China’s New AI Weapon: Microdramas to Win Hearts and Minds

Beijing is rapidly expanding its use of artificial intelligence (AI) to produce short videos and microdramas for publicity campaigns. This push follows government directives that emphasize technology’s role in strengthening ideological work and guiding public opinion. While Chinese media platforms are flooded with sensational AI content—such as Cinderella romances, revenge rebirths, and post-apocalyptic survival stories—a new wave of AI-generated miniseries is taking a different approach. These videos weave Chinese culture and policies into their narratives. The goal is to shape public opinion both at home and abroad using easily digestible, short-form content.