A new market is rapidly gaining popularity in China, allowing individuals to earn income by licensing the use of their likeness for AI applications. Dedicated online platforms compensate users for granting AI systems the right to use their facial image in advertisements, video games, and the increasingly popular AI-generated micro-dramas, El.kz reports.
The model operates similarly to a stock image marketplace. Users upload photographs or participate in professional photo sessions at designated studios, after which their images are added to a searchable database. Content producers can select candidates based on gender, age, appearance, and other characteristics. Compensation ranges from USD 15 to USD 700, depending on the licensing terms and the platform.
Demand for these services continues to grow alongside the rapid expansion of China’s micro-drama industry short-form, vertical video series designed primarily for smartphone audiences. Once a suitable face has been selected, artificial intelligence independently generates the character’s facial expressions, movements, clothing, background, and other visual elements. As a result, participants are not required to have any acting experience.
“Producers are looking for attractive faces for leading roles, but they also need distinctive appearances for example, elderly people,” Camilla Yan, Marketing Director at the ActID platform said
In the first quarter of 2026, approximately 128,000 micro-dramas were produced in China, with more than 95% incorporating artificial intelligence into the production process.
