How AI and Smart Production Are Driving China’s Film Industry Industrialization

01 The Industry Gap

Chinese viewers increasingly expect professional‑grade storytelling, visual effects, and seamless editing, yet many domestic film and TV productions still rely on experience‑based, ad‑hoc processes, leading to high costs, long cycles, and unpredictable returns.

Industry leaders note that production standards lag behind investment, and that manual craftsmanship dominates a market worth billions of yuan.

02 Smart Production as a Solution

iQIYI proposes an industrialization roadmap centered on “intelligent production.” The company introduced three key systems:

PBIS (Production Business Intelligence System) : Uses data such as traffic forecasts, IP evaluations, and user interaction metrics to predict ROI and guide content investment decisions.

IIPS (Intelligent Integrated Production System) : Standardizes the entire production workflow, enabling real‑time material sharing between shooting crews and post‑production teams, reducing waste and accelerating feedback loops.

IPTS (Intelligent Production Tool Suite) : Applies AI to repetitive post‑production tasks—e.g., automated rough cuts, blurry‑frame detection—freeing editors to focus on creative work.

These tools aim to transform opaque, experience‑driven decisions into data‑driven processes comparable to internet product management.

Examples include real‑time material handoff that cuts down on reshoots and AI‑assisted editing that speeds up variety‑show turnaround.

03 Impact and Outlook

By adopting these systems, iQIYI expects higher commercial returns for investors, more creative freedom for producers, and a healthier ecosystem for platforms, ultimately delivering richer content to audiences.

The article also highlights that while technology is still early in Chinese media, AI‑driven production can help the industry catch up with global standards and support a broader range of niche and artistic projects.

iQIYI’s broader strategy includes expanding original studios, diversifying IP across long‑form and short‑form series, and experimenting with new formats such as XR‑enabled concerts, reinforcing the link between technological innovation and content quality.