Across China, broadcasters from national state-run network CCTV to regional stations in Zhejiang, Hunan, and Shanghai have launched their own AI anchors, including fully digitized clones of well-known hosts. The rollout tracks with a 2021 plan by China’s broadcasting regulator for deeper integration of AI, VR, AR, and cloud tools to modernize production and cut costs. For media executives, the appeal is clear: AI anchors don’t take breaks, don’t slip up, and cost a fraction of what human anchors