AI in Vertical Dramas: Fans, Jobs, Ethics and the Future of Human Storytelling
The rise of AI in vertical dramas is something we need to start grappling with properly. And, as ever, fans — the people actually paying to watch these platforms — have a lot of thoughtful, emotional, and insightful things to say about it.
We are already seeing more and more apps adding fully AI-generated verticals. And if you look at what is happening in the Chinese short drama industry, it’s clear that even more are coming.
The Growing Rise of AI Vertical Dramas
Right now, one of the biggest issues is transparency. Many fully AI-generated verticals are not clearly labelled. At the same time, the growing use of AI-generated posters and promotional artwork makes it increasingly difficult to tell which projects feature real human actors and which are entirely AI-created.
That means fans often have no real way of knowing what they are clicking on.
Creators like Escapism Via Verticals and others have already spoken publicly about this concern, particularly around disclosure and informed choice.
And ultimately, whether people want to watch AI-generated content will become a personal choice. But people can only make informed choices if they are given clear information. Labels would help.
What Fans Really Think About AI in Vertical Dramas
Because one thing that became incredibly apparent during the Vertical Drama Love fan survey was just how deeply audiences value the human side of storytelling.
Again and again, fans returned to emotion. Connection. Chemistry. Imperfections. Humanity.
One fan wrote:
“AI has absolutely no place… Actors are the ones giving the story life and emotions.”
Another said:
“AI seems empty and soulless.”
And another:
“Vertical dramas… demand that depth… AI simply cannot replicate.”
Fans repeatedly spoke about following actors not just because they are attractive, but because of their personalities, quirks, humour, expressions, and emotional presence.
One response perfectly captured this:
“I watch for the actors… not a robot.”
“I follow talent on Instagram… I like the human aspect.”
Another fan gave a beautiful example of the tiny human details they connect to:
“Jarred Harper has these weird power poses… Sophia Delucchi has the most infectious giggle… Cosette Hatch just has this Mona Lisa je ne sais quoi…”
That quote stayed with me because it gets to the heart of this conversation. So much of what makes somebody compelling on screen is impossible to quantify. It is not perfection. It is not flawless beauty. It is the tiny things. A laugh. A nervous smile. An awkward pause. Unexpected chemistry between actors. The energy someone brings into a scene. The feeling that there is an actual person underneath the performance.
Why Fans Say AI Content Feels “Soulless”
Fans also repeatedly criticised the visual feel of current AI-generated content.
“Looks fake and not real.”
“The faces change… shallow without emotion.”
“Robot voice.”
“If I want to watch cartoons I watch the cartoon channel and not an expensive app!”
For many viewers, the issue is not simply whether AI looks realistic enough. It is whether it feels emotionally real.
And right now, many fans clearly feel there is still something missing.
Ethical Concerns Around AI Actors and AI Content
Beyond artistic concerns, there are also serious ethical and economic questions emerging.
Fans raised worries about actors’ likenesses being used without consent, stolen training data, copyright concerns, and AI-generated content crossing boundaries that human performers might refuse to participate in.
One response warned:
“AI will make it easier to go over boundaries and show things a human would refuse to do.”
Another said:
“Using actors likeness without their consent.”
And another:
“That actors likeness would be used without their permission or compensation.”
There were also broader fears around distorted beauty standards, confusion between reality and fiction, and the wider social consequences of increasingly realistic AI-generated humans.
AI and Job Losses in the Creative Industries
And then there is the issue that sits underneath almost all of this: jobs, work, and livelihoods.
Fans were incredibly aware of the human cost.
“Taking opportunities from humans.”
“Replacing actors to save on costs.”
“Taking jobs away from actors and crew.”
“Robbing human actors of their livelihoods.”
One fan simply wrote:
“I was recently laid off for this reason.”
And honestly, that line hit me hard. Because this conversation is bigger than vertical dramas. All around the world, people are already losing jobs and work opportunities to AI. It is not just actors, writers, or artists facing this. It is happening across industries.
Part of the reason I closed my old business was because AI replaced a significant amount of the work we used to do.
So when people react emotionally to AI, I think that reaction is understandable. People know jobs are at risk. People know industries are changing rapidly. People are trying to work out where humans fit into all of this.
Can AI Be Used Responsibly in Vertical Dramas?
And yet, at the same time, this technology is moving incredibly fast.
Some fans in the survey were not entirely anti-AI. A number felt AI could potentially be used as a tool — for visual effects, crowds, production support, or background enhancement — as long as humans remained at the centre of the creative process.
One fan wrote:
“AI should be a tool to enhance a project, not take over.”
Another said:
“Used responsibly, with humans controlling creativity.”
But even many of those more balanced responses still came back to the same point: transparency, choice, and disclosure.
Fans repeatedly said they wanted to know when AI was being used:
“We have the right to know if it’s AI.”
“It needs to be clearly labeled so I can choose not to watch.”
“I need it disclosed so I can make an informed decision.”
And honestly, I think that is a very reasonable starting point.
The Future of AI and Human Creativity
Not everyone will agree on where the line should be. Some people will embrace AI. Some people will refuse to watch it entirely. Most people are probably still figuring out how they feel. But audiences deserve honesty about what they are consuming. And creators, performers, writers, editors, crew, and production teams deserve to be part of the conversation too.
Because this is not a theoretical future anymore. It is already happening. And vertical dramas move so quickly as an industry that I think we need to start having these conversations now — openly, thoughtfully, and with care. Because whatever happens next, the choices made now are going to shape not just the future of vertical dramas, but potentially the future of human creativity itself.