2 November 2026 News

Government and Public Services : Shanghai Qingpu District, in releasing its 2025 state-owned assets and enterprises social responsibility report, featured a “digital human anchor” Xu Qingzi on-site to provide concise interpretation of the report’s contents, marking a new approach to information disclosure by local state-owned enterprises. In Beijing, a comprehensive financial services terminal for the central bank built by Zhongguo Jinrong Dianzihua Jituan (中国金融电子化集团) commenced operations at Beijing Nongshang Yinhang (北京农商银行) headquarters business department under the guidance of the People’s Bank of China Beijing Branch, with the terminal leveraging large model AI capabilities and equipped with intelligent voice interaction and digital human-assisted operation functions to help citizens accurately complete business such as credit information inquiries while strengthening accessibility improvements for the elderly. Yantai Tushuguan (烟台图书馆) launched AI digital human librarian “Yan Xiaoyue,” establishing touchless borrowing and children’s interactive experience spaces, becoming a representative of Yantai’s construction of new digital aesthetic education scenarios. Zhejiang Yanfu Dazhong Daily Media Group created a digital human “Da Zhou,” the digital avatar of the newspaper’s 490th employee and Party Committee Secretary and Editor-in-Chief Zhou Jin (周劲), after which digital employees numbered 001 through 008 successively assembled, connecting with editorial, administrative, and business frontline youth on operational matters, and “traveling across provinces” to Hangzhou Wenguang (杭州文广) and Jinan Ribao (济南日报) to share GEO diagnostic reports.

Education and Training : The fourth Chongqing Artificial Intelligence and Industrial Internet Vocational Skills Competition features the “Digital Human Voice Training Instructor” event, which kicked off in Chongqing on November 3rd, organized by Chongqing Gongshangzhiye Xueyuan (重庆工商职业学院) and Chongqingshi Rencaijiaoliu Fuwuzhongxin (重庆市人才交流服务中心). The competition focuses on two core competencies: “digital human voice training and inference” and “digital human image inference and optimization.” Competing teams must complete the entire workflow from creative conception, voice training, image design to work generation within 180 minutes, aiming to cultivate digital human training talents with both technical proficiency and creative capabilities. At the digital teaching excellence course competition held in Taizhou, Jiangsu, middle school classrooms fully utilized virtual digital humans and AI intelligent agents to create an interactive learning atmosphere, supporting the cultivation of core competencies. On the Chengdu Innovation and Technology Ecology Island, over a hundred university students from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and overseas Chinese attending universities including Sichuan University, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, and Southwest Jiaotong University input creative prompts at the local large model experience terminals, generating AI digital human images and text-image creative content on-site, while simultaneously experiencing glasses-free 3D large screens, AR Science City interactive systems and other immersive technologies.

Cultural Tourism and Heritage : In the “Porcelain Rhyme New Life·Create and Share the Future” Cizhou Kiln OPC Innovation and Creativity Competition in Fengfeng Mining District, Handan, Hebei, an entrepreneur Zhang Xiang (张翔) created digital human modeling and story script based on the “Smiling Xianggtang” Buddha statue unearthed from the Changlesi Temple site, and jointly undertook projects with another entrepreneur Shen Shunan (申树楠), developing digital human images and narrative content around a library AI book recommendation intelligent agent. The local government also released a list of cultural-tourism integration scenario demands including “digital human explanation system construction.” Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the Provincial Big Data Bureau, and the Provincial Youth Federation jointly hosted the “Qifeng Lu Rhyme·AI Renewal” 2026 Shandong Cultural-Tourism AIGC Video Creation Competition, with the “Sage New Words·AI Renewal of History” track explicitly requiring the use of digital humans and text-to-video technology to interpret stories of ancient sages and recreate Qi-Lu historical scenes. Ahead of the World Internet Conference – Wuzhen Summit Wuzhen Summit, Shangyuanzhixing (尚元智行) launched an unmanned retail vehicle equipped with AI digital human “Xiaoyou,” enabling consumers to receive interactive services such as guided door opening and product selection through voice commands. The company positions it as a marketing intelligent agent for “patrolling, selling, and brand exposure simultaneously.” Meanwhile, Sun Liqiang (孙利强), chairman of Zhejiang Qingcheng Keji (浙江清丞科技有限公司) under Wuzhen Shiyanshi (乌镇实验室), showcased an “AI naked-eye 3D smart display terminal” that presents layered three-dimensional digital human images without requiring 3D glasses. The product has secured orders worth tens of millions of yuan and serves applications across multiple industries including education, healthcare, and retail.

Enterprise Technology and Patents : China National Intellectual Property Administration Information shows that multiple technology companies are intensively deploying patents around digital human technology: Shenzhen Chuliang Keji (深圳初量科技有限公司) filed the patent “an intelligent customer service system integrating speech recognition, dialogue generation and digital human output,” which achieves synchronized generation of text, voice, and digital human video streams through a single WebSocket long connection; Hangzhou Chuangzuozhe Rengongzhineng Keji (杭州创作者人工智能科技有限公司) filed the “AIGC image, text, audio and video generation algorithm method” patent, explicitly applicable to short drama generation, digital human broadcasting and other multimodal content generation scenarios; Changsha Jizhibao Xinxi Keji (长沙计支宝信息科技有限公司) filed the “an AI interactive digital human dialogue method” patent, which can render structured Q&A content into standardized document output; Xiamen Fudazhiqing Keji (厦门复大智擎科技有限公司) filed the “a metacognitive digital twin intelligent agent method and system for individual users” patent, capable of generating auditable character assumption entries and performing closed-loop write-back. Wanxing Keji ( Hunan ) (万兴科技(湖南)有限公司) founder Wu Taibing (吴太兵) leads a team focused on AI digital creative software, registering the “Wondershare virtual broadcasting generation algorithm” and “Wondershare Tianmu multimodal large model algorithm,” applied to virtual digital human video generation and multimedia content generation, and proposed the vision of building Changsha into a global “AI anime drama capital.” CCTV International Network Wuxi in Wuxi High-tech Zone created “Yangshiwang Shuzi Ren Gongchang (央视网数字人工厂)” which was selected into Jiangsu Province’s “Artificial Intelligence+” typical application scenarios, leveraging artificial intelligence technology foundation to connect the entire business chain of digital human creation, operation promotion, and commercial realization, facilitating digital innovation in government affairs, media, cultural tourism and other industries.

Finance and Capital Markets : In the A-share market, digital human technology has become a conceptual label for certain listed companies: Shunwang Keji (顺网科技) has been categorized into the “virtual digital human” concept sector, with its main business in online advertising and gaming; Guao Technology previously clarified in Interactive Easy replies that its financial digital human product is “Guao Caijing - Jinrong Shuzi Ren (古鳌财经-金融数字人)”, and the company is also involved in multiple concepts including digital currency and internet finance; Beijing Jetsen Technology Co., Ltd. has added an “AI video” concept due to its layout in film and television data licensing, with its involved concept sectors also including virtual digital human and metaverse-related tags. The movements of these concept stocks reflect the capital market’s sustained attention to the commercialization prospects of the digital human industry chain.

Healthcare : At the 2026 Tencent Global Digital Ecosystem Conference’s smart healthcare session, Tengxun Jiankang (腾讯健康)’s principal Wu Wenda (吴文达) launched the “Healthcare AI Agent Toolkit,” in which Guangzhou Yikedaxue Fushu Funvertong Yiliao Zhongxin (广州医科大学附属妇女儿童医疗中心)’s application cases demonstrate that hospitals use the WeChat official account “AI Clone” to handle basic hospital administration inquiries, with professional triage, pre-consultation, and report interpretation demands transferred to specialized medical service Agents for processing, with the entire integration process taking approximately two weeks and requiring no changes to the hospital’s original service portal. As one of the first batch of national artificial intelligence application pilot base construction cities, Beijing’s Beijingtongrenyiyuan (北京同仁医院) jointly developed with Yingtong Keji (鹰瞳科技) the fundus AI camera, known as the “AI Clone of a top-tier ophthalmology expert,” which can generate over 50 disease risk assessment reports from a single retinal photograph, having been applied in over 80 community health service institutions in Beijing and promoted to nine countries across four continents globally, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Marketing and Livestreaming : In cross-border and live-streaming scenarios, digital humans are becoming tools for enterprises to reduce costs and improve efficiency: Shandong Zeyubeiye (山东泽宇杯业有限公司) learned in a special research on “Linyi Thousand Enterprises Going Global” that after settling in Bosi MALL (博思MALL) cross-border trading platforms, users can utilize four self-developed going-global tools including multilingual digital human live streaming and multilingual content generation; Ningxia Yanchixian Shicheng Ninghao Dianshang Wangpi Yunying Jidi (宁夏盐池县狮城宁好电商网批运营基地) leveraging Min-Ning cooperation to establish AI digital human live rooms, is partnering with Shenzhen Kuajing Dianshang Xiehui (深圳跨境电商协会) in 2025 to achieve cross-border e-commerce sales exceeding one million yuan, completing a breakthrough from zero in local cross-border e-commerce. Targeting content creators, Nanjing Chuangjian Keji (南京创舰科技) offers “Shuzi Renkou Bo Zhineng Ti (数字人口播智能体)” which supports uploading real-person videos and dubbing audio to automatically complete lip-sync synthesis, with an engineering client mainly engaged in rural villa construction growing their account followers from single digits to 11,000 and increasing single video plays to nearly 130,000 through this tool. During the Double Eleven promotional period, JD.com partnered with brands including Haier, Lenovo, ASUS, and HKC to create “JD.com 11.11 Cyber Gala Night·Crossing Surprise Night” digital human AI evening show, with digital human Su Shi, digital human Li Qingzhao, Haier digital human president and other characters performing time-travel storylines alongside the digital human “Rabbit Girl”; relying on JoyAI large model, JD.com digital human JoyAvatar has cumulatively served over 100,000 merchants, with over 9 million hours of cumulative broadcasts in the first half of Double Eleven, generating sales exceeding 1.3 billion yuan.

Entertainment and Short Dramas : Hengdian Yingshicheng (横店影视城) and ByteDance’s subsidiary Volcano Engine have reached a cooperation agreement, investing 233 million yuan to win a bid for constructing the “Hengdian π” AI service platform project, which plans to convert real-world base assets and extra actor data into high-quality datasets to improve production efficiency for film crews. The move has sparked public controversy over “feeding 150,000 extras to AI.” ByteDance responded that all data assets are owned by Hengdian or authorized parties, and any use of portraits and voices requires individual authorization. In the AI short-drama industry, the “short-drama queen” has publicly discussed AI’s impact on her career, pointing out that actors can complete performances by authorizing official AI digital avatars, with income models shifting from one-time appearance fees to portrait asset licensing. Hongguo Duanju (红果短剧)’s newly launched episodes at one point featured AI short dramas accounting for over 95%, with extras’ order volume declining by 37% and short-drama professional actors’ employment rate dropping to 29%. Notable actors including Zhang Ziyi (章子怡), Liu Tao (刘涛), Shen Teng (沈腾), and Li Xiaoran (李小冉) have all publicly discussed difficulties finding roles. The annual industry gala “Drama Checker Night” announced invitations for three AI virtual celebrities, including male and female leads Duan Yan and Rong Jiqiao from the animated short drama “You Invade My Life with Deep Affection,” as well as popular character Ji Chuan. Prior to this, the female lead “Fang Taozi” from the AI short drama “The Girl Who Was Laid Off” has already taken on a contact lens advertisement with a 60-second price tag of 258,000 yuan, exceeding the rates of real-person influencers with millions of followers.

Virtual Idols and Music : Guizhou hosted the 2026 Guizhou University Student AI Music Week, with Duocai Guizhou Cheng (多彩贵州城)’s original AI virtual singers Xinglan and Chenye completing Guizhou’s first offline AI singer music concert performance at the opening ceremony, making Guiyang the second city in the country to launch an offline AI singer music concert. The Miao AI girl Xinglan’s image draws from Miao cultural totems including the Butterfly Mother, maple trees, and Miao embroidery silver ornaments, performing original tracks “Night Lang Painted Realm” and “I Never Lost You”; the Dong youth Chenye incorporates cultural symbols such as drum towers, wind and rain bridges, and Dong grand songs, singing works including “The Whole Crowd Makes Noise,” “Hands Pretending to Pray,” and “The Year of Midsummer,” Duocai Guizhou Cheng (多彩贵州城) with plans to solicit English names, Miao names, Dong names, and new stage names for the two AI singers from across the internet, and establish an original music base to build Guizhou youth music IP. The virtual person “Liu Yexi” created by Malan Shan Shipin Wenchuang Chanye Jiqun (马栏山视频文创产业集群) enterprise Chuangyi Technology in Changsha once went viral across the internet, becoming a representative case demonstrating the “culture plus technology” hard strength of the Marlanshan Culture and Technology Integration Exhibition Hall, attracting numerous visiting students to pause in amazement.

Ethical Contexts : Multiple media outlets have exposed chaos in AI face-swapping fraud used for livestream sales, with criminals leveraging deepfake technology to forge the faces and voices of public figures and online celebrities, setting up counterfeit livestream rooms to impersonate others in product promotion. While some content carries AI generation labels, the disclaimer text is often too small to notice, making middle-aged and elderly audiences vulnerable to falling into consumption traps. Accompanying this trend are AI virtual chatbot companions and reward-baiting scams that specifically target elderly groups with precision. Commentary calls for enhanced traceability and enforcement through the “Clear the Web” special campaign, urging platforms to upgrade AI detection warning systems, establish clear AI labeling standards, and jointly ban accounts engaged in mass fabrication. AI technology developers should also integrate source traceability watermarks and anti-abuse functions at the source to reduce the likelihood of technology misuse. Meanwhile, the appearance of AI virtual personas at events such as short drama award ceremonies has prompted the industry to continue focusing on the pressing issue of shrinking living space for real-life actors.

Industry Development and Exhibitions : Chengdushi Jinniuqu (成都市金牛区) released an “AI Digital Creation Intelligence Industry Park Market Opportunity Cooperation List,” opened to enterprises settling in the park, upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain, research institutions, and external clients. The list aggregates enterprise product capabilities covering frontier tracks including AIGC digital content creation, virtual digital humans, digital cultural IP, and full-chain publicity and promotion services for government new media, aimed at addressing pain points such as information asymmetry in the industrial chain and poor communication of business opportunities. At the Nuremberg International Invention Expo held in Germany, Chinese youth showcased the virtual digital human intelligent agent invented by University of Science and Technology of China to audiences, attracting numerous visitors to learn more, becoming one of the highlights of Chinese invention and innovation achievements at this year’s expo.