According to St Headline, at an event on 29/6, the actor revealed he had finalized a contract granting an artificial intelligence film production company the right to use his image from when he was 20 years old. He has seen initial scenes from the project and is satisfied with the results.

Actor Ngo Khai Hoa, 62 years old. *Photo: HK01*

Ngo Khai Hoa expressed happiness at the feeling of "returning to 20" to play the lead in a film. He is not concerned about legal issues because he signed strict contractual terms. The company is only permitted to use the actor's image from his twenties for one project. Regarding compensation, Ngo Khai Hoa did not disclose the amount but stated it was "not low."

"I hope the film is a hit. If so, I won't need to go to a film set to earn income in the future", Ngo Khai Hoa said. The actor joined the film industry in 1983, gaining fame for his role as Doctor Ching Chi Mei in TVB's *Healing Hands* (1998). Subsequently, Ngo Khai Hoa achieved renown across Asia as Zhang Wuji in *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber 2000* (co-starring Le Tu). The actor also participated in many other notable films such as *A Case of Misadventure*, *Delicious Love*, and *The Hippocratic Crush*.

Ngo Khai Hoa in *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber*. *Video: Bilibili*

Ngo Khai Hoa is one of the first prominent actors to publicly sell image rights for AI film production. Previously, most artists in the Chinese entertainment industry opposed this. At a seminar during the Shanghai Film Festival on 13/6, actor Luong Trieu Vy stated he does not reject AI but disagrees with granting AI the right to use his image for films.

Ngo Khai Hoa has successfully portrayed both heroic and villainous characters in films and television series. *Photo: TVB*

Luong Trieu Vy commented that technology cannot replace human acting. "Once you tell the audience that a character is AI, the viewer's feeling will be different. Currently, AI lacks consciousness, so its acting lacks soul. AI is a reaction, not an emotion. Reactions and emotions have similarities but are fundamentally different", Luong Trieu Vy said.

In April, Gong Yu, CEO of leading Chinese video platform Iqiyi, announced that his company was building an AI data library, with over 100 artists having signed agreements to join it, including Vu Hoa Vy, Truong Nhuoc Quan, Vuong So Nhien, Ly Nhat Dong, and Tang Thuan Hy.

Luong Trieu Vy at the Shanghai Film Festival 2026. *Photo: Weibo*

Following Iqiyi's announcement, several actors on the list collectively denied "selling themselves to AI". A representative for Vu Hoa Vy's management company stated that the actor had not signed any contracts granting rights to artificial intelligence. Actors Truong Nhuoc Quan, Vuong So Nhien, Ly Nhat Dong, and Tran Triet Vien also responded similarly.

In response to the actors' denials, Iqiyi clarified that actors "joining the library" meant they intended to discuss cooperation for projects using AI technology. The company would work individually with each person regarding their form of participation. This incident sparked extensive discussion about artificial intelligence replacing actors.

Nhu Anh (according to St Headline, Sina)