{
  "id": 12439032,
  "title": "AI digital human Yuri has 100,000 fans and now a Chinese ID card",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/ai-digital-human-yuri-has-100-000-fans-and-now-a-chinese-id-card",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-06T18:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-07/china-trials-identity-card-for-ai-digital-humans/107232848"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Beijing, a pilot program is issuing identification cards for AI digital humans. Each card bears a name, birthday, address, and facial features, enabling the digital human to possess a digital currency wallet. Digital humans are prevalent in Chinese media, with an estimated market worth of $10 billion by 2025. One such AI digital human is Yuri, who, despite being just one year old, has garnered 100,000 fans and now holds an official ID card.\n\nYuri, an AI-generated virtual idol, made history by being the first Chinese digital human to receive a government-issued identification card. This official identity allows her operators to open a digital currency wallet for business and secure commercial partnerships in industries like fashion, gaming, and automotive. Moreover, she became the country's first licensed AI artist.\n\nThe pilot program in Beijing also marked Yuri as the first AI artist to obtain a license. According to a 2025 report from the Communication University of China, at least 1.3 million firms in China are associated with the digital human sector. Recently, Beijing released a practice guide for broadcasting and online video services, mandating the registration of digital humans. This move is part of broader plans to regulate avatars following President Xi Jinping's initiative to bolster new, self-reliant productive forces and improve AI self-sufficiency.\n\nDigital humans have become a common tool in various aspects of Chinese media, including broadcasting, online streaming, micro dramas, e-commerce, and propaganda. The market size was valued at 48 billion yuan ($10 billion) in 2025 and is rapidly expanding. Digital avatars initially served as a means for users to conceal their identities in vertical videos or live streaming, but they have since evolved into sophisticated AI-generated influencers capable of real-time interaction with users.\n\nYuri, managed by a human team, is one of China's most popular AI influencers and is regarded as a pioneer in generative AI-created virtual idols. The Chinese Digital Human Influence Index Report reveals that while many digital influencers adopt the voice or face of real humans, Yuri's identity is entirely AI-generated.\n\nThe use of AI digital humans offers numerous advantages in China's thriving live-streaming industry, providing 24/7 companionship at a low cost. Furthermore, Beijing has employed virtual humans to deliver political directives and deliver ideological and historical education to Chinese Communist Party members. Dozens of local government agencies have also deployed digital human officers to address public inquiries. Last year, Beijing even sent two digital humans to discuss the annual Government Work Report, marking the first instance of AI avatars being utilized in the country's most significant political meetings.",
  "summary": "Beijing is issuing AI digital humans with identity cards in a bid to hold companies accountable and ensuring state surveillance applies to the virtual world.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}