The AI short drama sector has experienced an explosive surge this year, with technological barriers lowering and a flood of new entrants driving production capacity up while prices have taken a nosedive.

In the same AI short drama space, some creators have seen their per-minute quotes tumble from 5,000 yuan to a few hundred yuan, hovering near cost. On the flip side, custom short drama projects are still commanding rates between 10,000 and 20,000 yuan per minute.

Cynana's company is a typical OPC (one-person company). Last year, she seized the opportunity to enter the AI short drama market. To her surprise, within just six months, the industry shifted from a "capacity shortage" to "capacity glut," with quotes for similar content plummeting from 5,000 yuan per minute to just a few hundred yuan.

The price slide isn't limited to finished short films. Custom digital human production costs have also plunged dramatically—what used to cost between 300,000 and 600,000 yuan can now be delivered for just tens of thousands or even a few thousand yuan. Domestic AI-driven high-volume short dramas have become so competitive that prices are down to a few hundred yuan per minute, making it increasingly difficult to profit purely on volume and low pricing.

As a result, some teams are pivoting away from the "churn out more, sell fast" model, shifting focus to high-quality productions and IP development. Others are setting their sights on overseas markets. Now that "knowing how to produce" is no longer a rare skill, competition in the AI short drama arena has evolved from production volume and pricing to content quality and market reach.

In Shanghai, Lu Wenbin's company focuses on brand-customized short dramas, where clients demand higher standards for storytelling, visuals, and creativity—and prices have actually risen rather than fallen. A typical 20-minute brand-customized AI short drama can fetch between 200,000 and 300,000 yuan.

Meanwhile, finding talent that blends AI expertise with film production skills has become increasingly challenging. Lu Wenbin notes that annual salaries for such hybrid professionals are approaching one million yuan.

Shao Liang, CEO of Shanghai Chongdie Digital Art Studio, says their strategy involves building IP and account matrices, generating revenue through IP licensing. Cynana, meanwhile, has turned her attention to overseas markets. There's a consensus that localization and cultural translation are the keys to truly establishing a foothold abroad. Her team now operates across three areas: AI short dramas featuring AI-powered human simulations, interactive film-and-game experiences with AI avatars, and IP-customized short dramas.

Wu Gaoming, co-founder of Jingying Technology, points out that in terms of commercial revenue, European and American markets account for nearly 60% of the share, while Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, and the Middle East together hold the remaining 30% to 40%. Compared to traditional live-action short dramas, AI-driven production costs can be slashed by 70% to 80% directly.