AI now fills China's microdrama supply, and the contest shifts to quality
Regulator data show over 90% of 430,000 microdramas in eight months were AI-generated, pushing producers toward differentiation.
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More than 90% of the 430,000 microdramas launched online in China in the first eight months of 2026 were AI-generated, according to the National Radio and Television Administration.
Microdramas run a few minutes per episode and rely on fast pacing and twists. AI has cut production costs so far that supply is saturated; creators say the challenge has shifted from making videos cheaply to standing out among lookalike productions.
The South China Morning Post reported on October 4 that NetEase this summer used AI to reconstruct actress Joey Wong's classic roles, a signal of the industry pivot. The report does not specify how the 90% share was measured, and the regulator's original release is not linked.