When AI accompanies Vietnamese artists in creation:

Although the concept of "image industry" is still quite new, the development of an AI-based creative ecosystem is expected to contribute to promoting the development of the cultural industry in our country.

Speakers discussed at the book launch ceremony “The Cricket Knight” by author Le Van Thao with more than 200 illustrations created by AI. *Photo: Thao Nguyen*

AI - the artist's powerful partner

At the end of May, the book “The Cricket Knight” by author Le Van Thao created a milestone in the field of illustration using new technology when it became the first work in Vietnam to be illustrated entirely by AI. More than 200 illustrations were created by 5 specialized AI systems from character creation, background, lighting to post-processing.

For author Le Van Thao, this is a project that is very passionate. He wrote the manuscript more than 20 years ago, but it was not until AI appeared that he was able to realize his desire to fully illustrate this work and bring it to the public. “AI does not replace humans, but opens new doors for creativity. It knows how to learn to increasingly understand the artist's ideas,” author Le Van Thao shared.

Another notable project is the sci-fi film “Shadow of the Wolf” directed by young director Pham Vinh Khuong, which was just released in mid-June. With a duration of 3 hours, the film was produced entirely by AI, without the need for a studio or a large crew, just with a smartphone and an exclusive AI system developed by director Pham Vinh Khuong himself. Previously, director Pham Vinh Khuong was also successful with MVs ( music videos) using AI such as “Chèo Moi Lai Ra”, “Búc Tranh Đại Việt”, “Mat Bao”, “Tiec Trang”...

In the field of animation, the series “Trang Quynh in his silly days” and especially the 3D movie “Trang Quynh nhi - Kim Nguu Legend” released in June by Alpha Animation Studio, take advantage of AI technology from data collection to create ideas, plots as well as designs with the film's unique artistic character. Meritorious Artist Trinh Lam Tung, director of these works, said: “AI helps visualize fantasy worlds faster, saves time in repetitive steps, allowing artists to invest more in emotions and messages.”

Creating a breakthrough for the imaging industry

The emergence of AI in the image industry brings clear advantages, such as shortening production time, reducing costs, expanding creative margins and especially creating opportunities for individuals and small groups to create quality works without large resources. Director Pham Vinh Khuong said that AI can support both script writing and analyzing huge data to create story structures, thereby helping to develop more independent, proactive and creative projects.

However, how to use AI is still a matter of concern in the creative arts community. Meritorious Artist Trinh Lam Tung shared that he has applied AI in the filmmaking process but very limitedly, mainly in the early stages of building the story, synthesizing information and speeding up the idea generation process.

“AI cannot and will hardly replace the unique creative thinking of humans, especially the director, screenwriter or main artist. A film is not only a moving image but also a creative perspective, a unique view of the storyteller. AI cannot “feel” and “tell” like humans,” the director of “Trang Quynh nhi: Truyen thuy Kim Nguu” expressed.

Sharing the same view, Associate Professor Dr. Do Lenh Hung Tu, Chairman of the Vietnam Cinema Association, said that the key element of art is to move the audience. Emotion is an element that AI cannot interfere with. Therefore, in order for the cultural industry to develop rapidly, including the film industry and the image industry, in addition to combining with AI to create new achievements, filmmakers need to pay more attention to synchronous investment policies for production, dissemination, distribution, storage, training, and export and import of works of art...

From another perspective, author Le Van Thao believes that AI is changing the way of thinking about creativity in art. Typically, in fine arts, if in the past, an artist had to sit and draw every day, now they become the “commander” - the one who gives ideas and controls the final product. “We do not lose our position, but… we are promoted, becoming creative organizers,” author Le Van Thao expressed his opinion.

Realizing the advantages of using AI in artistic creation, author Le Van Thao and his colleagues organized the school project "Creating with AI" to help students explore the ability to illustrate with AI, tell stories with images and develop creative thinking suitable for the digital age, thereby approaching the use of AI properly and effectively in learning and creating. When artists master technology and policies, infrastructure, and synchronous training development, we can create works that are both rich in identity and in tune with global trends. That is a new path opening up a sustainable future for the Vietnamese image industry in the digital age.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/khi-ai-dong-hanh-cung-nghe-si-viet-sang-tao-duong-moi-cho-cong-nghiep-hinh-anh-706375.html