AI and the Future of Storytelling ✦ Hartmut Koenitz

AI is here and will impact the way we create and communicate stories. Reactions amongst creators and audiences run the gamut from enthusiastic endorsement to full-on rejection. In this situation, it is crucial to distinguish hype from reality to inform creative decisions if, when, and how to use AI.

The session will provide orientation, through a critical evaluation of the deeply intertwined histories of AI and storytelling, the current status of generative AI as a creative tool in the form of concrete examples and an outlook to future developments.

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Dr. Hartmut Koenitz is a scholar, designer, and artist. He is a Professor in Media Technology at Södertörn University, and his research is concerned with the theory, practice, education, and societal impact of interactive narratives. He describes these works as means to represent and better understand the complex world of the 21st century, a theme explored in his latest book, Understanding Interactive Digital Narratives: Immersive Expressions for a Complex Time (Routledge 2023). Recently, he has investigated the impact and application of generative AI tools and explored interactive narratives for mental health.

In 2024, he was named a HEVGA Fellow (Higher Education Video Game Alliance) and recognized among the top 2% of scholars worldwide. Koenitz is the president of the Association for Research in Digital Interactive Narratives (ARDIN), which organizes the International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling (ICIDS). He is also a visual artist, and his works have been shown in Atlanta, Paris, Istanbul, Seoul, Copenhagen, and Porto.

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The session is part of the Summer Scriptwriting Base programme.

Summer Scriptwriting Base is an immersive learning experience. It is a unique blend of summer school, creative adventure, and mountain retreat. Here, you will explore and gain hands-on experience in emerging forms and approaches to storytelling, including interactive, immersive, and transmedia narratives, game and experience design, live-action role-playing, and AI-assisted storytelling. The experience will push your creative boundaries and connect you with a global community of forward-thinking creatives.

This year's edition of the Summer Scriptwriting Base is themed Play That Story and will take place from 17 to 26 July 2026 in Sofia and Dolen.

Find out more: www.summerscriptbase.com

Free entry upon registration