AI, short-form videos key to engaging Gen Z in Nusantara literature

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By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Sept 23: Southeast Asian literary bodies must urgently leverage artificial intelligence and digital platforms to engage Gen Z, or risk losing the younger generation to the lure of social media and online distractions.

Speaking at the Southeast Asian Literary Council (MASTERA) event held here on Tuesday (Sept 22), Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah emphasised that rather than viewing modern technology and artificial intelligence (AI) as a threat to traditional writing, regional literary bodies should embrace these tools to expand the reach of Nusantara literature on a global scale.

“Technology and AI should not be seen as a threat to literature and humanity. Instead, technology must be utilized as a catalyst for the development of literature and the overall well-being of society,” he said.

He noted that the way people consume literary works has shifted significantly, with traditional printed materials no longer being the sole medium for readers.

“Today, we no longer rely solely on printed materials to read literary works. Poetry, short stories, and novels have been transformed into various delivery channels capable of reaching a global audience without borders,” he added, highlighting that AI can also be harnessed for research, translation, and the preservation of regional literary heritage.

Addressing the growing concern over declining reading habits among youth, Abdul Karim pointed out that social media, online gaming, and short video platforms currently dominate much of Gen Z’s attention.

To bridge this gap, he called for a departure from outdated teaching methods such as chalkboards, whiteboards, and rote memorization, advocating instead for literature to be integrated directly into the spaces where young people spend their time.

“We need to bring literature to digital platforms, social media, podcasts, short video content, interactive games, and various new media that form part of their ecosystem.

“We must show that literature is not something distant or difficult, but something alive, relevant, and close to their everyday experiences,” he stressed.

While advocating for technological adoption, Abdul Karim underlined that human creativity and critical thinking must remain at the core of literary creation.

“Technology is merely a vehicle. The direct reflection of intellect, emotion, experience, and human values belongs exclusively to the writer—the human,” he said.

He also urged educational institutions, language and literary bodies, universities, publishers, and writing communities to collaborate closely in nurturing young writers, researchers, translators, and critics to ensure the continuity of the region’s intellectual tradition.

Additionally, Abdul Karim suggested expanding the footprint of Nusantara literature beyond the existing MASTERA member nations—Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore—to include neighboring countries such as Cambodia, where shared linguistic and cultural ties can further strengthen regional heritage.

At the same event, he presented the 10th MASTERA Literary Awards to outstanding regional writers. — DayakDaily

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