Famous Chinese short drama actor faces lay-off due to AI’s impact returns to farming
70% of his roles were 'bossy president' characters, but AI made them obsolete.
Zhang Xiaolei, a 28-year-old actor who built a career portraying 'ba zong' (bossy presidents) in Chinese short dramas, has been laid off due to the impact of AI technology. Since 2023, he appeared in 200 miniseries, with 70% of his roles as the stereotypical domineering, romantic control freak. But as AI-generated actors and voice cloning became cheaper and faster for studios, demand for human extras and niche actors like Zhang plummeted.
Unable to find new acting gigs, Zhang returned to his roots, moving to Qinghai province to work as a chili farmer. He told Red Star News that the transition was difficult but necessary. The case is a stark example of how AI is reshaping the entertainment industry in China, where miniseries production has boomed but now increasingly relies on synthetic talent. For professionals, it underscores the urgency of upskilling as AI automates even hyper-specialized roles.
- Zhang Xiaolei acted in 200 Chinese short dramas, 70% as 'bossy president' characters.
- He became unemployed in early 2026 as AI-generated actors replaced human talent.
- He now works as a chili farmer in Qinghai to support himself.
Why It Matters
AI is displacing specialized human roles in creative industries, forcing workers to pivot careers entirely.