As AI technologies are integrated into urban public spaces, cultural experiences are shifting from static displays to dynamic co-creation. A recent AI + Public Art Solutions Exhibition held at the Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall exemplifies this trend. Powered by artificial intelligence, blueprints of urban planning, industrial development narratives and historical context are transformed into interactive, sensory-rich artworks—inviting the public to literally engage with and participate in the city's storytelling.

Liangzhu VR immersive space

[Photo via Yuhang Times]

This is by no means an isolated case. Across China, AI is emerging as a key driver in revitalizing cultural heritage and deepening cultural experiences. In Hangzhou, the "Digital Liangzhu" project reconstructs a 5,000-year-old water management system through high-precision modeling. In Xi'an, AI installations at the Datang Everbright City enable visitors to converse with virtual poets from the Tang Dynasty. At the Suzhou Museum, digital technologies bring traditional color palettes and seasonal customs to life through immersive light and shadow. In each case, technology translates weighty history and abstract cultural concepts into experiences that are tangible, resonant and rooted in the present.

"AI Costume Studio" at the Trendy Space of Datang Everbright City

[Photo via Culture and Tourism Bureau of Xi'an]

At a deeper level, AI is redefining the public's role—from passive viewers to active creators. This winter, the "Ice and Snow AI Interactive Space" at Harbin Ice and Snow World has become a standout example. Visitors upload photos or select iconic landmarks, and AI instantly generates 3D models that are laser-engraved into crystal. The process transforms personal emotions and travel memories into one-of-a-kind, portable "mini public artworks," transforming cultural communication from one-way presentation into a two-way emotional connection.

Amid the enthusiasm, however, sober reflection is needed. In practice, issues such as homogenized applications and insufficient exploration of local cultural depth have surfaced, highlighting the risk of "technology shells" devoid of substance. True empowerment does not lie in simply stacking high-tech devices. As the best examples demonstrate, technology must be deeply rooted in local cultural textures and real needs, serving to enrich experiences and enable personalized expression.

Looking ahead, the core of AI–urban culture integration is not technological spectacle, but whether it successfully activates public participation, living memory and local narratives. AI is redefining public cultural spaces—not merely as venues for displaying culture, but as open canvases where citizens collectively write, preserve and pass on the spirit of their cities.

(Compiled by People's Daily Online, Xinhua Net)