Opportunities for breakthroughs in the digital era
The development of cultural industries has been identified as one of the key drivers for promoting economic growth and enhancing the country's image. In the technological era, AI enables creative enterprises to optimise production processes, reduce costs, personalise user experiences and create a wide range of high value-added cultural products.
In recent years, the film industry has primarily applied AI to production support processes such as image restoration, automatic subtitle generation, dubbing, audience data analysis and content personalisation on distribution platforms. In the music industry, AI assists with melody composition, orchestration, audio processing, noise reduction and the creation of demo recordings within a short period. AI also actively supports manuscript editing, translation, text summarisation and the conversion of printed books into audiobooks in the publishing industry, while helping analyse data and shorten information processing time in the media and journalism sectors. AI enhances audience experiences in the performing arts and also shows considerable potential in video game design.
In other fields such as advertising, cultural tourism, handicrafts and product design, AI is deeply involved in various stages of production, increasing productivity, improving product design and enhancing both product value and market competitiveness.
However, the use of AI in developing cultural industries also presents several challenges that need to be recognised. According to Dr Tran Kim Ba of the Viet Nam Academy of Social Sciences, the first challenge is copyright. AI is typically trained on massive datasets, including images, music, books and films, leading to an increased risk of copyright infringement or the unauthorised use of creative works belonging to rights holders. The next challenge concerns data. At present, many of Viet Nam's cultural heritage assets and historical and cultural archives have yet to be digitised. Without high-quality data, AI cannot effectively exploit indigenous cultural values to create products that embody a distinctly Vietnamese identity.
Another challenge is human resources, particularly highly skilled personnel. The development of cultural industries requires a workforce that possesses both artistic knowledge and the ability to use digital technologies and AI, yet the number of people who meet both requirements remains very limited. Because investment costs for data infrastructure and software licensing are substantial, many small and medium-sized enterprises and independent artists are still unable to integrate AI into their creative and production processes.
Building a harmonious model of collaboration between humans and AI
The extensive application of AI in the development of cultural industries is an inevitable trend, and many countries have already achieved notable success. For example, the Republic of Korea has applied AI to audience preference analysis, automatic translation, music and film production, and the promotion of Korean content in international markets. As a result, the Korean Wave (Hallyu) has become an industry with global economic influence. China has focused on applying AI to the film and video game industries; Singapore has employed AI in developing digital museums, digital libraries and innovation ecosystems; while Japan has focused on the anime industry. Viet Nam can learn from the experiences of these countries and is considered to have significant potential in sectors such as video games, animated films based on folk materials, music and cinema.
To ensure the effective and safe application of AI in cultural industries, it is necessary to implement comprehensive solutions covering policy, technology and human resources. Accordingly, a clear legal framework governing AI and intellectual property rights will encourage innovation. Hoang Van Tam, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of DigiTech Solutions and an expert in digital transformation and AI, recommends that AI should be used to process data, support research, generate ideas, optimise workflows and expand public access, while humans should retain responsibility for value orientation, content verification and final decision-making.
Those working in culture and the arts need to proactively incorporate the Vietnamese language, history, customs, indigenous knowledge and traditional values into datasets, training processes and evaluation criteria for AI-assisted products. Every product should be reviewed by cultural experts and its creators to minimise inaccurate, stereotypical or culturally diluted content. Such a combination will not only maximise the speed, analytical capabilities and creative power of technology but also ensure that human emotion, critical thinking, social responsibility and Vietnamese cultural identity remain at the centre. Regarding the development of high-quality human resources, stronger interdisciplinary cooperation between arts and technology training institutions is needed to cultivate a workforce that possesses both creative thinking and the ability to apply modern technologies.
The ethical use of AI in the development of cultural industries is being strongly advocated in many countries. Without proper oversight through ethical principles and a clear legal framework, AI could seriously undermine creative rights and national cultural identity, while also affecting the livelihoods of many workers.
According to Dang Tran Cuong, Director General of the Cinema Department, the law serves as a safeguard, but it must also create space for creativity. In the film industry in particular, close cooperation among filmmakers, technology experts and state management agencies is essential to gradually build a modern and innovative cinema that remains compliant with legal regulations, respects individual rights and preserves the spirit of Vietnamese culture. Dr Tran Kim Ba emphasised that AI can only expand creative capabilities; it can never replace creativity itself, because in culture and the arts, the most important elements remain the emotions, thinking and lived experiences of the creator. The core value of any cultural product ultimately lies in the beauty distilled from the cultural identity of its community and nation.
