Summary of Key Points
The AI content industry is undergoing a major reshuffle: Many small bloggers who relied heavily on plagiarism and homogenization have stopped posting due to copyright issues and platform regulations. Meanwhile, top creators/platforms that focus on original content and are willing to invest in computing power and copyright costs are gradually gaining a foothold. The industry has shifted from the early phase of low-quality, mass production to a more refined approach that emphasizes original content, differentiated roles, and compliant operations. In the future, resources will be concentrated among those with capital and the ability to produce original content.
1. Copyright as a Barrier: AI bloggers who copy novels can no longer succeed
Many early AI bloggers made money by exploiting the creativity of existing novels on text platforms. They would take snippets of novels, feed them to AI algorithms, and release new versions with different protagonists or settings, completely ignoring copyright issues. However, as regulations have become stricter, these bloggers are unable to continue posting without proper authorization. As one commentator said, “When making videos from other people’s novels, no one thought about whether the original authors would still be alive—or now it’s their turn to struggle.” Without original scripts, copyright has become a barrier that prevents these “speculators” from continuing their operations.
2. Homogeneous AI dramas: User fatigue drives platforms to address the issue of similar looks
One of the main complaints about AI dramas is that the characters all look the same, with male and female protagonists being predefined by large models, and their roles simply changing from one drama to another, similar to actors appearing in different shows. The reason is that creating unique characters requires additional computational resources, which the early bloggers were unwilling to invest in. Users are tired of this. The Hongguo platform has recently announced plans to address this issue, stating that future AI characters must not be too similar, and even those that resemble real celebrities will be rejected. This means the days of using pre-made models to cut corners are over.
3. Originality is the key: Only AI dramas that can be continuously updated rely on original stories
Dramas that have gone beyond the first season, such as “Xiu Xian Bu Ru Gan Fan” and “Yi Fu Men Song Wo Shang Da Xue,” as well as original short films like “Yan Ran” and “Zou Gou Peng,” all share the common trait of having their own unique stories. Some bloggers create original content out of passion, while others use it to attract investment. They write their own scripts and design distinctive characters. For example, the blogger behind the “AIGC Jin Yong Series” persisted despite rising model prices and higher costs, relying on their originality to stand out. This is the core competitiveness needed to survive in the future.
4. The industry is changing: Top players are consolidating, and small bloggers must decide to stay or leave
The cost of producing AI dramas is increasing (each 3-4-minute episode now costs thousands of yuan), and the barriers to copyright and compliance are also rising. The early model of producing large quantities of dramas to gain traffic and share profits is no longer feasible. The industry is moving towards a concentration of resources with larger, more capitalistic platforms and creators. These entities will purchase actor rights, hire professional writers, and produce original content, sometimes even forming large teams through collaborations and acquisitions. Small bloggers either need to transition to creating original content (at a higher cost) or exit the industry altogether. Future investments in AI drama production will be several times higher, but the content will be of higher quality, and profits will be more concentrated. This is the inevitable path for the industry to move from “wild growth” to “regulated development.”
Conclusion: A choice for small bloggers
Facing this reshuffle, small bloggers have two options: either commit to creating original content and building up capital or accept the reality and leave the industry. After all, the era of making easy money through plagiarism and homogenization is truly over.