表示，未来将“在拥抱技术变革的同时，切实保障演员、创作者及观众权益”。

The issue quickly triggered heated discussion on Chinese social media, with many users questioning whether AI-generated performers could replace human actors in TV dramas and expressing concern that the acting profession could one day be displaced.

该话题迅速引爆社交平台，网友普遍担忧AI生成的数字演员或将冲击真人演艺行业。

Guo Yanmin, a professor at the Communication University of China, said it is still too early to assess the real impact of the AI performer database because its actual operation and implementation have yet to be seen.

中国传媒大学教授郭艳民认为，目前评估AI演员库实际影响为时过早，其运作模式与实施效果仍有待观察。

But he said the biggest problem with AIGC is that "something fake is fake by nature and can never truly become real", which is a key concern for many viewers.

但他指出AIGC核心痛点在于“虚假事物终究难以成真”，这正是多数观众的关切所在。

As a result, even if an AI-generated drama using the voice and face of a famous actor appears highly realistic, audiences may still prefer works performed by actual actors, Guo said.

“即便AI制作的剧集能高度还原知名演员的声画形象，观众仍会更青睐真人演绎的作品”。

Guo added some genres are more suited to AI enhancement, such as science fiction, fantasy, historical works and animation-inspired productions.

郭教授分析称，科幻、奇幻、历史及动漫改编作品更适宜融入AI技术。

By contrast, he said, realistic TV dramas and movies may be less suitable for such technology.

而现实主义题材影视剧则需慎用。

He added that it is unlikely actors will be "fully replaced", because acting is a process in which performers draw on years of life experience, values and understanding to interpret a role.

他强调演员被“完全取代”的可能性极低：“表演是演员调动经年累月的生活积淀、价值判断与角色认知进行再创作的过程。

In AI-generated works, by contrast, what remains of the actor is only the face and voice — essentially just a shell — while what viewers are really seeing is the production team's interpretation of the characters, not the actor's own, the professor noted.

AI作品中保留的仅剩面容与声线，犹如空壳，观众看到的实则是制作团队对角色的诠释，而非演员本体表达”。

Li Ya, a partner at Beijing Zhongwen Law Firm, said the AI performer database may also involve legal risks.

英语新闻丨“AI艺人库”引争议，爱奇艺回应