Platforms Remove AI-Generated Videos Distorting Chinese Classics
Chinese video platform Kuaishou removed thousands of AI-generated videos that distorted classic literary and film works in January-February 2026. The National Radio and Television Administration conducted nationwide enforcement against videos that used AI to maliciously alter culturally significant classics, raising concerns about AI-generated content's impact on cultural heritage transmission.
What happened
From January 1, 2026, Kuaishou conducted a month-long specialized campaign to regulate "AIιζΉ" (AI-modified) videos, targeting the use of AI technology to maliciously alter, distort, or illegally adapt classic films, animations, and literary works.
During the treatment period, the platform removed 5,576 violating content items and issued warnings to 11 accounts. The National Radio and Television Administration conducted nationwide special governance targeting AI-modified videos based on the Four Great Classical Novels, historical themes, and revolutionary themes.
Reported impact
AI-generated videos distort classic characters and narratives: Lin Daiyu from The Dream of the Red Chamber performs superhuman feats, the Tang Monk becomes a gangster character, and Zhuge Liang performs "basketball dances" to distract Cao Cao during the Straw Boats Borrowing Arrows scenario.
The proliferation of AI-modified content threatens cultural transmission pathways. Young people may encounter modified versions before experiencing original classics, potentially forming incorrect impressions of cultural heritage and disrupting the consensus foundation for cultural inheritance.
Index analysis
The core issue involves a conflict between generative AI and human creative expression. AI-generated modifications bypass the requirement for human understanding and intentional artistic reinterpretation that characterizes traditional adaptations.
Algorithm recommendation systems naturally favor content that creates contrast and sensory stimulation, accelerating the spread of AI-modified videos beyond the reach of original works. This technological mechanism drives the proliferation of distorted cultural symbols in public discourse.
Governance controls
Platform removal of violating content and account warnings represent immediate enforcement measures. Kuaishou announced plans for ongoing normalization of governance for AI-modified videos beyond the initial month-long campaign.
Governance must extend beyond short-term content removal to address underlying technical structures, establish platform accountability, provide values-based guidance, and cultivate public digital literacy across multiple dimensions.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.