Reviving Ancient Reading Skills in an AI-Driven World
At the recent Bizlitfest Hyderabad 2025, the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and storytelling was a significant topic of discussion. A session titled "Beyond the Prompt: Writing the Future with AI" brought together AI experts and authors to delve into the emotional and creative aspects of AI in storytelling.
Held at the festival’s venue T-Hub, this session explored how AI tools are revolutionising the way stories are crafted and consumed. While the detailed program did not list a dedicated panel on storytelling and reading habits, the presence of AI experts discussing the emotional and creative dimensions of AI hinted at a thematic focus on AI's influence in the literary domain.
During the session, the experts delved into the transformative impact of AI on the way stories are written and consumed. They likely touched upon how AI-driven content creation and curation might influence reading habits. However, no publicly available sources from the festival elaborated on quantitative or qualitative changes in reading habits.
In a contrasting development, the Krishnamurti Foundation is setting up an artisan center in Pune to encourage children to work with artisans using their hands. This initiative can be seen as an attempt to draw children back to real experiences, potentially making it an "anti-AI" endeavour in the realm of education and craftsmanship.
Meanwhile, in the tech world, AI is making waves in filmmaking. Myntra founder Mukesh Bansal won the award for the Best Entrepreneurship Book at Bizlitfest for his book 'The Startup Code', while Vivek Anchalla, founder of Amazing Indian Stories, is working on an all-AI feature movie. GenAI is also disrupting filmmaking, enabling the creation of full movies without the need for specialized VFX laboratories.
However, film producer D Suresh Babu expressed caution about relying too heavily on AI in the film industry. Similarly, AI expert Kashyap Kompella moderated two sessions at Bizlitfest Hyderabad, highlighting his role as a thought leader in the AI space.
In the educational sphere, a Harvard survey found that students were completing writing courses without reading a book. Author and former P&G India CEO Gurucharan Das, however, stated that more books are being sold now than in the past, suggesting a complex picture of reading habits in the digital age.
In the Krishnamurti Foundation's app, AI is used to cull out wisdom from Jiddu Krishnamurti's teachings without the need for interpretation by a third party. This use of AI in the app is a testament to the versatility of AI, which is finding applications in various fields, from education to entertainment, and beyond.
As we move forward, it will be interesting to see how AI continues to shape the world of storytelling and reading habits, and how traditional methods like artisanal craftsmanship and reading books continue to hold their ground.
- In the technology sector, there's an ongoing exploration of AI's role in filmmaking, with Mukesh Bansal winning an award for his AI-driven book and Vivek Anchalla working on an all-AI feature movie.
- The educational landscape too is undergoing change, as AI is used to make education more accessible, such as in the Krishnamurti Foundation's app where AI culls out wisdom from Jiddu Krishnamurti's teachings.
- Meanwhile, in a contrasting approach, the Krishnamurti Foundation is establishing an artisan center, promoting a hands-on approach and potentially fostering a lifestyle that can be perceived as 'anti-AI' in the realm of education and craftsmanship.
