Understand this story
Hengdian World Studios has launched the "Hengdian π" AI platform, with ByteDance-affiliated Dongyang Shenkong Engine as the lead supplier and Volcano Engine as the technology provider. According to a 36Kr · AI report, the project was won with a bid amount of 230 million yuan and plans to convert real-world filming locations and extras data into high-quality datasets. A Doubao public relations representative responded that the data assets belong to Hengdian or the authorized parties, that the use of likenesses and voices requires the individual's authorization, and that the data will not be used to train ByteDance's large models. The report also noted that the focus of controversy lies in how Hengdian will obtain likeness authorization from extras on a large scale, and that the boundaries of authorization and the fees remain unclear. At present, the platform's construction and data authorization arrangements are still in the disclosure stage.
AI-generated from public reports
Developments
1 confirmed developments
Hengdian and Volcano Engine launch the "Hengdian π" AI platform
Source:36Kr · AI
Reports and discussion timeline
Browse reports and discussion by time. Their evidence levels remain distinct.
Nov 4
Shanghai Observer
Hengdian and ByteDance's Volcano Engine jointly build the "Hengdian π" AI platform; the rumor that 150,000 extras' data was fed to AI is refuted by Doubao
Hengdian and Volcano Engine, a subsidiary of ByteDance, have partnered to launch the "Hengdian π" AI service platform, with plans to build no fewer than 9 high-quality industry datasets and no less than 50 billion tokens of pre-training data, covering areas such as digital extras and real-world film base locations. Regarding the rumor that "the portraits and voices of 150,000 extras were fed to AI," Liu Xing, head of public relations at Doubao, called it "seriously inaccurate," and Hengdian also clarified that 150,000 is the cumulative registration number of the actors' guild, with only about 10,000 long-term active extras. In the third quarter of this year, the number of vertical-screen production crews starting shoots in Hengdian plummeted 82.5% year-on-year, and Hengdian is simultaneously retaining live-action crews by waiving rent on more than 130 soundstages and allowing real-shoot spending to offset computing power and token costs.
Nov 2
36Kr · AI
Between Zhengzhou and Hengdian: The Cost and Survival Arithmetic of Live-Action Short Drama Factories Under the AI Short Drama Shock
In 2026, revenue sharing on live-action short drama platforms shrank sharply, and AI short dramas poured in at less than half the cost of live-action, forcing production companies in Hengdian and Zhengzhou to pivot to AI production. Chengfeng Polang Film's live-action short drama orders fell from more than 20 per month to around 10, and in April about 90% of its workforce shifted to AI production, with monthly output rising to 5,000 to 8,000 minutes from May to August. AI video generation is billed by the second at about 1 yuan; DataEye statistics show that in the first half of 2026, 221,900 new AI dramas and comic dramas were added on Douyin, and only 1.3% reached the break-even line of 50 million plays.
36Kr · AI
Hengdian's 230 Million Yuan AI Platform Partners with ByteDance: Where Does the Controversy Over 150,000 Extras' Data Come From?
Hengdian World Studios won the bid with an amount of 230 million yuan to build the "Hengdian π" AI platform. The lead supplier is ByteDance-affiliated Dongyang Deep Space Engine, with Volcano Engine as the technology provider. The plan is to transform the live-action base and extras' data into high-quality datasets. A Doubao public relations representative responded that the data assets belong to Hengdian or the authorized parties, that using likenesses and voices requires the individual's authorization, and that the data will not be used to train ByteDance's large models. The focus of the controversy lies in how Hengdian will obtain likeness authorization from a large number of extras, and the boundaries of authorization and fees remain unclear.
Heat trend for this story
- Current
- 11
- Period peak
- 12 Nov 4 10:00
- 24-hour change
- —
Move the pointer or select the chart to inspect hourly heat. Use the left and right arrow keys with a keyboard.