Fang Daozi, an AI short film actress, made a significant impact in the entertainment industry just over a month ago. According to Finance Sina, her short film, "The Girl Who Was Wrongfully Dismissed," quickly became a sensation, accumulating over 200 million views. Following this success, the production company created social media accounts for her, and she has since amassed nearly 410,000 followers on Douyin.

Her official account showcases 39 videos, which have collectively garnered nearly 30 million likes and thousands of comments per post. Capitalizing on this engagement, Fang Daozi began accepting advertisements in early August. Reports from her rights management indicate that a video under 20 seconds featuring her commands a fee of nearly 170,000 yuan (approximately 661 million VND). For longer videos, exceeding 60 seconds, the price escalates to nearly 260,000 yuan (over one billion VND).

AI actress Fang Daozi. Photo: Douyin

This pricing structure positions her earnings above many key opinion leaders (KOLs) in China who boast millions of followers, and even surpasses a segment of KOLs with tens of millions of followers.

Ifeng highlighted Fang Daozi's "imperfection" as a distinctive trait. Unlike many AI characters designed for flawless aesthetics, her appearance includes minor blemishes and dark circles, deliberately moving away from the "perfect" trend. Her videos resonate with viewers by portraying relatable daily activities, such as commuting, exercising, and cooking. This authenticity has led to comments like one that garnered 20,000 likes: "It's gotten to the point where you can't distinguish between AI and real life anymore."

Her "sweet, likable" smile further enhances Fang Daozi's appeal to audiences. In her debut Douyin video, the character introduced herself, stating: "I am Daozi, 20 years old. Even though I am an AI, I have a zodiac sign. I was born on 1/4, so I am an Aries girl."

Fang Daozi exercising. Photo: Douyin

Fang Daozi is not alone; other AI characters are also monetizing their presence through various channels, including livestream sales and advertising.

As AI characters become increasingly human-like, a new trend sees real individuals "selling their faces" to AI. Notably, prominent Chinese actors like Ng Wu Kai Hua and Wang Zu Xian have confirmed selling the rights to their youthful images to AI companies.

An employee from an artificial intelligence company disclosed that they have acquired the image rights of numerous real-life KOLs, subsequently utilizing these images and voices for advertising and film production. The employee further explained that they possess image rights for KOLs across various fields, enabling them to produce short videos and advertisements for partners. "While some KOLs stipulate that they will not accept advertisements for health supplements, most do not impose such restrictions, and our prices are more economical than hiring real individuals," the employee added.

By Nhu Anh (according to Sina, Ifeng)