iQIYI's AI Artist Library Sparks Controversy as Actors Deny Authorization

Chinese streaming giant iQIYI unveiled its AI Artist Library initiative, positioning it as a scalable solution for creating digital performer avatars using authorized multimodal data. The company announced with fanfare that over 100 artists had already been 'onboarded.' However, the rollout immediately sparked controversy when prominent actors including Zhang Ruoyun, Wang Churan, Li Yitong, and Yu Hewei issued public denials through their studios. Zhang Ruoyun's studio stated it had "never signed any AI-related authorization" and that legal action was underway, directly contradicting iQIYI's claims and triggering widespread online scrutiny.

Facing mounting backlash, iQIYI attempted to clarify its position, reframing the library not as a roster of contracted AI performers but as a 'matchmaking infrastructure' for AIGC creators. The company explained that inclusion signals a willingness to explore projects, with actual participation requiring case-by-case negotiation. Critics argue that iQIYI's initial marketing language using terms like 'signed' and 'onboarded' created significant misinterpretation, blurring the line between exploratory interest and formal authorization.

The controversy highlights deeper structural risks as generative AI moves into production. Legal observers note that even with consent, reusing an actor's likeness and performance data in AI systems raises complex, unresolved questions about long-term rights management, ownership, and control. The incident serves as an early signal that scaling AI in creative industries requires not just technical capability but new contractual frameworks and clearer alignment between platform ambitions and artist protections.