At a sideline event of the 2025 Forum on Building up China’s Cultural Strength in Shenzhen, guests highlighted a sweeping fusion of culture and technology that’s reshaping heritage preservation, rural economies and creative industries across the Chinese mainland.
Culture-Tech Synergy: Reviving Heritage and Empowering Communities
Speakers traced a journey from ancient papermaking to modern AI-driven archives, revealing how virtual reality (VR) and machine learning are restoring fragile manuscripts and offering global audiences immersive digital tours of historic sites. These digital tools also turn folk arts and rural traditions into vibrant online content—fueling local tourism and empowering artisans with new income streams.
Industry Shifts: Smarter Production and New Consumer Trends
Big data and AI are transforming both supply and demand. Streaming platforms now use algorithms to tailor content to individual tastes, while generative AI reduces production costs for creators. In 2024 alone, China’s culture-tech industries—from virtual exhibitions to smart tourism—generated nearly 6 trillion yuan (about $840 billion), a tenfold leap since 2012. National policies such as the cultural digitization strategy are further safeguarding and managing these digital cultural assets.
Future Frontiers: AI Creativity and Global Collaboration
Looking ahead, AI is already co-writing novels and assisting filmmakers, while virtual influencers are redefining entertainment. Forum guests outlined plans for a national cultural data system, support for culture-tech startups and international partnerships designed to ensure China’s cultural innovations connect with global audiences.
As one panelist noted, culture should guide technology, and technology should empower culture—preserving the past while powering tomorrow’s creativity.
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China's culture-tech fusion signals new era of mutual empowerment
cgtn.com
