China’s entertainment industry is seeing AI-generated actors move from experimental projects to mainstream success, led by Fang Taozi, an AI-generated actress who became the country’s first virtual performer to gain widespread public recognition. Within a month of her debut, she amassed hundreds of thousands of followers and signed a commercial endorsement worth 258,000 yuan (approximately US$36,000) for a 60-second advertisement. Fang Taozi first gained attention through the AI-produced short drama The Fired Girl, which premiered in June. Its second season, released on August 1, attracted more than 200 million views, with individual episodes averaging over 300,000 likes. After only 30 days, her official social media accounts had attracted approximately 400,000 followers. Viewers praised her distinctive appearance, expressive facial animations, and emotionally convincing performances. She regularly shares lifestyle photos, interacts with fans, and maintains an active social media persona. Fang Taozi recently secured her first commercial endorsement for a colored contact lens brand, receiving 258,000 yuan for a 60-second promotional video, while shorter advertisements reportedly command between 168,000 and 200,000 yuan. Industry observers note these fees exceed those earned by many human influencers. The creative force behind Fang Taozi is director and screenwriter Fei Feifei, a former fashion model for seven years, whose experiences of models being treated harshly inspired The Fired Girl’s story of overcoming hardships and achieving success.