AI Microdramas Warned to Stifle Human Creativity
A Beijing professor and Hong Kong experts cautioned at a Macau forum that AI-generated content risks cultural homogenisation.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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Zhang Lanshan, a professor at the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, warned at a Macau forum that AI-generated microdramas could stifle human creativity. Experts from Hong Kong institutions also cautioned users about cultural homogenisation and disinformation from large language models.
Why it matters
Microdramas are short episodes published on social media, and AI models trained on viral productions may favour standardised content that draws audience traffic. Experts argue that AI's tendency to find common denominators could smooth out differences between civilisations and cultures.
Chinese accounted for 1.1 per cent of online content as of 2025, while English accounted for 49.2 per cent. The forum's findings on AI's effect on creativity are based on expert remarks rather than measured outcomes.
The players
Zhang Lanshan
Professor at the School of Digital Media and Design Arts at the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, who warned that AI microdramas could stifle human creativity.
Zhao Hai
Vice-president of the Chinese Institute of Hong Kong, who participated in the discussions on AI's cultural impact.
The details
The warnings were delivered at the second International Forum on Mutual Learning Among Civilisations, a 1½-day event that brought together nearly 300 representatives from more than 20 countries, with two panels focused on AI. Microdrama episodes typically run 60 to 120 seconds, opening with a hook in the first six seconds and an explosive plot in the next 30, with a twist at the one-minute mark.
Timeline
2025: Chinese share of online content measured at 1.1 per cent.
- 2026-11-10
Forum reported on AI microdrama warnings in Macau.
Cultural Exchange Debate
The second International Forum on Mutual Learning Among Civilisations, which drew nearly 300 representatives from more than 20 countries, placed AI's cultural effects on its agenda. The microdrama warnings extend that debate from general exchange principles to specific content formats.
Viewers of short vertical dramas may encounter more AI-produced episodes built on formulas that prioritise quick hooks and twists. Users of AI tools should weigh how heavily they rely on large language models that may flatten regional and cultural differences.
The takeaway
Creators and audiences alike can benefit from favouring original voices over formulaic output, since the forum's experts warned that averaging across cultures narrows what gets shared. Checking where content and information originate helps counter both homogenisation and disinformation.
Further reading
For broader context on how these tools are reshaping creative work, explore Artificial Intelligence coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by South China Morning Post.
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