The limitations of AI in artistic creation.

A scene from the Cai Luong play "The Oath on Flagpole Mountain," staged and performed by the Hai Phong Traditional Stage Theatre.

In Hai Phong, a vibrant cultural hub with numerous festivals, celebrations, and creative competitions, the story of AI application is not just a technical issue, but also touches upon a core value: to what extent can technology support art while preserving human emotions and identity?

Technology paves the way for efficiency and innovation.

In recent years, Hai Phong has become one of the most dynamic localities in the country in terms of cultural and artistic activities. Large-scale events such as the Red Phoenix Flower Festival, the National Mobile Propaganda Competition, the Hai Phong Expanded Chau Van Performance Festival, and most recently the Con Son - Kiet Bac Autumn Festival… are continuously organized, bringing a vibrant and modern festive atmosphere to the public.

In this context, the application of technology, especially AI, is gradually becoming a powerful supporting tool. Nguyen Duy, Director of the Nguyen Duy Center for Arts and Musical Instruments (Vietnam-Czech Friendship Labor Cultural Palace), said: His center applies AI in management, planning, and providing visual support for performances. AI helps increase productivity and reduce technical processing time, especially in visual design and stage setup. “At the 2025 Piano Festival ‘Flying Notes,’ thanks to AI, we were able to create more vivid illustrations, better color coordination, and faster scene transitions, making the performances more engaging and modern,” Duy said.

In fact, at art performances, AI-powered digital projection systems deliver eye-catching visual effects and add depth to the stage. Furthermore, some young artists are beginning to experiment with AI in music arrangement, creating music demos, and suggesting performance styles, saving them time and expanding their creative ideas.

However, alongside these benefits, Nguyen Duy, as well as artists and cultural managers, remain cautious. They believe that without clear limits, technology can easily strip artworks of their soul, which inherently belongs to human emotions.

A performance participating in the 2025 National Mobile Propaganda Competition in Hai Phong.

Genuine emotions – a limit that AI has yet to reach.

Director Canh Tra, formerly of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, who has over 5 years of experience in scriptwriting, directing music videos, music films, corporate TV commercials, and stage productions for competitions and festivals, shared that he has never used AI in the creative or production process of his works.

Director Canh Tra's works often focus on themes of his homeland, country, and the people of Vietnam, something that, according to him, "AI cannot do because it lacks the life experience and emotional connection." "I have to choose the right time to film so that the scenery truly captures the atmosphere of spring. Details like cherry blossoms, tiled roofs, village roads… all have to be authentic; AI cannot replace them," Tra explained.

The Gala performance and awards ceremony for the songwriting competition about Hai Phong, organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, recently took place at the City Theater Square. Nine works reached the finals and were awarded second, third, and consolation prizes (there was no first prize). People's Artist Quang Vinh, Chairman of the Hanoi Music Association and Head of the judging panel, stated that, based on their professional experience, the judging panel resolutely disqualified songs entirely composed by AI, as those songs lacked soul and emotional flow. He emphasized: "AI should only be a supporting tool, not a replacement for a human musician."

According to Ms. Vu Pham Thanh Huong, Head of the Department of Mass Arts and Culture, Department of Grassroots Culture, Family and Libraries (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), AI is like a "double-edged sword": if used incorrectly, it can create historically inaccurate or offensive images in propaganda posters and publications. She believes that cultural products must use official sources and avoid using images from AI without verification.

The application of AI in art reflects the inevitable trend of the digital age. The issue is not about choosing between tradition and modernity, but about how to manage and control technology so that it serves humanity, not replaces humanity. Alongside encouraging the application of technology, regulatory bodies need to promptly develop clear and regularly updated regulations and censorship mechanisms to ensure the accuracy, integrity, and standards of cultural and artistic products.

HA LINH

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/gioi-han-ai-trong-sang-tao-nghe-thuat-525007.html