Artificial Intelligence is making big changes in how stories, media, and educational content are created. On November 27 in Kolkata, leading voices from media, technology, animation, and education gathered at the IWMBuzz Media Summit to discuss what AI really means for the industry. Their panel discussion was clear and direct: while AI tools are helping people work faster and smarter, the human touch is still at the heart of every good story or production—led by Dr. Madhupa Bakshi, Dean and Professor of Media Science at The Heritage Academy, Kolkata the panel discussion was joined by Arunava Mukherjee, CTO of Workmates Core2Cloud Solution Pvt. Ltd., Ashish Thapar, CEO of HiTech Animation Studio, Dr. Rajeev Rastogi, Founder and Managing Director of White Apple Studios, acclaimed filmmaker Riingo Banerjeee, and AI/ML entrepreneur Angshuman Bhattacharya.
The experts agreed that AI is now part of the creative workflow. It can handle boring or repetitive tasks, letting creators spend more time on ideas and emotions—the things that really connect with audiences. For example, AI can suggest plotlines or mix music, but it’s people who decide what works best and make sure it feels real.
The panel also talked about the challenges. Knowing how to use AI tools is now a must for anyone working in media or content creation. There are tough questions about copyright, too, because it’s not always clear who owns work made with AI. The group called for clear rules and ethical guidelines to protect both content creators and audiences.
Another issue is the huge amount of content and data that AI can generate. It’s more than any one person can handle, so teams need good systems to sort through it and pick out what matters. The experts were sure that education has to keep up—students need to learn both the basics of creativity and the ins and outs of AI if they want to succeed in the future.
The most notable influence of artificial intelligence is its capacity to automate the repetitive or tedious parts of content creation. Jobs that previously required several people and months of work can now be done in a matter of hours or days; thus, makers can use the energy they saved for ideation and daring plans. For instance, Storytelling and music generation are among the areas where AI tools can help writers and composers offer a broader range of creative alternatives. Nevertheless, the ultimate choice and polishing of ideas remain very much in the hands of the human, thereby ensuring the art remains deep and soulfully touching.
The adoption of AI within the artistic industries has to overcome several hurdles before reaping its manifold benefits. The term “AI literacy”, i.e., knowing how AI functions, what it is capable of, and where it is limited, is becoming an indispensable skill for all future entrants into these professions. Copyright issues are another topic that urgently needs addressing, as the introduction of AI-generated content is eroding the lines between where intellectual property begins and ends. With AI comes big plagiarism.
The key to sustainable progress will be cultivating foundational artistic skills alongside robust AI literacy and ethical awareness. However, we could infer from the session that AI should be seen not as a rival but as a powerful tool that, when wielded with care and expertise, can elevate human creativity to new heights. In the end, the message from Kolkata was simple: AI is a tool, not a replacement for people. It can help bring new ideas to life, but it can’t replace the spark, emotion, or judgment that only humans bring. As the industry changes, the best results will come from people and AI working together, each doing what they do best.
Note: The transcription and summarisation above have been partially generated with the help of AI.
Watch the session here to experience a full-fledged, insightful session:
The second edition of IWMBuzz Media Summit in Kolkata was presented by Swastik Stories, powered by Dangal TV, Workmates and OTT Play. Associate partners Havas Play, Nett Value Media and Tribes. Partners—White Apple, Just Lateral Think Ink, Decalogue and The Heritage Academy. An initiative by IWMBuzz Live.
