ATF: Chinese Streamer iQiyi Integrates AI Into Development Process

iQiyi Chief Content Officer Wang Xiaohui, told delegates at the Singapore's Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) on Tuesday that the Chinese streaming giant has integrated artificial intelligence into several key areas of development and production, leading to "startling efficiencies."

According to Xiaohui, the company uses AI in several places during the development process, including as a way to convert large books or scripts into concise summaries that can be used in the decision-making process. "We can turn 2,000,000 words in a novel into an 8,000-word document that outlines the plot and includes character analyses," he told the audience. 

He said the AI generated summaries have an accuracy of 90 percent and have shortened the pitch and feedback process from 3-4 days when performed by humans to just one hour with AI.

The streamer also uses artificial intelligence during the marketing and PR phases of the production process, using the technology to develop character artwork and scene designs, as well as poster mock-ups to support its publicity efforts. 

Over the last five years, iQiyi has launched more than 100 originals, including 60 titles in 2023.

Xiaohui also expressed what could arguably be the most popular sentiment in the streaming video executive class: that the company is working to make fewer projects, but ones that are more expensive and of better quality.

"In the future, whether it is membership revenue or advertising revenue, they are definitely going to come from premium content," said Xiaohui.