[AI Drama] What jobs will disappear due to AI, and what jobs will be created? The new business model shown by 'AI drama production companies' that started in China
Recently, Japanese news introduced a Chinese company that produces and distributes dramas using only AI to generate revenue, which became a major topic of conversation.
Until now, making dramas and movies required many staff members and performers. However, with the evolution of generative AI, that common knowledge is beginning to change.
In this article, using this news as an example, I would like to think about jobs that are changing due to AI.
AI drama production becomes a business in China
Currently, in China, 'AI drama' is not in the experimental stage, but is becoming an industry that is established as a business. In China,
'vertical short dramas' of about 1 to 3 minutes per episode are extremely popular.
The characteristics are:
Composed of 50 to 100 episodes
Vertical screen viewing on smartphones
The first few episodes are free
Monetization through paid access or advertisements for the rest
This is the model.
By 2026, it is predicted that this market size will exceed the box office revenue of Chinese films, and production speed is further accelerating due to the introduction of AI.
Companies that make dramas only with AI
A representative example that is being talked about is StoReel in Beijing.
This company produces works through the following process:
Generate actors with AI
Generate audio with AI
Generate video with AI
Generate backgrounds and special effects with AI
and distributes them through their own app.
Works that previously required dozens to hundreds of people to produce are now becoming possible to complete in a short period of time by a small team.
Jobs that may decrease due to AI
With the spread of AI, some of the following jobs may be replaced by AI.
Extras
Simple video editing
Background production
Narration
Translation
Subtitle creation
Music production
CG production
Concept art production
Of course, not everything will disappear.
High-quality works, special acting, and human-unique expressions will continue to be needed.
Jobs newly created by AI
On the other hand, new jobs are also being born one after another.
For example,
AI prompt designer
AI video director
AI Video Editing Creator
AI Character Designer
AI Content Producer
AI Quality Assurance Specialist
AI Workflow Designer
AI Tool Developer
and so on.
In other words, 'jobs that use AI' are starting to become new professions.
Towards an era where individuals can create dramas
Previously, drama production required:
high-performance computers
expensive software
filming equipment
a large staff
and more.
However, now, we have:
online AI
video generation AI
music generation AI
voice generation AI
By combining things like this, we have entered an era where you can create works even on a standard gaming PC.
I am also taking on the challenge of AI drama production.
I am currently focusing on video generation AI that can be used for free to challenge myself with producing a serial drama.
For some scenes that are difficult to handle with online AI alone, I am also utilizing local AI, but most scenes are produced using only online AI.
I am still in the trial-and-error stage, but I am proceeding with production while actually verifying 'how far a drama can be made using only AI'.
Episode 1: The Island Where You Were That Summer - '♪Stay Through The Grey'
Click here for the continuation of the serial drama.
AI does not just take away jobs.
I sometimes hear the topic of 'having jobs taken away by AI'.
It is true that some jobs may be streamlined by AI, and the number of people required may decrease.
However, on the other hand,
for those who can master AI, new jobs and new opportunities are being created.
Looking back at history, when PCs, the internet, and smartphones became widespread, many jobs changed and new professions were born.
In the same way, AI is a 'technology that creates new jobs' at the same time as it is a 'technology that eliminates jobs'.
Summary
AI is beginning to significantly change the world of video production.
In China, businesses that utilize AI to produce, distribute, and monetize dramas have already begun. And there is a possibility that this trend will spread to Japan in the future.
What is important from now on is not just thinking that 'AI will take my job,' but learning how to utilize AI to create new value, isn't it?
I would also like to explore the possibilities of new video production through serial drama production utilizing AI. I will continue to release the works I produce from time to time, so I would be happy if you could support me.