In the Era of AI Scripts, Long-Form Screenwriters Can't Take Off Their ‘Long Robes’

AI is reshaping who gets to tell long stories

Long-form screenwriters in China are confronting a blunt reality: algorithms and automated script generators are rewriting commissioning rules. It has been reported that platforms and producers are increasingly open to using AI-generated outlines and even full scripts because they are faster and cheaper to produce. For writers steeped in the craft of multi-episode arcs and dense character work — the metaphorical “long robes” (长袍) — adaptation is proving difficult.

What “long robes” means in practice

The problem is cultural and commercial. China’s content ecosystem — dominated by short-video giants such as ByteDance (字节跳动) and large streaming players — rewards rapid audience accumulation and algorithm-friendly formats. It has been reported that commissioners favor tight, repeatable structures that AI can produce at scale, undercutting demand for the slow, labor-intensive long-form scripts that used to anchor TV and web drama seasons. Intellectual property disputes and uncertain compensation models for AI-assisted content further muddle the landscape.

Tech, policy and the future of narrative labor

Major tech firms, including Baidu (百度) and Alibaba (阿里巴巴), are reportedly accelerating generative-AI tool development, while Beijing pushes for broad AI adoption as part of industrial policy. At the same time, U.S. export controls on advanced chips and wider geopolitical competition are nudging China toward software-driven innovation rather than relying on imported hardware. The result? Rapid deployment of creative AI tools without fully formed rules on copyright, authorship and labor protections. Who wins when machines can draft a season in hours — and who pays the writers?

Can tradition adapt?

The question now is simple and urgent: will long-form writers shed their “long robes” and learn new workflows, or will policy and industry norms evolve to protect deep storytelling? Reportedly, some creators are experimenting with hybrid models — using AI for routine beats while preserving human-led character work — but the balance is unsettled. The outcome will shape not only careers, but the kinds of stories Chinese audiences get to see.