From TV Star to Chili Farmer: Former Chinese Web Series Actor Known for 'Powerful Boss' Role Loses Work to AI

A former Chinese web series actor who became famous for his "Powerful Boss" role in online dramas has made headlines after facing unemployment from the impact of AI technology transforming the entertainment industry.

The actor is Zhang Xiaolei, 28, who appeared in over 200 web series productions, primarily playing "tyrannical CEOs" or the character known as "Papa Zhang," a popular character type in Chinese romance novels and dramas. Zhang entered the entertainment industry in late 2023 with some dance background and was introduced to the rapidly growing web series sector by a friend.

During the industry's boom period, he became one of the busiest actors, sometimes working continuously for three days with almost no breaks, churning out content for numerous web series productions. However, since early this year, his work has declined significantly. He received only one acting opportunity and his pay was cut to half of what he earned the previous year.

The primary cause is the emergence of AI technology that can create virtual characters to replace real actors, dramatically reducing production costs and decreasing demand for human performers. Reports indicate that traditional web series using real actors cost approximately 10,000 yuan (about 48,000 baht) per episode, but with AI implementation, costs have dropped significantly. AI usage in production increased from 7% to 38% within a single year.

Facing this industry transformation, Zhang invested approximately 400,000 yuan (roughly 1.9 million baht) to start a chili farm in Haitong, Qinghai Province. He explained that he chose farming because his family has agricultural backgrounds and he already possessed knowledge in the field. He confirmed: "If there's acting work, I'll do it. But if there isn't, I'll continue as a farmer."