iQIYI Launches China's First AI Agent for Film and TV Production
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 03 2026
0mins
Should l Buy IQ?
Source: Yahoo Finance
- Innovation in Film Production: On March 30, 2026, iQIYI launched Nadou Pro, China's first AI agent specifically designed for professional film and TV production, marking a significant step in the company's integration of AI across the entertainment production pipeline, which is expected to enhance production efficiency and creative quality.
- Quality Improvement for Long-Form Content: Nadou Pro addresses the quality gap in AI-generated long-form narratives by combining extensive content assets with proprietary algorithms, enabling creators to use natural language to access resources for character design and shot composition, producing stories that approach live-action quality.
- Integrated Multi-Model Platform: The platform integrates iQIYI's QiZhi multimodal large models with third-party AI models, supporting text, image, video, and audio generation, thereby streamlining production processes and reflecting the structured workflows of traditional content production, which enhances creative flexibility and efficiency.
- Industry Validation and Collaboration: Since internal testing began in late 2025, Nadou Pro has supported the production of multiple film projects, receiving positive feedback from directors, particularly in the
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Analyst Views on IQ
Wall Street analysts forecast IQ stock price to rise
3 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 1.410
Low
2.10
Averages
2.38
High
2.65
Current: 1.410
Low
2.10
Averages
2.38
High
2.65
About IQ
iQIYI, Inc. is a China-based company principally engaged in the provision of online entertainment services. The Company mainly provides genuine video content such as movies, television dramas, variety shows and anime through its application platform. Through the platform, the Company mainly provides The Lost Tomb, The Mystic Nine, Burning Ice, Qipa Talk, The Rap of China and other programs for its customers. The Company has built an entertainment-based social media platform, iQIYI Paopao, for fans to follow and interact with celebrities and the entertainment community.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
iQIYI's Strategic Shift: AI-Driven Content Production
- Strategic Shift Signal: iQIYI's management is leaning into artificial intelligence, with CEO Gong Yu describing this as a once-in-a-decade transition aimed at transforming the company from a traditional streaming service into a social media platform centered on AI-driven content, which could significantly alter content creation methods.
- Launch of Nadou Pro System: The company introduced the Nadou Pro system, capable of handling nearly the entire production pipeline, including scriptwriting, storyboarding, and final rendering, with plans to quickly scale AI-generated content, starting with a slate of 16 films across genres like sci-fi and anime.
- Revenue Sharing Incentives: To expand its creator ecosystem, iQIYI is offering an additional 20% share of advertising and membership revenue to AI content producers, alongside developing a standalone app that allows users to interact with characters through short-form video clips, enhancing user engagement.
- Financial Challenges and Growth Opportunities: Despite a projected 13% decline in first-quarter revenue, iQIYI is targeting incremental growth areas, including overseas markets and physical entertainment initiatives, with overseas membership revenue increasing over 30% last year, and has filed for a Hong Kong listing to broaden its capital access.
See More
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- Cultural Landmark: Located within the Hanyangzao Cultural and Creative Industry Park, the park is expected to become a new cultural tourism landmark, attracting more visitors and boosting local economic development.
- Immersive Experiences: iQIYI LAND will feature immersive theaters, live performances, and film scene recreations, all centered around iQIYI's portfolio of Chinese dramas, animation, and variety content, enhancing user interaction and engagement.
- Foundation of Success: The Wuhan project builds on the success of iQIYI LAND Yangzhou, which opened in February 2026 and received high user ratings, indicating strong market demand for such entertainment offerings.
See More
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- Proposed HKEX Listing: iQIYI has submitted a confidential application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for a proposed listing, aiming to enhance its capital market access and broaden its investor base, thereby strengthening its international profile, although final details and regulatory approvals are still pending.
- Share Buyback Program: The company's board has approved a share repurchase program of up to $100 million to be executed over the next 18 months, intended to demonstrate confidence in long-term business prospects and deliver shareholder value, with repurchases to occur through market transactions and other permissible means.
- Launch of AI Agent Nadou Pro: iQIYI has initiated open commercial testing for its proprietary AI agent Nadou Pro, designed to streamline the video production process from creative conception to final output, leveraging advanced foundation models and the company's expertise in premium content production to enhance efficiency.
- Innovation and Market Positioning: By combining creativity with technology, iQIYI is committed to continuous innovation and blockbuster content production, utilizing advanced AI and big data analytics to build a massive user base and a diversified monetization model, thereby reinforcing its leading position in the online entertainment industry.
See More
iQIYI Completes Convertible Note Repurchase
- Repurchase Results: iQIYI announced the results of its 6.50% convertible note repurchase right, with $207.8 million of notes validly surrendered by the March 12, 2026 deadline, indicating investor confidence in the company's debt management.
- Confirmed Repurchase Price: The total repurchase amount of $207.8 million, including accrued interest, reflects the company's proactive measures in liquidity management to optimize its capital structure.
- Remaining Debt Situation: Following the repurchase, $259,000 of convertible notes will remain outstanding, indicating the company maintains a certain level of debt to support future business growth.
- Company Background: As a leading online entertainment video service provider in China, iQIYI combines technology and creativity to foster continuous innovation and produce high-quality content, showcasing its strong competitive position in a fiercely competitive market.
See More
Baidu Reports 4% Revenue Decline in Q4 Earnings
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- AI Cloud and Applications Growth: The AI Cloud Infrastructure generated 5.8 billion yuan in revenue during the fourth quarter, reflecting a 143% year-over-year increase, while AI Applications contributed 2.7 billion yuan, highlighting the company's ongoing investment and demand in the AI sector.
- Autonomous Driving Expansion: Apollo Go completed 3.4 million fully driverless rides in the quarter, representing over a 200% year-over-year increase, with cumulative rides surpassing 20 million, showcasing the company's leadership and technological advancements in autonomous driving.
- Financial Position and Buyback Plan: As of December 31, 2025, Baidu maintained a solid cash position of $42.06 billion and authorized a share repurchase program of up to $5 billion, alongside introducing its first dividend policy, with an initial payment expected by the end of 2026.
See More
iQIYI Reports 7% Revenue Decline in 2025 Financial Results
- Revenue Performance: iQIYI's total revenue for 2025 was RMB 27.29 billion (approximately USD 3.90 billion), reflecting a 7% decline from 2024, indicating pressures faced in the competitive online entertainment market.
- Operating Income Decline: The operating income for Q4 was RMB 55.4 million (USD 7.9 million), with an operating margin of only 1%, a significant drop from RMB 285.4 million (4%) in the same period of 2024, highlighting the dual impact of rising costs and market challenges.
- Net Loss Improvement: The net loss for 2025 was RMB 206.3 million (USD 29.5 million), an improvement compared to a net income of RMB 764.1 million in 2024, indicating progress in controlling losses.
- Emerging Business Growth: iQIYI's overseas business achieved record revenue performance in Q4, and the recent opening of iQIYI LAND received positive feedback, marking a significant milestone for the experience business, which is expected to contribute to long-term value creation.
See More
iQIYI's Strategic Shift: AI-Driven Content Production
- Strategic Shift Signal: iQIYI's management is leaning into artificial intelligence, with CEO Gong Yu describing this as a once-in-a-decade transition aimed at transforming the company from a traditional streaming service into a social media platform centered on AI-driven content, which could significantly alter content creation methods.
- Launch of Nadou Pro System: The company introduced the Nadou Pro system, capable of handling nearly the entire production pipeline, including scriptwriting, storyboarding, and final rendering, with plans to quickly scale AI-generated content, starting with a slate of 16 films across genres like sci-fi and anime.
- Revenue Sharing Incentives: To expand its creator ecosystem, iQIYI is offering an additional 20% share of advertising and membership revenue to AI content producers, alongside developing a standalone app that allows users to interact with characters through short-form video clips, enhancing user engagement.
- Financial Challenges and Growth Opportunities: Despite a projected 13% decline in first-quarter revenue, iQIYI is targeting incremental growth areas, including overseas markets and physical entertainment initiatives, with overseas membership revenue increasing over 30% last year, and has filed for a Hong Kong listing to broaden its capital access.
See More
iQIYI to Build First Theme Park in Wuhan
- Project Launch: iQIYI plans to build its first theme park, iQIYI LAND, in Wuhan by 2027, marking its entry into urban renewal initiatives aimed at enhancing local cultural tourism appeal.
- Cultural Landmark: Located within the Hanyangzao Cultural and Creative Industry Park, the park is expected to become a new cultural tourism landmark, attracting more visitors and boosting local economic development.
- Immersive Experiences: iQIYI LAND will feature immersive theaters, live performances, and film scene recreations, all centered around iQIYI's portfolio of Chinese dramas, animation, and variety content, enhancing user interaction and engagement.
- Foundation of Success: The Wuhan project builds on the success of iQIYI LAND Yangzhou, which opened in February 2026 and received high user ratings, indicating strong market demand for such entertainment offerings.
See More
iQIYI Proposes Listing on HKEX and Share Buyback
- Proposed HKEX Listing: iQIYI has submitted a confidential application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for a proposed listing, aiming to enhance its capital market access and broaden its investor base, thereby strengthening its international profile, although final details and regulatory approvals are still pending.
- Share Buyback Program: The company's board has approved a share repurchase program of up to $100 million to be executed over the next 18 months, intended to demonstrate confidence in long-term business prospects and deliver shareholder value, with repurchases to occur through market transactions and other permissible means.
- Launch of AI Agent Nadou Pro: iQIYI has initiated open commercial testing for its proprietary AI agent Nadou Pro, designed to streamline the video production process from creative conception to final output, leveraging advanced foundation models and the company's expertise in premium content production to enhance efficiency.
- Innovation and Market Positioning: By combining creativity with technology, iQIYI is committed to continuous innovation and blockbuster content production, utilizing advanced AI and big data analytics to build a massive user base and a diversified monetization model, thereby reinforcing its leading position in the online entertainment industry.
See More
iQIYI Completes Convertible Note Repurchase
- Repurchase Results: iQIYI announced the results of its 6.50% convertible note repurchase right, with $207.8 million of notes validly surrendered by the March 12, 2026 deadline, indicating investor confidence in the company's debt management.
- Confirmed Repurchase Price: The total repurchase amount of $207.8 million, including accrued interest, reflects the company's proactive measures in liquidity management to optimize its capital structure.
- Remaining Debt Situation: Following the repurchase, $259,000 of convertible notes will remain outstanding, indicating the company maintains a certain level of debt to support future business growth.
- Company Background: As a leading online entertainment video service provider in China, iQIYI combines technology and creativity to foster continuous innovation and produce high-quality content, showcasing its strong competitive position in a fiercely competitive market.
See More
Baidu Reports 4% Revenue Decline in Q4 Earnings
- Revenue Performance: Baidu reported fourth-quarter revenue of $4.682 billion, a 4% year-over-year decline, although it saw a 5% quarter-over-quarter increase, indicating ongoing weakness in its core advertising business, partially offset by strong growth in its cloud segment.
- AI Cloud and Applications Growth: The AI Cloud Infrastructure generated 5.8 billion yuan in revenue during the fourth quarter, reflecting a 143% year-over-year increase, while AI Applications contributed 2.7 billion yuan, highlighting the company's ongoing investment and demand in the AI sector.
- Autonomous Driving Expansion: Apollo Go completed 3.4 million fully driverless rides in the quarter, representing over a 200% year-over-year increase, with cumulative rides surpassing 20 million, showcasing the company's leadership and technological advancements in autonomous driving.
- Financial Position and Buyback Plan: As of December 31, 2025, Baidu maintained a solid cash position of $42.06 billion and authorized a share repurchase program of up to $5 billion, alongside introducing its first dividend policy, with an initial payment expected by the end of 2026.
See More
iQIYI Reports 7% Revenue Decline in 2025 Financial Results
- Revenue Performance: iQIYI's total revenue for 2025 was RMB 27.29 billion (approximately USD 3.90 billion), reflecting a 7% decline from 2024, indicating pressures faced in the competitive online entertainment market.
- Operating Income Decline: The operating income for Q4 was RMB 55.4 million (USD 7.9 million), with an operating margin of only 1%, a significant drop from RMB 285.4 million (4%) in the same period of 2024, highlighting the dual impact of rising costs and market challenges.
- Net Loss Improvement: The net loss for 2025 was RMB 206.3 million (USD 29.5 million), an improvement compared to a net income of RMB 764.1 million in 2024, indicating progress in controlling losses.
- Emerging Business Growth: iQIYI's overseas business achieved record revenue performance in Q4, and the recent opening of iQIYI LAND received positive feedback, marking a significant milestone for the experience business, which is expected to contribute to long-term value creation.
See More
