Fang Taozi, the virtual female lead in AI-driven short dramas, has rapidly gained immense popularity, with her fee for a single advertisement once soaring to over 200,000 yuan. Numerous real-life celebrities have also begun licensing their images for AI applications. Virtual characters are evolving from mere on-screen personas to commercially viable entities with market-determined prices. The immense success of these AI short dramas has significantly boosted Fang Taozi's fame, resulting in a steady influx of commercial opportunities. Platform data reveals that her advertising fee has ranged from 168,000 yuan to 258,000 yuan at times. Similarly, Duan Yan, the male lead in AI short dramas, has also ventured into collaborations with e-commerce platforms. Several AI talent shows continue to captivate audiences through virtual personas and fan engagement, making it increasingly common for virtual characters to accept commercial endorsements. However, this trend is not without its risks. When Fang Taozi, serving as a 'virtual spokesperson,' promoted colored contact lenses by asserting they were 'comfortable for all-day wear,' it ignited controversy due to the virtual character's lack of real-life experience with the product. The associated advertisements were swiftly removed, and market regulatory authorities have also intervened. Liu Minghui, a lawyer at Shanghai United Law Firm, emphasized that if information disseminated by digital avatars infringes upon the rights of others, the entities behind these avatars may be held liable for such infringement.
