iQiyi CEO Gong Yu: AI drives explosive growth in short dramas, positive cycle for film industry
On September 23, 2026, at the iQiyi Autumn Joy Sharing Session, CEO Gong Yu stated that AI technology has driven explosive growth in short dramas and created opportunities for long-form content. He emphasized AI as a bonus, not a conveyor belt, and that iQiyi will not reduce quality. The company released a slate of over 350 new works for 2026-2027, including its first ultra-long AI seasonal drama.
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iQiyi CEO Gong Yu Says AI Drives Film Industry into Positive Cycle
On September 23, at the 2026 iQiyi Autumn Enjoyment Conference, iQiyi founder and CEO Gong Yu stated that thanks to the development of AI technology, short dramas have experienced explosive growth, and AI also brings opportunities for long-form content. After costs decline, the number of creators and works has increased significantly, pushing the film and television industry into a positive cycle. Gong Yu said iQiyi will leverage AI to break the traditional high barriers of the film industry, shorten production cycles, and explore new types of content works spawned by AI, thereby driving user content consumption growth.
Read sourceiQiyi CEO Gong Yu Says AI in Film Production Is a Bonus, Not a Conveyor Belt, and Must Not Reduce Quality
At the 2026 iQiyi iJOY Autumn Joy Sharing Session on September 23, iQiyi founder and CEO Gong Yu stated that AI technology in film and television production can be divided into two categories: AI applied to live-action content and AI-generated content (AIGC). He noted that over the past three to four months, content mixing live-action and AI has seen explosive growth, becoming a rapidly expanding subfield in the industry that enhances audiovisual experience while shortening production cycles and reducing costs. Gong Yu emphasized that AI should be a bonus for the film industry, not a conveyor belt for industrialized products, and that iQiyi will adhere to a principle of not reducing quality.
iQiyi CEO Gong Yu: AI Enhances Film and TV, Won't Create Assembly Line, Will Drive Positive Cycle
On September 23, iQiyi founder and CEO Gong Yu stated that AI is being applied explosively in live-action content over the past three to four months, significantly improving audiovisual experience, shortening production cycles, and reducing costs. He emphasized that AI is additive, not for creating assembly-line or industrialized products, and must not lower quality. iQiyi's AI strategy focuses on three areas: All in AI to empower live-action long films and AIGC long films, building a healthy content creator ecosystem, and exploring new AI-driven content forms. Gong Yu cited the Jevons paradox, predicting that if per-unit content costs drop to one-tenth while quality remains stable, creators could increase tenfold, works a hundredfold, and consumption would grow. iQiyi released a slate of over 350 new works for 2026-2027, including its first ultra-long AI seasonal drama 'Bu Xian Yuan Yang Zhi Xian Xian' (Season 1) launching in Q4 2024, and a live-action plus AI mixed ancient drama 'Tian Xing Jiu Ge Zhi Ju Shi Wu Shuang' in 2027. Chief Content Officer Wang Xiaohui noted that long-form video viewing is shifting to large screens, with TV time share rising from 42.85% in 2022 to 50.58% in H1 2024. He also predicted that medium-length dramas (15-30 minutes per episode) have greater and more stable potential than long or short dramas, leading iQiyi to strengthen branded operations through three sub-labels: Dark Stream Theater, Blossom Theater, and Spring Autumn Theater.
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iQiyi Founder Gong Yu Says AI Drives Positive Cycle in Film Industry
On September 23, at iQiyi's autumn sharing event, founder Gong Yu stated that thanks to the development of AI technology, short dramas have experienced explosive growth, and AI also brings opportunities for long-form content. As costs decline, the number of creators and works has increased significantly, pushing the film and television industry into a positive cycle. iQiyi plans to leverage AI to break down the traditional high barriers of the film industry, shorten production cycles, and explore new types of AI-generated content to boost user content consumption. The report was sourced from Securities Times and published on East Money's industry economy channel.
Read sourceiQiyi Creates First Ultra-Long AI Drama; CEO Says AI Brings Positive Industry Cycle
On September 23, at the '2026 iQiyi Joyful Sharing Meeting,' iQiyi founder and CEO Gong Yu stated that AI technology will be applied across all aspects of future film and television production, and that AI will bring a positive cycle to the industry. Chief Content Officer Wang Xiaohui revealed that iQiyi will use Nadou PRO for intelligent content creation, heralding the arrival of the AI long-drama era. iQiyi's first ultra-long AI season drama, 'Not Envious of Mandarin Ducks, Only Envy Immortals,' will be released, exploring opportunities in the AI-integrated long-drama track. Wang noted that China's film and TV industry has entered a 'C2C era' and an 'era of high emotional溢价,' trends that will break through audience fragmentation, creative narrowing, and cost rigidity. Regarding future market potential, Wang said the mid-length drama market holds greater potential than long or short dramas, as production teams come from professional long-drama backgrounds and offer more stable investment value. iQiyi also released a 2026-2027 slate of over 350 new works. Gong Yu added that in the past three to four months, AI has seen 'explosive application' in live-action content, significantly improving audiovisual experience, shortening production cycles, and reducing costs.
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