An AI-generated actress named Fang Taozi endorsed colored contact lenses in an advertisement released in late July on Douyin by domestic contact lens brand Nutnutlook, sparking controversy in China over whether an AI character can vouch for a product’s quality. The ad was taken down without comment last week. Chinese netizens criticized the use of an AI avatar, with one user commenting, “What makes me uncomfortable is that someone without eyes now has the right to speak about eyes,” and another writing, “AI doesn’t even know what it feels like to actually wear the product.” Neither Guangzhou-based World Media Film and TV Culture, the company behind the AI actress, nor the contacts brand has responded. The fictional 20-year-old Fang Taozi was unveiled in the AI short drama “The Laid-off Girl” in June this year, which has been viewed more than 320 million times on Douyin. Her personal Douyin account gained more than 470,000 followers. Fang’s advertising rates on Douyin’s influencer marketing platform Juliang Xingtu are 168,000 yuan ($24,900) per video for clips under 20 seconds, 208,000 yuan for videos between 21 and 60 seconds, and 258,000 yuan for videos over 60 seconds. Ma Lihong, a senior partner at Beijing DHH Law Firm, told domestic media that despite AI avatars not being considered people under Chinese law, the video could still constitute false advertising