HANGZHOU, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Your next favorite novel? No need perhaps for confinement in a lonely garret or a decade of drafts. Inspiration may come swiftly in the company of your artificial intelligence (AI) co-writer and its instant ideas. You may even find your novel turned into a webcomic series thanks to your AI collaborator.
AI certainly can play a key role in the swapping of ideas by online literature writers, experts and representatives of related platforms and industries from both home and abroad. Such literary folk gathered at the 2025 China International Online Literature Week held from Sept. 26 to 29 in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, where they explored this new literary momentum, landscape and dimension within the context of a global vision of AI-empowered Chinese online literature.
Participants discussed AI's role in Chinese online literature, from AI translation and AI writing to AI-made related products. Notably, Chinese online literature currently attracts around 200 million active overseas readers from over 200 countries and regions.
According to the report released by the China Writers Association (CWA) during the event in Hangzhou, AI-powered translation has turbocharged the reach and speed of dissemination of Chinese online literature. Also, by analyzing overseas readers' preferences and delivering personalized picks, AI is providing an expanded selection for such readers.
Instead of worrying about whether AI can replace writers or not, many writers and experts said that technology is just a tool -- used with the aim of increasing efficiency. AI can churn out words, but it can't replace authors' experience and real emotional insights, participants added.
"AI is not the enemy but a helpful friend, like a secretary. AI 'hands' me piles of material, but I still pick, prune and phrase every line. It is I who made the final decision," said Ahmed Elsaid, a member of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Writers Union who is also a specially-appointed professor at the Communication University of China.
"I let AI edit my drafts and point out logic holes in plots. When I hit a plain-fact problem, AI's big 'brain' and tight logic give me quick answers," said the Chinese writer known as Liu Cuihu, who also learned that communication with such technology does count. Liu revealed that she even talks to AI chatbots -- because clear, detailed instructions help her get better results.
Liu, a female writer from east China's Fujian Province, also noted that AI broadens her horizons. The dialogues she wrote used to sound like the place she came from and the life she has lived. When she wrote about a restaurant owner from northwest China, she used AI to polish her lines by allowing the AI to infuse local accents and contexts.
"AI makes literature writing easier, faster and enables a wider reach. But literature is about humans' real feelings that cannot be programmed," said Turkish journalist and columnist Kamil Erdogdu, who also expressed the view that writers should focus heavily on content and educating themselves, given that writing is based on experience and knowledge.
"The 'new trio,' namely Chinese online literature, games and web series, sees wider global reach and grows with synergy," said Zhang Hongsen, president of the CWA, who added that online literature serves as the foundation -- offering content with unique narratives and rich genres to the other two members of this "trio."
Some participants also said that they used AI to produce music and photos of characters or major scenes at the beginning of their writing endeavors. Some consider this as useful for writers, who are given visual glimpses of their characters and settings. Such visuals can also serve as a source of inspiration for partners working on related products, such as videos and games.
Many companies are embracing AI to empower literature writing efforts and the creation of web series. For instance, Yuewen Group offers AI audiobooks that can turn texts into quality audio products and AI webcomics that can increase design efficiency. The current beta "AI artist" enables writers to obtain visualized scenes while writing.
"When I create a character, I like to let AI create an image as it helps me to describe more details," British author Kawin Jack Sherwin told Xinhua, explaining that AI gives writers the opportunity to visualize their work, with this feature being especially useful given the traditionally high costs of transforming literature into TV shows and comics.
Beijing Kinging Technology Co., Ltd, said the company has made several popular AI plus webcomics series by combining AI and professional teams of people. "Great content never runs out of new ways to show up," said Wang Jing, president of the company.
On most relevant platforms, more than half of the translated works were done via AI -- which reduced costs by over 90 percent.
In the first half of 2025, the online reading platform WebNovel, under Yuewen, rolled out over 3,400 AI-translated books. On this platform, AI-translated works had totaled more than 7,200 -- accounting for over 70 percent of the total translated works from Chinese.
However, participants noted that professionals are still needed to guide AI translation and AI-made related products, as the report shows that AI struggles to localize and convey the cultural meaning of jargon, and even forgets how names and plot points were handled a few chapters earlier due to limited memory capacity.
An online reading platform called Chireads, mainly French-language, hosts around 100 book titles, 80 percent of which are Chinese online literature, and attracts over 300,000 monthly visits from countries including France, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada.
"I can find resonance and joy from Chinese online literature," said Charles Emmanuel Dewees, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Chireads, who established the platform in 2017 after being attracted by the unique narratives and rich meanings of Chinese online literature.
"Chinese stories are worth telling," he said, noting that with more volunteers and via AI, more language versions will be uploaded on the platform. "So that more people can feel the charm of Chinese online literature."
SOURCE/AUTHOR : XIN HUA NEWS
No third party should interfere in territory, maritime disputes: Chinese FM spokesperson
S&P Global Ratings' affirmation of China outlook reflects recognition of country's economic resilience
China aims to achieve breakthroughs in brain-computer interface technology by 2027
Rescue underway after mountain torrents leave 10 dead, 33 missing in NW China's Gansu
With independent customs operation, Hainan Free Trade Port poised to pioneer China's high-standard opening up
Xi urges all-out rescue efforts after Gansu mountain torrents cause heavy casualties
China activates Level-IV emergency response for flood control in 5 provincial-level regions
Across China: North China night market offers a cyberpunk feast for the eyes and the stomach
Think tank report highlights China's ecological governance innovation, global impact
Chinese scientists develop smart surveillance system to control mosquito-borne diseases
Letter from China: Robots take center stage at Beijing expo, pointing to tech revolution
China Focus: Paired assistance program improves access to quality health care for Xizang residents
Column: China-proposed global AI cooperation organization expected to narrow global tech gap
Factbox: China witnesses remarkable progress in data sector in 14th Five-Year Plan period
China urges Japan to be prudent on historical issues such as Yasukuni Shrine: spokesperson
Books of Xi's discourses on adhering to deepening reform comprehensively published
Chengdu World Games closes, highlighting inclusiveness, sustainability, innovation
Xinhua Headlines: Host city of 2025 World Games unfolds new vitality in opening wider to globe
Uzbek edition of "Xi Jinping: On Respecting and Protecting Human Rights" launched in Uzbekistan
China Focus: China's expanding national park system delivers breakthroughs in wildlife conservation
Xinhua Headlines: China's factories trade smoke for sustainability through green innovation
Xi urges concerted efforts for modernization when meeting representatives from across Xizang
Tourist train with elderly-friendly modifications departs from Harbin for grassland trip
Xinhua Headlines: Setting sail again from China, SCO charts course for shared future
Xinhua Headlines: Expo facilitates smart, green cooperation between China, Arab states
Update: China int'l trade representative holds talks with U.S. officials, business representatives
(V-Day) Xi Focus: Xi hails "unstoppable" national rejuvenation at V-Day commemorations
Xi Focus: Xi addresses V-Day reception, stressing justice, peace, people's strength
Commemorative stamps issued to mark 80th anniversary of victory against Japanese aggression, fascism
Xinhua Headlines: Xi makes three proposals at virtual BRICS Summit to cement solidarity, advance cooperation
Solar panels light the way to rural revitalization in China's Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Over 2,000 exhibitors join expo highlighting vitality of China's culture, tourism industries
Sand control projects launched to improve ecological environment of Kubuqi Desert in Inner Mongolia
China Focus: 2,200-yr-old engraved stone discovery illuminates Chinese civilization on
Xinhua Commentary: Free trade, AI make China-ASEAN economic cooperation closer, more fruitful
Major Xinjiang port handles over 7,000 China-Europe freight train trips this year
SichuanMosaics | First mountain and lake circling festival of Lugu Lake kicks off in SW China's Sichuan
China's V-Day commemorations enhance confidence in advancing national rejuvenation: Xi
China's Hani terraces illustrate the Chinese philosophy of living in harmony with nature
Xinhua Headlines: Chinese commemorate outbreak of war against Japanese aggression with hopes for peace
Explainer: Why the September 18th Incident was a key event in the World Anti-Fascist War
Economic Watch: U.S. high-tech firms upbeat about manufacuture investment in China
Xinhua Headlines: Jingdezhen: China's ancient porcelain capital turns young and chic
Xi leads central delegation to Urumqi for 70th anniversary of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
South China's Guangdong raises emergency response to highest for approaching typhoon
Xi's Album | Xi leaves for Beijing after attending celebrations for Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region's 70th founding anniversary
Xi attends grand gathering in celebration of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region's 70th founding anniversary
13th China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City Int'l High-Tech Expo opens in China's Sichuan
Xinhua Headlines: World's highest bridge opens to traffic in China's mountainous southwest
China Focus: Million-year-old skull from central China rewrites human evolution timeline
Update: China expected to handle 2.36 billion passenger trips in upcoming holiday
Update: China's water conservancy investment to exceed 5.4 trln yuan during 2021-2025 period
China Focus: Honoring WWII victory, China gains strength for national rejuvenation
GLOBALink | African attendees to internet forum seek deeper cooperation with China
China Focus: Innovative cultural tourism heats up China's eight-day holiday market
China's transportation network sees travel peak on 1st day of National Day holiday
China achieves milestone in compact fusion project with key component installation
Xinhua Headlines: From logging to guardianship: How China protects green source of its
China's 2025 box office surpasses 2024's full-year gross, with local films dominating
GLOBALink | Global insiders discuss circus arts and performance in China's circus festival
Xinhua Headlines: How small county in north China becomes magnet for global acrobats
Enhe Village in China's Inner Mongolia draws tourists with blend of Chinese-Russian culture
Tourist destinations across China see surge in visitors during National Day holiday
Economy&life | Eight-day holiday in China sees unprecedented people flows, consumption nationwide
Xinhua Headlines: Gaza conflict -- Two years of devastation and dim prospects ahead
60"FlyOverChina | Nature's red carpet unrolled: Biodiversity haven in Shandong's coastal wetlands
Xinhua Headlines: Surge in Chinese holiday travelers boosts European tourism, cultural exchanges
China logs 2.4 billion cross-regional passenger trips during holiday travel surge
Column: From Beijing to Beijing: 30 years on, the song of women's empowerment rings clearer and louder
Participants attend opening ceremony of Global Leaders' Meeting on Women in Beijing
China Focus: 2,300-year-old Chinese silk manuscripts finally return home after decades abroad
Xinhua Commentary: More joint action needed to promote women's development worldwide
Across China: Beyond the steel span -- world's highest bridge uplifting China's mountainous southwest
Economic Watch: China's core inflation hits 19-month high, signaling firmer domestic demand
Explainer: How China fosters growth, innovation amidst global uncertainties through past Five-Year Plan
Xinhua Headlines: China's economy shows stable growth trend with positive factors accumulating
Xinhua Headlines: CPC plenum concludes, adopting recommendations for China's 15th Five-Year Plan
Chinese scientists make breakthroughs in longer-lasting, safer solid-state batteries
Chinese, African experts join force to advance collaboration on food security, agricultural modernization
Xinhua Headlines: Charting a new chapter for Asia-Pacific development through unity, responsibility
Economic Watch: FAW-Volkswagen marks 30 millionth car as China's auto confidence grows
Xi says China ready to work with Japan to build constructive, stable bilateral relations
Xi says China ready to strengthen synergy of development strategies with Thailand, share development experience in new era
Three Gorges project generates over 423 bln kWh of electricity in past five years
GLOBALink | Scholars explore global perspective on China's war of resistance against Japanese aggression
Chinese scientists conduct detailed analysis of key water source in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Leave a Comment