Imagine a surreal morning in April 2025 in Hanoi. A 16-year-old uses an AI-powered app to create a short film featuring a cat riding a unicorn across the Long Bien bridge, set to a soundtrack that mimics the voice of Son Tung M-TP, generated by AI. Within hours of being uploaded to TikTok, the video earns millions of views.
At the same time, on the other side of the globe, a film producer is using AI to refine the script of a superhero movie, completing it faster than a traditional team of screenwriters.
AI is reshaping two major domains of creativity: the Creator Economy and the Creative Industry. Let’s take a closer look at both, and explore how AI is transforming each in distinct ways.
Creator Economy: The Power Of The Individual And AI
The Creator Economy is an ecosystem where individuals, who are known as “creators”, leverage digital platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, or Patreon to produce and earn money from content.
According to a report by SignalFire, over 50 million people worldwide identify as creators, with the market valued at approximately $104 billion in 2022. By 2025, this figure is predicted to grow even further thanks to the rising adoption of AI.
Imagine Minh, a fictional 22-year-old from District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. Minh uses Midjourney, an AI-powered image generation tool, to design a surreal painting: a crocodile wearing an áo dài, riding a motorcycle through Bến Thành Market. If Minh were real, he could upload a behind-the-scenes video on TikTok and attract millions of views.
Similarly, Trang, a fictional character from Da Nang, could use ChatGPT to write a podcast script on "survival tips for exam season" in just a few minutes. This illustrates how AI helps creators produce content quickly and creatively.
A report from Goldman Sachs in 2023 predicts that the creative economy could reach nearly $480 billion by 2027, thanks to AI automating tasks such as video editing and content creation.
A report from Goldman Sachs in 2023 predicts that the creative economy could reach nearly $480 billion by 2027, thanks to AI automating tasks such as video editing and content creation. However, the report also notes that the content space is becoming saturated with items like AI-generated videos of singing animals, which increases the challenge of retaining audience attention.
The Creative Industry: AI And Its Reshaping
The creative industry is a traditional sector including film, music, advertising, and design, typically operated by large organizations such as Hollywood, VTV, or production companies. According to a 2021 UNESCO report, this industry contributed $2.25 trillion to the global economy and created 29.5 million jobs. By 2025, this figure is expected to grow, driven by the integration of AI technology.
AI is transforming the way this industry operates. For example, Disney's 2019 film The Lion King used AI to optimize VFX, creating lifelike animal images. A 2023 report from McKinsey reveals that AI could contribute between $2.6 trillion and $4.4 trillion annually to the global economy, with creative industries such as film and advertising benefiting greatly from automation and data analytics. In Vietnam, advertising companies are also beginning to use AI to create clips more quickly based on viewer data.
According to forecasts from PwC, the global creative industry could reach $2.6 trillion by 2027, with AI playing a key role in reducing costs and enhancing quality. However, the challenge lies in the industry's slow pace: a blockbuster movie typically takes years to complete, even with AI assistance, while creators can produce content on a daily basis.
Comparison And Intersection: AI Blurs The Boundary
The Creator Economy and the Creative Industry differ in scale and approach. The Creator Economy focuses on individuals, with low barriers to entry—requiring only a smartphone and internet access. In contrast, the traditional creative industry requires teams, significant capital, and complex processes. In terms of technology, both benefit from AI, but creators prioritize speed and uniqueness, while the traditional industry emphasizes quality and large-scale production.
The intersection between these two fields is becoming increasingly apparent. According to an article from Forbes in 2024, AI is creating new opportunities for both creators and the creative industry through tools like Opus Clip—which helps transform long-form videos into short clips optimized for TikTok or YouTube Shorts. The article also highlights the trend of "virtual influencers," such as Bloo by Jordi van den Bussche, illustrating how creators are using AI to produce content independently, reducing reliance on individuals.
The creative industry is also adapting, with companies like TheSoul Publishing using AI to generate animated backgrounds and optimize content, while combining it with human creativity to maintain quality. However, the article emphasizes a key challenge: while AI is efficient, it still cannot fully replace the emotion and authenticity that audiences expect from human-created content.
AI Shaping The Future Of Creativity
AI offers significant benefits to both fields. In the Creator Economy, it democratizes art, enabling millions to participate without requiring extensive formal training. In the Creative Industry, AI reduces costs and boosts efficiency, allowing large-scale productions to reach global audiences more effectively.
A 2024 report from Deloitte predicts that by 2025, AI will drive global economic growth by enhancing productivity—particularly in creative industries, thanks to its ability to optimize content supply chains and personalize audience experiences.
The report emphasizes that major tech companies—including those within the creative industry, are making substantial investments in AI to meet the growing demand for digital content. However, it also highlights the continued need for human input to preserve creativity and emotional resonance.
However, there are also challenges. In the Creator Economy, the rise of AI-generated “nonsense” content—such as lip-syncing animal clips, can erode audience trust. Meanwhile, the Creative Industry faces the risk of losing its human touch as machines take over more stages of the production process.
In terms of prospect, both sectors are likely to coexist. The Creator Economy will continue to thrive as a space for creative freedom, where AI empowers individual expression. Meanwhile, the Creative Industry, thanks to AI, can strengthen its position through high-quality productions that surpass the capabilities of independent creators.