Tsai Chih-chung talks AI and philosophy

AI is capable of providing highly accurate answers, yet it lacks the ability to think independently and be creative. The key to effectively utilizing AI lies in asking precise questions and skillfully filtering through vast amounts of information, said 78-year-old cartoonist Tsai Chih-chung.

Tsai acknowledges that AI can enhance efficiency and reduce costs in comic creation. However, when it comes to traditional comic styles, AI falls short. "AI is just a tool; the ultimate control always remains in human hands," he noted, while addressing a question about AI's influence during the book launch ceremony of the English-Chinese bilingual edition of his comic book Yi Jing at the Beijing International Book Fair in mid-June.

The original Yi Jing (Book of Changes) is an ancient Chinese text known as the "foremost among the classics", and elucidates the principles of change in the universe and provides guidance for personal conduct and interaction with the world. For millennia, it has enriched the spiritual lives of the Chinese people.

"Mr Tsai, with his signature Zen-inspired artistic style, has vividly illustrated the various life situations depicted in the 64 hexagrams (divinatory symbols) in Yi Jing, breathing new life into this ancient classic in the modern world," said Zang Yongqing, deputy general manager of China Publishing and Media.

"He transforms the profound wisdom of Chinese culture into a visual language that appeals to people of all ages and tastes using just a single paintbrush," Zang added.