AI opens fresh chapters for literature

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the creative landscape, but filmmakers and writers say the emotional depth and lasting power of literature remain beyond the reach of machines. That message emerged at "Literary Interface: AIGC Image Experiment", a special screening hosted by Tencent News in Beijing earlier this month.

Part of Tencent News' creativity initiative Ideas, the event premiered five AI-generated short films adapted from acclaimed literary works, sparking discussion on how emerging technology can expand artistic expression while preserving the heart of storytelling.

The lineup included Meng Mian (The Mask), adapted from Mao Dun Literature Award-winning writer Xu Zechen's search for inspiration in Colombia; Liu Er Mi Hou (The Six-Eared Macaque), based on Xu's novella of the same name, which explores the aspirations and uncertainties of the 1990s beipiao (Beijing drifters) — a term referring to people who move to the Chinese capital in pursuit of their dreams; and Bi Te Quan (Bit Circle), inspired by female writer Wang Shuqi's story about a Bitcoin mining site deep in the mountains of Sichuan province.

The event brought together prominent figures from literature and cinema, including Xu and acclaimed director Li Shaohong, to examine the opportunities and challenges presented by AI-generated content, or AIGC.

Li, best known for hits like Blush, which won the Silver Bear at the 45th Berlin International Film Festival, described AI as a creative tool that should always serve human creators rather than replace them.

While acknowledging the rapid progress of AIGC technology, Li noted that it still struggles to portray subtle emotions and the textures of real-life experiences. She added that emotionally resonant storytelling continues to depend on live-action filmmaking.

Xu echoed that view but argued that new technologies will eventually develop their own aesthetic language. Rather than simply combining literature with conventional filmmaking, AIGC-generated imagery could evolve into a hybrid art form capable of producing creative breakthroughs, he said.

Cao Wenxuan, a renowned writer and professor at Peking University, urged creators to avoid homogenized content in the AI era. He encouraged artists to build their own creative identity by drawing inspiration from timeless literary classics while remaining rooted in their personal experiences.