original content

Charles Zhang

2026-08-25 05:48:09

Charles Zhang says human viewpoints still matter as AI speeds up content production

Sohu founder, chairman and CEO Charles Zhang used the 10th anniversary of his English livestream course to make a broader point about media, originality and AI. Speaking after taking "Charles Zhang’s English Class" offline for an in-person session, Zhang said large language models can improve access to information, but they cannot replace human perspective, emotional connection or the role of original work in shaping how people understand the world. Zhang said the course, which began in August 2016 on Qianfan Live, has now logged more than 2,000 livestreams, over 110,000 minutes in total and more than 52 million cumulative views. He described the class as both a daily discipline and a way to manage his emotions, adding that he still spends about 40 minutes preparing each session by reviewing more than a dozen headlines, closely reading five articles and choosing three for the lesson. While he warned that AI is making some content feel "plastic," Zhang also said he actively uses AI for research and supports practical applications. He noted that Sohu has launched AI assistant products called "Zongjiexia" and "Xiaohu," and argued that model training still depends on human-created source material. For creators, he said, authenticity remains the basic line, especially when AI-generated digital avatars are involved.

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X

2026-08-09 03:32:39

X to end legacy creator revenue sharing and launch original content rewards in September

X has overhauled its creator payout system, shutting off new sign-ups for its legacy Creator Revenue Sharing program on Aug. 7 and ending payouts for existing participants on Sept. 7, with a final payment expected on Sept. 11. A replacement program, Original Content Rewards, will open for applications on Sept. 8, and current participants will need to reapply rather than move over automatically. The new framework changes how earnings are calculated, shifting from ad-revenue sharing to "qualified impressions." Under X’s rules, those impressions only count when a Premium subscriber sees a post in the home timeline with at least 50% visibility, and each user-post pair counts once. Paid promotion, artificial traffic, and fraudulent impressions are excluded. X also tightened its definition of eligible content. The platform now explicitly requires original work, including writing, filming, design, production, commentary, analysis, and news interpretation when the creator’s own contribution is the main source of value. Reuploads, copied posts, lightly edited reposts, and low-effort compilations do not qualify. Entry thresholds have been lowered to 500 verified followers and 500,000 Premium home-timeline impressions over 90 days, but creators now face historical originality checks and ongoing compliance reviews, with suspensions, removals, and a 90-day reapplication bar after failed appeals.

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X

2026-08-08 03:59:58

X revamps creator payouts with new Original Content Rewards program

X has overhauled its creator monetization system, ending new applications for its existing revenue-sharing program and setting a transition deadline of Sept. 7 for current participants. The company said eligible creators already approved under the old system will be able to apply for a new Original Content Rewards Program starting Sept. 8. The biggest change is how payouts will be measured. Instead of relying on raw post views, X will use “paid impressions” or effective exposure standards tied to visibility in the home timelines of X Premium users, including business and paid subscribers. A post must appear in the timeline with at least 50% of its content visible to count. X also raised entry requirements. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, maintain a clean account record, subscribe to any tier of X Premium, have at least 500 verified followers, and generate at least 500,000 timeline impressions from verified users over the previous 90 days, excluding replies. The company said it will exclude duplicate views, paid promotional exposure, bot-driven traffic and fraudulent counts, while also denying payouts to reposted, lightly edited or low-value content.

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