The presence of short vertical dramas generated by artificial intelligence is expanding on digital platforms, a shift affecting production costs, speed, and job opportunities, while raising questions about the technology's ability to deliver coherent narratives and convincing performances, not just striking visuals.
A report by the US research firm First and Co., published by The Hollywood Reporter in October, showed that AI-generated works accounted for about 66 percent of new vertical drama titles tracked outside China in the third quarter of 2026, compared to 3 percent in the first quarter and 28 percent in the second quarter.
The British research firm Omdia estimated the global short drama market revenue at around 11 billion dollars in 2025, predicting an increase to 14 billion dollars by the end of 2026, figures that include works produced by various methods.
Beijing Review quoted Xiong Binghui, CEO of the company developing the work, stating that producing short dramas with AI could reduce costs by 70 to 80 percent compared to traditional filming, with the cost of an episode reaching a few thousand yuan.
In contrast, the speed of this transformation raises concerns about job opportunities. Business Insider quoted American actress Hannah Laurie, who landed a role in a series about the world of skiing, before the project turned into a production relying on AI-generated actors.
In an analysis published by the University of Auckland, New Zealand, in October, academic Johnny Chan explored the relationship between viewers, recommendation algorithms, and content creators, noting that AI enhances platforms' ability to quickly offer variations on stories that attract audiences.
The First and Co. report noted that works featuring real actors on the Reel Short platform were more likely to remain in the top 10 percent of most-watched works 30 days after their release, compared to artificial works.
These savings come from reducing the need for actor salaries, filming locations, sets, and some effects, while speeding up design and visual processing stages, but lower costs do not guarantee higher artistic quality.
The report indicates that the high volume of production enabled by AI does not necessarily mean retaining audience interest, as stunning visuals alone are not enough to create an impactful story.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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