People in China earn between US$7 and US$15,000 by licensing faces to AI content producers
Some argue that for directors, only celebrities’ faces have recognition value, while everyday faces can simply be generated by AI
In China, an increasing number of digital face-licensing platforms are connecting ordinary individuals with content creators, enabling them to authorise the use of their likenesses in AI-generated short dramas, advertisements, and games.
Since April, private “face-selling” transactions that once circulated within film and television industry chat groups have progressively transitioned to public platforms.
One bank employee reportedly earned nearly 2,500 yuan (US$370) after an advertising company acquired his portrait seven times within just three days, as reported by the National Business Daily.
Among the leading platforms, Shenzhen-based Yuanxiang Xinsheng, launched in May, allows users to create “digital actor profiles” following registration and identity verification.