Hong Kong’s TVB, following its announcement of hosting the first-ever AI beauty pageant in Asia, recently released a teaser for its inaugural AI idol drama series titled “You Are Unique in My Heart” on its streaming platform myTV SUPER, sparking mixed reactions among netizens.
On August 13, myTV SUPER, the streaming platform of Hong Kong’s TVB, unveiled the teaser on social media, declaring, “Hong Kong’s first A.I.-generated drama series ‘You Are Unique in My Heart’ is set to premiere soon.”
This youth campus drama, depicted solely through AI technology in the 30-second teaser, features AI-generated characters, settings, and scenes without any human actors involved. Following the teaser’s release, it stirred discussions among netizens, with many expressing discontent.
Some viewers feel that despite the advancement of AI technology, the faces of the actors generated by AI appear too artificial, lacking authenticity, leading them to refuse watching and suggesting that watching animated shows might be preferable to AI dramas. Some netizens also humorously questioned whether future television awards should include categories like “Best AI Actor and Actress.”
Furthermore, criticisms surfaced, with remarks such as, “So many young actors under contract are being disregarded for AI, solely for profit, which will only contribute to a vicious cycle,” and “As the leading television broadcaster in Hong Kong, TVB is destroying the livelihood of its own staff.”
TVB, a blue-chip company listed in the 1980s, has seen a continuous decline in its stock price in recent years, reaching historic lows. The broadcaster, now catering to Mainland Chinese audience preferences, previously collaborated with “Taobao” to have artists engage in “e-commerce live streaming.” However, two years ago, TVB announced the merging of its two free-to-air television channels and began restructuring its e-commerce business acquired just two years prior, leading to the layoff of hundreds of employees. The once prestigious TVB has fallen from grace, leaving many celebrity artists in Hong Kong facing hardships.