AI Transforms China's Cultural Industry

Kathmandu. A forum on the cultural industry held in Shenzhen city, Guangdong province, southern China, has stated that artificial intelligence (AI) has now been deeply integrated into China's content creation, distribution, and global promotion.

At the recently held 'China Cultural Power Construction 2026' forum, various organizations presented innovative works created by artificial intelligence, such as documentaries, animated series, and translated online novels. This shows that artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming China's cultural landscape.

Among the participants, Hunan Broadcasting System shared that it has developed an AI-powered visual content creation structure using large language models and cloud computing technology. After integrating creative and technical teams and collaborating with research institutions, the organization has already released fully AI-generated documentaries and short dramas and is currently working on producing long-form serials.

Chinese online novels have long been affected by two major problems in international expansion. Many imaginative and science fiction-based stories were difficult to adapt into traditional films, and translating them for a global readership was challenging in terms of both time and cost.

According to Xie Lanfang, Vice President of Yuewen Group, artificial intelligence has solved both these problems. The company has developed an artificial assistant that works from text analysis to visual creation, transforming novels into animated episodes.

After launching its artificial comic service in the second half of 2025, the company has released about one thousand AI-generated works. More than a hundred of these have received over ten million views, and 12 works have received over 100 million views.

Cui Xiao, head of Tencent Research Institute, stated that artificial intelligence has significantly expanded the scope of content creators. According to him, it has reduced production costs and time and increased production capacity, making everyone a potential creator.

Artificial intelligence is also developing entirely new cultural forms and applications.

At the 22nd China International Cultural Industry Fair, people lined up to try the 'Qianwen' artificial glasses. Developed by a technology company based in Beijing, these glasses are equipped with a large language model that provides navigation, object recognition, and question-and-answer capabilities through voice.

According to company employee Wu Jianjun, such glasses have great potential in museums and cultural heritage sites. They help provide a deeper understanding to visitors who lack information about a particular painting or object.

Artificial intelligence is also assisting in the global promotion of Chinese cultural heritage. The 'Digital Library Cave' project is automatically identifying and correcting annotations in ancient religious texts, giving audiences worldwide the opportunity to view ancient mural heritage.

A company specializing in 3D reconstruction and digital archiving is creating digital records of Chinese cultural artifacts lost abroad, aiming to make these heritage items accessible to a wider audience. The company also plans to use artificial intelligence in the future to test the protective condition of static cultural heritage.

Local policies are also further strengthening AI-based cultural development. Shanghai has provided technical support and computing grants to support the micro-drama sector. In China's Sichuan province, cultural and science departments have established joint projects to accelerate the development of key technologies and equipment.

Many industry representatives participating in the forum stated that national guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in the cultural sector are necessary. They emphasized the need for clear policies regarding technical standards, data regulations, copyright, and content labeling, urging for the assurance of ethical and sustainable development.