{
  "id": 13906251,
  "title": "How China harnesses AI microdramas to shape public opinion at home and abroad",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/how-china-harnesses-ai-microdramas-to-shape-public-opinion-at-home",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-12T08:03:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3370547/how-china-harnesses-ai-microdramas-shape-public-opinion-home-and-abroad"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Beijing is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to create short-form videos and microdramas as part of its publicity campaigns, in line with directives that emphasize the role of technology in strengthening ideological work and shaping public opinion. Unlike sensational AI content found on Chinese media platforms, such as Cinderella stories and tales of vengeance post-apocalypse, these AI-generated miniseries incorporate Chinese culture, policies, achievements, and revolutionary history. Most of these productions are spearheaded by Chinese publicity authorities and official media, often in collaboration with private production studios and digital creators. One recent example is \"The Iron Remembers,\" an AI microdrama created by the People's Liberation Army's news media center. The first episode debuted last Thursday, featuring a unit of 128 troops defending a telegraph transmitter and hand-cranked generator during the Long March, a chaotic retreat from 1934 to 1936 by the Communist Party's Red Army to escape Kuomintang forces during the Chinese Civil War. These AI productions are part of Beijing's broader efforts to modernize official messaging, utilizing emerging technologies to guide public opinion and make national narratives more engaging to both domestic and international audiences. Beijing views these efforts as crucial for maintaining political stability, fostering loyalty to the leadership, and enhancing its global discourse power, countering Western narratives that often portray China as threatening and authoritarian. At a 2019 Politburo session, Chinese President Xi Jinping encouraged mainstream media to embrace new technologies, mechanisms, and models to maximize publicity outcomes. He emphasized the need for a \"mobile-first strategy\" and stressed the importance of using modern science and technology to enhance social governance. Following Xi's directives, local governments and official media across China have continuously updated their dissemination tools to maximize the reach of state-sanctioned ideological and cultural content. These channels now include proprietary mobile apps, immersive virtual-reality news videos, and digital collectibles immortalizing historical news moments. With generative AI technology rapidly advancing, the focus has shifted to AI-generated content. China implemented regulations for generative AI in 2023, mandating that AI-powered content adhere to \"socialist core values\" – 12 principles guiding individual morality and public ethics toward a prosperous, harmonious, and modern society under party leadership. Among the numerous AI-generated productions, \"The Iron Remembers\" emerged amid China's boom in AI microdramas. According to a report by the China Netcasting Services Association in July, 367,000 microdramas debuted in the first half of this year, with over 1,500 new AI-generated series released daily, accounting for more than 74% of the total. Microdramas, typically presented in a vertical format and lasting only a few minutes per episode, gained widespread popularity before the integration of generative AI into their production process. The technology can now be employed throughout the entire process, from story adaptation and scriptwriting to character and scene generation, culminating in post-production, where animation or live-action-style dramas are created. In May, the National Radio and Television Administration launched a strategy to promote the refinement, popularization, and internationalization of microdramas. The goal is to produce 1,000 high-quality works annually on themes such as mainstream values, historical milestones, and regional cultures. AI is seen as a means to boost efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance visual quality. \"The Iron Remembers\" arrives ahead of the 90th anniversary of the Long March, a historical journey during which Red Army troops traveled roughly 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles) and suffered massive casualties. This event has become a symbol of resilience and sacrifice, often invoked by Beijing and mainstream media to bolster patriotism and foster national unity. Reports suggest that the telegraph transmitter and hand-cranked generator featured in \"The Iron Remembers\" were the only pieces of communication equipment available to the Red Army, so vital that a reinforced company was dedicated to their protection throughout the Long March. AI also played a role in the series, anthropomorphizing the two machines with animated eyes and ears. Another AI miniseries, \"The Hidden Gambit,\" which also focuses on revolutionary history, debuted in September. This drama is based on a true spy story, following a female operative who adopts the identity of a high-ranking official to gather crucial intelligence for the \"Yangtze River crossing campaign,\" a decisive battle during the final stage of the civil war. \"The Hidden Gambit\" was produced under the guidance of Anhui provincial authorities.",
  "summary": "Beijing is rapidly scaling up the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to produce short-form videos and microdramas in its publicity campaigns, aligning with directives stressing technology’s role in strengthening ideological work and guiding public opinion. In contrast to sensational tropes dominating AI content across Chinese media platforms – such as Cinderella romance, rebirth for revenge and…",
  "key_points": [
    "China uses AI to create microdramas for public opinion shaping.",
    "\"The Iron Remembers\" depicts Red Army's defense during Long March.",
    "AI-driven productions aim to modernize messaging and enhance global discourse."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
        "title": "How China harnesses AI microdramas to shape public opinion at home and abroad",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/how-china-harnesses-ai-microdramas-to-shape-public-opinion-at-home-13907774",
        "published": "2026-10-12T08:03:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}