[Namsan Stroll] Can AI Become the Alchemist of Content?

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"Thanks to AI, anyone can become a storyteller." This was a statement made by Dwayne Ko, Head of AI, at the CES 2026 Digital Hollywood Leadership Session.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has moved beyond the experimental stage. Commercial works that fully utilize AI, such as the feature film "Junggange" and the animation "Catbiggy," have appeared. AI is now present in various forms: game NPCs that converse and act autonomously according to surrounding information, video versions focusing on a single character, translation and dubbing that lower language barriers and even synchronize lip movements, and more. AI can also predict the potential success of new releases and help protect copyrights by identifying and tracking illegally distributed content.

The change in workflow is rapidly lowering the hurdles of production costs, time, and the required skill or expertise of production personnel. Localization and repurposing, which enable market and business expansion, have become much easier. There will also be an increasing amount of interactive, non-linear content.

So, to what extent is the content industry actually utilizing AI? According to a survey by the Korea Creative Content Agency of content businesses, as of the first half of 2025, the utilization rate of generative AI was 20%. Compared to the 37.1% AI utilization rate among general companies found in a separate survey by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy during a similar period, this does not seem particularly high. This is likely due to the emphasis on the uniqueness of creation. However, considering the utilization rate in the second half of 2024 was 12.9%, it is notable that there has been a rapid increase in just six months.

Separate from companies, individual professionals show high AI adoption. Among game industry professionals, 72% use AI, and high utilization rates were found across all job categories, including planning, programming, business, and management. About 37% of broadcasting and video professionals reported using AI, not only in production but also in idea generation and planning stages, such as by writers.

Survey results targeting creators in eight countries, including Korea, also show that general creators are actively using AI. Over 80% responded that they use AI as a daily tool and even consider employing AI agents that learn their unique creative styles, demonstrating a very proactive approach.

Countries are also linking AI content to innovation. Even in the European Union, which has established a strong regulatory framework for AI, the "Horizon Europe" program solicits projects that connect AI technology to strengthening creative industry capabilities and provides research and business funding. The United Kingdom supports AI utilization in content through programs such as the "Game Fund" and "Bridge AI," and backs AI-based content innovation by expanding investment in content R&D clusters like "COSTA." Indonesia, by integrating AI strategy with its national long-term vision, has designated the "creative economy," i.e., the content sector, as one of its five core areas.

Expanding the sustainability and impact of the content industry through AI, and promoting innovation centered on creativity, is an issue we must reflect on most deeply. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency are investing a total of 19.8 billion won this year in AI content production support projects. They are also strengthening support for AI in cultural technology R&D and workforce development. The aim is to ensure that the content industry does not lose its future competitiveness by adopting new technologies in a timely manner and supporting the harmony of creativity and technological prowess.

An era has arrived in which anyone can create content with AI. However, the integration of AI and content is more than just "automation." Content must become better connected to society, the economy, and culture, and offer richer enjoyment through AI. For this reason, AI content still requires profound human context, intuition, ethical responsibility, and creative leaps. The "Philosopher's Stone" still belongs to humanity.

Song Jin, Director of the Content Industry Policy Research Center at the Korea Creative Content Agency

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