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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Movies and TV devider Chinese actor says AI cost him acting career as debate over 'Sigabo,' 'Blood Vs. Duty' continues

Chinese actor says AI cost him acting career as debate over 'Sigabo,' 'Blood Vs. Duty' continues

Published Jul 13, 2026 12:57 pm  |  Updated Jul 13, 2026 01:06 pm

The online furor over the alleged use of artificial intelligence in local series "Sigabo" and "Blood Vs. Duty" has so far centered on one question: Does it look convincing?

Many viewers have dismissed the supposed AI-generated scenes as "cringe," while others have welcomed the technology as a fresh approach that could help local productions evolve. But beneath the debate over visual quality lies a more unsettling question: What happens if AI starts replacing the people behind the productions?

That question has gained new relevance following a report by Channel NewsAsia Lifestyle about a Chinese actor who says AI has already cost him his career.

Chinese vertical drama actor Xu Peng, 30, has gone viral after returning to his hometown in Shandong to help his grandfather sell vegetables after acting opportunities reportedly disappeared.

A graduate of the Central Academy of Drama, Xu built a following playing powerful CEO characters in China's hugely popular vertical dramas. His career took off during the country's micro-drama boom in 2025 but slowed dramatically as AI-generated productions became increasingly common.

According to the report, Xu now delivers vegetables to the local market on an electric vehicle before spending his days selling produce alongside his grandfather.

Despite the abrupt career change, he has remained philosophical.

"Being an actor is just a profession. If there are no acting jobs, I'll find another way to make a living," Xu said.

"As long as I earn an honest living through my own hard work, there's no obstacle I can't overcome. Even if my profession changes, I'm still the same person."

Xu's story reflects a broader transformation taking place in China's booming short-drama industry.

Channel NewsAsia reported that artificial intelligence has affected an estimated two million jobs in the sector. Actors who once earned as much as 20,000 yuan (about P181,500) a day reportedly now struggle to find projects paying just 1,200 yuan (around P10,900).

The report also said that during the first quarter of 2026, about 122,000 of China's 128,000 newly released micro-dramas were produced using AI, underscoring how quickly the technology has reshaped the industry.

The discussion has already reached Filipino audiences.

When Chinese actress Zhang Yingfei, known to many local viewers as Linda Walker from the viral vertical drama "The Heiress Who Won With Brains," visited the Philippines in June, she clarified that she is a real actress after some fans mistakenly believed she was AI-generated.

For now, the debate in the Philippines remains largely focused on whether AI belongs on screen. But Xu Peng's experience serves as a reminder that the technology's biggest impact may eventually be felt off camera, by the actors, writers, artists and production workers whose livelihoods could be reshaped by AI's rapid rise.

Related Tags

AI artificial intelligence Sigabo Blood Vs Duty Xu Peng Chinese actor AI in television AI-generated dramas vertical dramas China entertainment
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