Actress Thu Han Yu highlights impact of AI on short drama industry

Chinese actress Thu Han Yu, known as the "national supporting actress" in the short drama industry, has gained social media attention after revealing her sudden loss of income. With 20 years of experience, the actress reported that she has not received a new script in three months, forcing her to limit her daily food expenses to under 2 RMB.

Thu attributes this career disruption to a massive industry shift toward AI-simulated films and AI-assisted animation. She noted that following the Lunar New Year in 2026, the production of short films using human actors declined sharply as studios pivoted to AI to improve cost-efficiency and production speed.

This trend is impacting the entire production chain, including directors, costume designers, and makeup artists. Mid-tier and supporting actors are reportedly the most vulnerable to being replaced by AI technologies.