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- iQIYI shifts to a decentralized, social-media-like platform with expanded IP access, distribution, and revenue-sharing for creators
- Nadou Pro launches as a full-stack AI platform for professional content production
- AI accelerates content development; premium IP remains core value driver
BEIJING, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- iQIYI, China's leading online entertainment platform, unveiled a series of AI-driven initiatives at iQIYI World Conference 2026, the company's flagship annual summit in Beijing during April 20-21. The announcements center on three strategic pillars: Nadou Pro's official commercial launch, upgraded platform services, and optimized revenue-sharing, designed to empower AIGC creators with industrial-scale capabilities and resources.
iQIYI Founder and CEO Yu GONG opened the conference with his outlook for AI's content creation transformation. Gong highlighted AI's role in driving explosive creator and content growth through production time and cost efficiencies.
In the AI era, iQIYI has recognized that entertainment platforms will need to equip creators with the right tools to succeed, not just commission more content. The company is evolving into a decentralized platform opening its IP library, talent network, digital assets, and commercial infrastructure to empower creators to scale production to tell their stories with greater share of the commercial success.
"iQIYI will transform into a non-centralized social media-alike platform, building a new content ecosystem where creators own their IP assets, audience relationships, and substantial commercial returns," said Gong. "Our future work will focus on establishing this new ecosystem through close collaboration with creators."
Nadou Pro: A professional content production platform powered by AI and proprietary resources
iQIYI demonstrated how its Nadou Pro AI production platform delivers scaled, industrial-grade capabilities to empower individual creators and teams to unleash their creativity. Rather than standalone tools, Nadou Pro integrates nearly 70 AI agents – covering scriptwriting, directing, visual design, editing, and more – into a unified workflow that resolves key AIGC challenges like character and scene consistency while enabling creators to produce film-grade content with improved efficiency.
Creators can access iQIYI's IP library for adaptation, collaborate with affiliated talent, and draw on a shared digital asset library of scenes, props, and virtual characters. Through integration with iQIYI's distribution and monetization systems, Nadou Pro provides a seamless path from creation to commercialization.
"Nadou Pro's core goal is lowering creation barriers without compromising quality," said Wenfeng LIU, Senior Vice President of iQIYI. "It enables talented creators to overcome technical and resource barriers, transforming ideas into professional-grade works while unifying the full chain from ideation to production, distribution, and monetization – all within one platform."
Opening the Platform: New Tools and Revenue Models for Creators
iQIYI's app is shifting toward a decentralized model, giving creators greater autonomy and revenue returns within its content ecosystem. This approach expands beyond traditional, centrally commissioned production and is supported by three key initiatives, including the upgraded iQIYI creator account system, an optimized revenue-sharing framework, and comprehensive support services.
iQIYI has upgraded its creator account system with zero-threshold onboarding and a simplified sign-up process, allowing creators to publish and distribute content directly. Deeply integrated with Nadou Pro and iQIYI's creator account and revenue-sharing systems, creators' works can seamlessly enter the platform's distribution network and benefit from a transparent and open revenue-sharing mechanism.
The revenue-sharing returns are tied to actual project performance with no upper limit, with additional incentives including a 20% subsidy for AI-generated and mid-form series (no less than 5 minutes per episode, with a total runtime of no less than 60 minutes) through year-end 2026.
In parallel, iQIYI is expanding support through training programs, creator communities, funding opportunities, and resources like compute power, IP licensing, and office space. Together, these initiatives create a complete commercial cycle that lowers barriers and drives sustainable creator growth.
IP Remains the Foundation of AI-Era Content
Premium IP and compelling storytelling remain the foundation of value creation. During the event, the company released over 350 highly anticipated titles across dramas, variety shows, films and animations. iQIYI Chief Content Officer Xiaohui WANG emphasized: "AI cannot change the reality that IP relies on premium content. Great stories will always command top value, and strong IP generates higher ecosystem revenue premiums."
This principle guides iQIYI's AIGC strategy – using AI to enhance, not replace, strong IP. The company builds talent pipelines through competitions, venture programs, and training camps; develops content via internal AI studios; and equips creators with the Nadou Pro platform for professional-grade production.
CONTACT: iQIYI Press, press@qiyi.com
- iQIYI shifts to a decentralized, social-media-like platform with expanded IP access, distribution, and revenue-sharing for creators
- Nadou Pro launches as a full-stack AI platform for professional content production
- AI accelerates content development; premium IP remains core value driver
BEIJING, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- iQIYI, China's leading online entertainment platform, unveiled a series of AI-driven initiatives at iQIYI World Conference 2026, the company's flagship annual summit in Beijing during April 20-21. The announcements center on three strategic pillars: Nadou Pro's official commercial launch, upgraded platform services, and optimized revenue-sharing, designed to empower AIGC creators with industrial-scale capabilities and resources.
iQIYI Founder and CEO Yu GONG opened the conference with his outlook for AI's content creation transformation. Gong highlighted AI's role in driving explosive creator and content growth through production time and cost efficiencies.
In the AI era, iQIYI has recognized that entertainment platforms will need to equip creators with the right tools to succeed, not just commission more content. The company is evolving into a decentralized platform opening its IP library, talent network, digital assets, and commercial infrastructure to empower creators to scale production to tell their stories with greater share of the commercial success.
"iQIYI will transform into a non-centralized social media-alike platform, building a new content ecosystem where creators own their IP assets, audience relationships, and substantial commercial returns," said Gong. "Our future work will focus on establishing this new ecosystem through close collaboration with creators."
Nadou Pro: A professional content production platform powered by AI and proprietary resources
iQIYI demonstrated how its Nadou Pro AI production platform delivers scaled, industrial-grade capabilities to empower individual creators and teams to unleash their creativity. Rather than standalone tools, Nadou Pro integrates nearly 70 AI agents – covering scriptwriting, directing, visual design, editing, and more – into a unified workflow that resolves key AIGC challenges like character and scene consistency while enabling creators to produce film-grade content with improved efficiency.
Creators can access iQIYI's IP library for adaptation, collaborate with affiliated talent, and draw on a shared digital asset library of scenes, props, and virtual characters. Through integration with iQIYI's distribution and monetization systems, Nadou Pro provides a seamless path from creation to commercialization.
"Nadou Pro's core goal is lowering creation barriers without compromising quality," said Wenfeng LIU, Senior Vice President of iQIYI. "It enables talented creators to overcome technical and resource barriers, transforming ideas into professional-grade works while unifying the full chain from ideation to production, distribution, and monetization – all within one platform."
Opening the Platform: New Tools and Revenue Models for Creators
iQIYI's app is shifting toward a decentralized model, giving creators greater autonomy and revenue returns within its content ecosystem. This approach expands beyond traditional, centrally commissioned production and is supported by three key initiatives, including the upgraded iQIYI creator account system, an optimized revenue-sharing framework, and comprehensive support services.
iQIYI has upgraded its creator account system with zero-threshold onboarding and a simplified sign-up process, allowing creators to publish and distribute content directly. Deeply integrated with Nadou Pro and iQIYI's creator account and revenue-sharing systems, creators' works can seamlessly enter the platform's distribution network and benefit from a transparent and open revenue-sharing mechanism.
The revenue-sharing returns are tied to actual project performance with no upper limit, with additional incentives including a 20% subsidy for AI-generated and mid-form series (no less than 5 minutes per episode, with a total runtime of no less than 60 minutes) through year-end 2026.
In parallel, iQIYI is expanding support through training programs, creator communities, funding opportunities, and resources like compute power, IP licensing, and office space. Together, these initiatives create a complete commercial cycle that lowers barriers and drives sustainable creator growth.
IP Remains the Foundation of AI-Era Content
Premium IP and compelling storytelling remain the foundation of value creation. During the event, the company released over 350 highly anticipated titles across dramas, variety shows, films and animations. iQIYI Chief Content Officer Xiaohui WANG emphasized: "AI cannot change the reality that IP relies on premium content. Great stories will always command top value, and strong IP generates higher ecosystem revenue premiums."
This principle guides iQIYI's AIGC strategy – using AI to enhance, not replace, strong IP. The company builds talent pipelines through competitions, venture programs, and training camps; develops content via internal AI studios; and equips creators with the Nadou Pro platform for professional-grade production.
CONTACT: iQIYI Press, press@qiyi.com
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
iQIYI Charts New Course for the AI Era: Decentralized Content Model and Nadou Pro Launched at World Conference 2026
iQIYI Charts New Course for the AI Era: Decentralized Content Model and Nadou Pro Launched at World Conference 2026
iQIYI Charts New Course for the AI Era: Decentralized Content Model and Nadou Pro Launched at World Conference 2026
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MILAN, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kohler, in partnership with Richard Christiansen, founder of Flamingo Estate, unveils The Flamingo Estate Bathhouse by Kohler at Milan Design Week 2026. The immersive, multi-sensory installation invites visitors into an elemental world where architecture, landscape, and serenity are conceived as a single, interdependent experience, creating a space for contemplation and renewal.
Set within the courtyard of the Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea (Via Palestro, 14), the installation is anchored by the Bathhouse, a bold brutalist structure that appears to emerge organically from a meadow of seven species of untamed wildflowers, dissolving the boundary between built form and living ecosystem. Drawing inspiration from the bathhouse at Flamingo Estate in California, the 247-square-foot monolithic structure draws on a palette of weathered metals and elemental surfaces. Clad in intonachino plaster that evokes the mineral texture and weight of concrete, the Bathhouse features monumental stained-glass windows by Milan-based artisan Samuele Dossena, filtering light across terracotta-toned surfaces, while Flamingo Estate candles line the walls, enhancing a quiet, calming atmosphere.
"The Bathhouse is a meditation on ritual, nature, and the quiet power of materials," said Richard Christiansen, Founder of Flamingo Estate. "We imagined a place where wildflowers, water, and light come together to create a sensory experience that reconnects us to the rhythms of the earth. Partnering with Kohler allowed us to bring this vision to life with an extraordinary level of craft, creating a space that invites people to slow down, reflect, and re-engage with the natural world."
Entering the Bathhouse, visitors encounter Reverie, a new expression of Kohler's iconic freestanding enameled cast iron bath, reimagined with a copper shroud that serves as the focal point of the space. The shroud wraps the cast iron bath, which is made with at least 80% recycled materials, underscoring a legacy of sustainable craftsmanship designed to endure. This marks the first time Kohler has used copper as a defining material in bath design, introducing a new dimension to the category.
"Design and the creative process are always central to Kohler, shaping our tradition and propelling our progress," said David Kohler, Chair and CEO of Kohler Co. "We see design as a bridge between heritage and innovation, continually evolving through material exploration and craft. We are delighted to partner with Richard Christiansen and Flamingo Estate during Milan Design Week to continue to inspire through art and design."
Nestled throughout the garden are four one-of-a-kind pollinator baths, conceived by Christiansen designed by Kohler and cast in its historic Wisconsin foundry. These sculptural vessels serve as sanctuaries for birds, bees, and other pollinating species, extending the installation narrative of reciprocity between human craft and the natural world.
"For the Flamingo Estate Bathhouse, we wanted to explore the relationship between architecture and ecology, how design can create moments of care not just for people, but for the natural world around us," said Michael Seum, VP of Global Design at Kohler Co. "The pollinator baths translate this idea into sculptural form, drawing from Brutalist principles on the exterior while softening into organic, nature-informed surfaces within. It's a reflection of our belief that design should hold space for both human ritual and environmental stewardship."
The Flamingo Estate Bathhouse by Kohler elevates bathing into a restorative experience and a place of ritual and retreat, one that slows the body, quiets the mind, and heightens awareness of light, water, and material. Through its integration of architecture, craft, and ecology, the installation reflects a shared vision between Kohler and Flamingo Estate: that enduring wellness emerges through a deeper connection to nature.
The candles in the Bathhouse were created by Flamingo Estate specifically for the installation. The Flamingo Estate Pollinator Candle is complemented by the Pollinator Bath Soap Brick. The scent was inspired by a walk through Milan city streets. Wild Linden Blossom is an olfactory invitation to walk through Milan in bloom. At the threshold of Summer, the iconic Tiglio Tree blossoms at once — perfuming entire boulevards with a sublime, honeyed warmth authentic to Milan. From sunlit markets, Bergamot pulses with the green, sparkling brightness of its rind, as sweet pollen dusts the air. Both the candle and soap brick are available for purchase on FlamingoEstate.com.
Unveiled during FuoriSalone at the Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea, Via Palestro 14, 20121 Milan, Italy, the installation is open to the public from Tuesday, April 21 through Sunday, April 26. Hours are as follows: Tuesday, 12:00–7:00 PM; Wednesday, 12:00–4:00 PM and 7:00–10:00 PM; Thursday through Saturday, 12:00–10:00 PM; and Sunday, 12:00–6:00 PM.
For installation images and more information, access the press kit here.
About Kohler Co.
For more than 150 years, Kohler Co. has been a global leader in bold design and innovation, dedicated to helping people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives through its kitchen and bath products; luxury cabinetry, tile, and lighting; wellness products and services; and luxury hospitality experiences and major championship golf. Privately held Kohler Co. was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin. The company also develops sustainable living solutions to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations. Its Innovation for Good platform addresses pressing issues, such as clean water and safe sanitation, with breakthrough products and services for underserved communities. David Kohler serves as Chair and CEO and represents the fourth generation of Kohler family leadership.
About Flamingo Estate
Settled in the 1940s high atop the hills of Los Angeles, Flamingo Estate throughout its history has been a hedonistic enclave of sun-worship, folk mythologies, and psychedelic remedies — a secret haven for wild alchemy in the City of Angels. Now, Flamingo Estate is the home of Richard Christiansen, and, in the spirit of its origins, a radical celebration of pleasure from the garden. We carefully cultivate Mother Nature's wildest, most precious gifts, at a time when we need them most. Championing the idea that Mother Nature is the last great luxury house, and sourcing rare ingredients from over 125 farms and collaborators. Instead of commodity ingredients, our goal is to get as close to the raw, natural material as possible, and to be able to trace each ingredient back to the farmer who planted it. Creating nutrient-dense rituals for daily pleasure, with Mother Nature as the guide.
Media Contacts:
Kohler PR | Jillian.rosone@kohler.com
Sutton Communications | Kohler@suttoncomms.com
MILAN, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kohler, in partnership with Richard Christiansen, founder of Flamingo Estate, unveils The Flamingo Estate Bathhouse by Kohler at Milan Design Week 2026. The immersive, multi-sensory installation invites visitors into an elemental world where architecture, landscape, and serenity are conceived as a single, interdependent experience, creating a space for contemplation and renewal.
Set within the courtyard of the Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea (Via Palestro, 14), the installation is anchored by the Bathhouse, a bold brutalist structure that appears to emerge organically from a meadow of seven species of untamed wildflowers, dissolving the boundary between built form and living ecosystem. Drawing inspiration from the bathhouse at Flamingo Estate in California, the 247-square-foot monolithic structure draws on a palette of weathered metals and elemental surfaces. Clad in intonachino plaster that evokes the mineral texture and weight of concrete, the Bathhouse features monumental stained-glass windows by Milan-based artisan Samuele Dossena, filtering light across terracotta-toned surfaces, while Flamingo Estate candles line the walls, enhancing a quiet, calming atmosphere.
"The Bathhouse is a meditation on ritual, nature, and the quiet power of materials," said Richard Christiansen, Founder of Flamingo Estate. "We imagined a place where wildflowers, water, and light come together to create a sensory experience that reconnects us to the rhythms of the earth. Partnering with Kohler allowed us to bring this vision to life with an extraordinary level of craft, creating a space that invites people to slow down, reflect, and re-engage with the natural world."
Entering the Bathhouse, visitors encounter Reverie, a new expression of Kohler's iconic freestanding enameled cast iron bath, reimagined with a copper shroud that serves as the focal point of the space. The shroud wraps the cast iron bath, which is made with at least 80% recycled materials, underscoring a legacy of sustainable craftsmanship designed to endure. This marks the first time Kohler has used copper as a defining material in bath design, introducing a new dimension to the category.
"Design and the creative process are always central to Kohler, shaping our tradition and propelling our progress," said David Kohler, Chair and CEO of Kohler Co. "We see design as a bridge between heritage and innovation, continually evolving through material exploration and craft. We are delighted to partner with Richard Christiansen and Flamingo Estate during Milan Design Week to continue to inspire through art and design."
Nestled throughout the garden are four one-of-a-kind pollinator baths, conceived by Christiansen designed by Kohler and cast in its historic Wisconsin foundry. These sculptural vessels serve as sanctuaries for birds, bees, and other pollinating species, extending the installation narrative of reciprocity between human craft and the natural world.
"For the Flamingo Estate Bathhouse, we wanted to explore the relationship between architecture and ecology, how design can create moments of care not just for people, but for the natural world around us," said Michael Seum, VP of Global Design at Kohler Co. "The pollinator baths translate this idea into sculptural form, drawing from Brutalist principles on the exterior while softening into organic, nature-informed surfaces within. It's a reflection of our belief that design should hold space for both human ritual and environmental stewardship."
The Flamingo Estate Bathhouse by Kohler elevates bathing into a restorative experience and a place of ritual and retreat, one that slows the body, quiets the mind, and heightens awareness of light, water, and material. Through its integration of architecture, craft, and ecology, the installation reflects a shared vision between Kohler and Flamingo Estate: that enduring wellness emerges through a deeper connection to nature.
The candles in the Bathhouse were created by Flamingo Estate specifically for the installation. The Flamingo Estate Pollinator Candle is complemented by the Pollinator Bath Soap Brick. The scent was inspired by a walk through Milan city streets. Wild Linden Blossom is an olfactory invitation to walk through Milan in bloom. At the threshold of Summer, the iconic Tiglio Tree blossoms at once — perfuming entire boulevards with a sublime, honeyed warmth authentic to Milan. From sunlit markets, Bergamot pulses with the green, sparkling brightness of its rind, as sweet pollen dusts the air. Both the candle and soap brick are available for purchase on FlamingoEstate.com.
Unveiled during FuoriSalone at the Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea, Via Palestro 14, 20121 Milan, Italy, the installation is open to the public from Tuesday, April 21 through Sunday, April 26. Hours are as follows: Tuesday, 12:00–7:00 PM; Wednesday, 12:00–4:00 PM and 7:00–10:00 PM; Thursday through Saturday, 12:00–10:00 PM; and Sunday, 12:00–6:00 PM.
For installation images and more information, access the press kit here.
About Kohler Co.
For more than 150 years, Kohler Co. has been a global leader in bold design and innovation, dedicated to helping people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives through its kitchen and bath products; luxury cabinetry, tile, and lighting; wellness products and services; and luxury hospitality experiences and major championship golf. Privately held Kohler Co. was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin. The company also develops sustainable living solutions to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations. Its Innovation for Good platform addresses pressing issues, such as clean water and safe sanitation, with breakthrough products and services for underserved communities. David Kohler serves as Chair and CEO and represents the fourth generation of Kohler family leadership.
About Flamingo Estate
Settled in the 1940s high atop the hills of Los Angeles, Flamingo Estate throughout its history has been a hedonistic enclave of sun-worship, folk mythologies, and psychedelic remedies — a secret haven for wild alchemy in the City of Angels. Now, Flamingo Estate is the home of Richard Christiansen, and, in the spirit of its origins, a radical celebration of pleasure from the garden. We carefully cultivate Mother Nature's wildest, most precious gifts, at a time when we need them most. Championing the idea that Mother Nature is the last great luxury house, and sourcing rare ingredients from over 125 farms and collaborators. Instead of commodity ingredients, our goal is to get as close to the raw, natural material as possible, and to be able to trace each ingredient back to the farmer who planted it. Creating nutrient-dense rituals for daily pleasure, with Mother Nature as the guide.
Media Contacts:
Kohler PR | Jillian.rosone@kohler.com
Sutton Communications | Kohler@suttoncomms.com
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Kohler and Flamingo Estate Create a Sculptural Bathhouse Rooted in Ritual, Nature, and Craft at Milan Design Week
Kohler and Flamingo Estate Create a Sculptural Bathhouse Rooted in Ritual, Nature, and Craft at Milan Design Week
Kohler and Flamingo Estate Create a Sculptural Bathhouse Rooted in Ritual, Nature, and Craft at Milan Design Week
Kohler and Flamingo Estate Create a Sculptural Bathhouse Rooted in Ritual, Nature, and Craft at Milan Design Week