As global film enthusiasts await director James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash, which he has explicitly stated will feature "zero AI-generated content," artificial intelligence is nonetheless reshaping China's film and screen industries in profound ways. From script development to post-production, from cost reduction to the exploration of new aesthetics, AI—a new driver of productivity—is injecting unprecedented vitality into China's screen industries and accelerating their transition toward digitalization and intelligent transformation.
Shooting site of The Wandering Earth 3
In China, AI has been deeply integrated across the across the entire filmmaking workflow. During the creative development stage, large AI models have become efficient auxiliary tools. For instance, the production team of The Wandering Earth 3 developed a dedicated AI application based on a domestically developed large model to rapidly retrieve internal materials such as scripts and world-building materials. This has helped unify creative settings and significantly improved the efficiency of pre-production planning.
AI application "Wei"
AI's value is even more evident during the production phase. In virtual filming, AI enables low-latency, high-precision real-time rendering, allowing actors' performances in front of green screens to be instantly composited into virtual environments, greatly reducing reliance on on-location shooting. In post-production, AI tools are increasingly automating traditionally time-consuming and labor-intensive tasks, including keying, color grading, editing, and even the generation of complex visual effects.
More importantly, AI technologies are lowering the barriers to creation, giving rise to new genres and aesthetic styles. The science fiction short drama The Sun That Fell, produced by Douyin, features no live-action footage. Instead, it relies entirely on text prompts to drive AI-generated concept art, animated storyboards, and a wide range of futuristic scenes. Achieving tens of millions of views at extremely low cost, the project has enabled more small and medium-sized teams to venture into science fiction, fantasy, and other genres that previously required substantial financial investment.
The vitality of China's film industry is closely linked to technological empowerment, including AI. As of mid-December 2025, China's total annual box office revenue has surpassed 50 billion yuan. Behind these impressive figures lies the full-chain integration of "film + technology." From production to audience experience, China's film industry is comprehensively embracing technological innovation. Rather than attempting to replace human creativity and emotional expression, AI and other cutting-edge technologies serve as powerful enablers, allowing filmmakers to realize bold and imaginative ideas more effectively and efficiently. Through the integration of technology and art, China's cultural industries are entering a new stage of dynamic and sustainable growth.
(Compiled from China Film News, GMW.cn, CCTV News, and Global Times)
