On September 17, at a State Council Information Office press conference regarding the accelerated high-quality development of broadcasting, television, and online audiovisual content during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Wang Xiaoliang, Director of the Network Audiovisual Program Management Department of the National Radio and Television Administration, introduced that the number of micro-drama users nationwide has now surpassed 800 million.

In the first eight months of this year, a total of 430,000 micro-dramas were launched online, representing a 13-fold increase compared to the full year of last year. Among these, AI-generated dramas account for over 90%, primarily due to the widespread application of artificial intelligence technology in content creation. The use of AI has opened new avenues for innovative expression, cost reduction, and efficiency enhancement in micro-dramas, while also introducing new challenges related to content quality and rights protection.

Wang Xiaoliang emphasized that真人剧 (live-action dramas) remain the main force for premium content creation and should be vigorously supported. The administration is deepening the implementation of the "Micro-Drama Premium Creation and Communication Plan," guiding platforms to establish dedicated "Live-Action Drama" sections and providing substantial financial support to ensure that quality works achieve market success and returns. Given the rapid growth and high proportion of AI dramas, the administration adheres to a dual approach of encouraging innovation while upholding bottom-line standards. AI-generated dramas are required to carry content labels, and platforms are urged to strictly enforce authorization protocols for likenesses and voices, ensuring comprehensive oversight at every stage.

Ultimately, AI serves as a tool, while humans remain the primary creators. The faster AI dramas develop, the more critical it becomes to maintain strict content standards. Wang Xiaoliang pointed out that the key to managing content quality lies in standardized governance. Since the beginning of this year, the National Radio and Television Administration has adopted a problem-oriented approach, focusing on harmful or vulgar content, content detrimental to minors, and copyright infringement as governance priorities. A total of 68,000 non-compliant micro-dramas have been removed from the entire network, and platforms have been supervised to handle over 1,200 violating accounts, with more than 90% of the disposed content also being AI-generated.

Platforms bear primary responsibility for upholding content standards. Going forward, the administration will continue to intensify and consolidate these responsibilities, striving to purify the industry ecosystem.