Human Talent, Sensitivity Distinguish Literary Works From AI Creation - National Laureate

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29  (Bernama) -- Talent, sensitivity and ambition are key elements that distinguish the authenticity of human-created literary works from those generated by artificial intelligence (AI), said 10th National Laureate Datuk Dr Anwar Ridhwan.

He said technological advancement was inevitable, making it essential for society to use technology wisely and ensure it did not dominate human lives.

“We cannot avoid AI, but it is merely a tool...what we get out of it depends on what we put into it,” he told reporters after the launch and premiere of the Kalam Karyawan 2026 programme at the National Library(PNM) here today.

Also present were PNM Deputy Director-General Anisatul-Wahidah Abdul Wahid and fellow National Laureates Datuk Dr Zurinah Hassan, Datuk Dr Siti Zainon Ismail and Datuk Dr Rahman Shaari.

Anwar stressed that despite rapid technological developments, literature continued to play an important role in nurturing a virtuous, empathetic and responsible society.

He said quality literary works should feature excellent language and explore meaningful themes to leave a lasting impression on readers.

Earlier, in his speech, Anwar highlighted the importance of documenting the journeys of literary figures to preserve the nation's intellectual and literary heritage.

He said documentaries could capture the experiences of writers while helping future generations understand the factors and influences behind the creation of literary works.

“I hope this documentary will also encourage viewers to read the original works, examine the ideas behind them, and form their own assessments,” he said.

Meanwhile, Anisatul-Wahidah said documenting the experiences and thoughts of literary figures was increasingly important in the digital and AI era, as it ensured their contributions remained accessible for education and research.

She said 42,759 items from the personal collections of scholars, literary figures, cultural icons, historians, academics and researchers specialising in Malaysian history and culture were housed in PNM's Special Collections Unit as of last month.

Anisatul-Wahidah said the Kalam Karyawan programme, which began in 2017 as a talk show series featuring National Laureates, was expanded in 2022 to include special documentary productions.

She said the documentaries documented the experiences, ideas and creative processes of the nation's literary figures while encouraging younger generations to read and engage with literature.

-- BERNAMA