At the 2025 Golden Panda International Cultural Forum in Chengdu, celebrated Chinese director Chen Kaige delivered a passionate defense of human creativity in the age of artificial intelligence. Speaking to a global audience of filmmakers and cultural leaders, the Farewell My Concubine auteur argued that while AI tools can reconstruct historical settings or create dazzling effects, they lack the capacity to replicate emotional truth.
"A machine can restore a Qing Dynasty street," Chen observed, "but only a human heart can convey what it meant to walk those cobblestones as a parent bidding farewell to their child." The director emphasized cinema's unique role in exploring universal themes like love, loss, and identity – elements he believes require conscious artistic choices rather than algorithmic calculations.
Chen's remarks come as global film industries grapple with AI's expanding capabilities. While acknowledging technology's value in preserving cultural heritage through historical restoration projects, he cautioned against over-reliance: "The moment we let machines dictate our stories is the moment we lose cinema's soul."
The forum, attended by delegates from 28 countries and regions, highlighted Asia's growing influence in shaping global cultural dialogues. Industry analysts note Chen's perspective aligns with emerging trends favoring hybrid production models that pair technological innovation with human-centric storytelling.
