Microdramas made with generative AI are killing entertainment
The sheer volume and lack of creative human endeavour could undermine one of the most ancient of human practices: storytelling.
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About 128,000 microdramas were released in China in the first quarter of 2026 alone, with about 95 per cent created using generative AI.
PHOTO: AFP
Michael D’Oliveiro
Microdramas are so popular that, chances are, you’ve watched one or two dozen. I’m not judging, and besides, who doesn’t binge-watch occasionally?
App store statistics in May alone show just how mainstream they’ve become. A quarter of the top 20 entertainment apps ranked by downloads and by revenue in the US involve microdrama platforms. In Singapore, they accounted for half of both rankings.
