Over the past three months, I finally had the opportunity to immerse myself wholeheartedly in creative work, whether in writing or producing AI videos. I completed the first book of “The Computational Universe” and rewrote the first half of the second book, allowing me to continue working on my novel. It felt like recovering from a long illness, letting go of many burdens.
Regarding AI video production, I have finally completed the first two videos of my 25 creative concepts and am now working on the third. After such a long time, I finally feel like I’m back on track, finally doing what I want to do. No longer distracted by other concerns, this is a completely new journey.
Over the past year, I’ve spent 1,947 hours researching AI video production and will soon cross the 2,000-hour milestone. I’m already a small expert, though I still need 8,000 more hours to reach the 10,000-hour mark and become a master in this field. But at my current pace of daily AI video production, I estimate I’ll reach 10,000 hours within five years.
What’s my biggest takeaway from over 2,000 hours of technical and artistic research? It’s probably that no matter what happens, never forget why you started this journey. My original intention in learning AI video production was to bring my novels to life. Along the way, I took many detours, but over these past three months, I’ve finally been steadily walking the path of visualizing my novels.
Only after truly taking detours do you realize how difficult it is to maintain your original intention. After doing too many things unrelated to the Computational Universe, I discovered that what I’ve always wanted to write and film is the Computational Universe. Having created this world, there’s no turning back. Once you’ve created a world, it becomes eternal.
The second point is that sticking to your own technical, artistic, and literary path is the only way to create a distinctive quality. Whether it’s my novels or my videos, they all bear a unique imprint that is mine. In this era of content oversaturation, finding your own voice is perhaps the most important thing.
I once used AI to analyze my writing style, and it described it as “A rational, restrained, epic and profound science fiction narrative style.” This is my voice, and I think its summary is concise and apt. No matter how many people along this journey have advised me not to create fictional worlds or write these things, I still persist in my writing style.
People like me who have taken detours will discover that creating your own content is the most precious thing. A person doesn’t always have the opportunity to create their own content, and when such an opportunity arises, you must seize it tightly. Currently, I have such an opportunity. Whether it’s one year, two years, or ten years, I will invest myself in the Computational Universe.
The third point is that, although AI technology develops rapidly—with small changes every few weeks and major changes every few months—I believe we need to have patience with it. Whether it’s a matter of technical exploration or waiting for the right timing, this is a very serious matter. Yes, AI enables everyone to become a director.
I’d also like to briefly mention a fourth point. I’m not selling anxiety. Having spent nearly 2,000 hours on AI video production, I understand its limitations very deeply. What it can do, what it temporarily cannot do—I know it all by heart. Even my article about how one person can be an entire film crew in the AI era was written based on my personal filmmaking experience, not claiming that AI will replace everyone.
If technologies like one-click video generation mature, then my manual-intensive approach to filmmaking might also face disruption. But until then, my filmmaking involves intensive Photoshop work, with each image having 5-10 versions, meticulously crafted detail by detail. That’s why they have their unique quality.
AI agents can’t replace Photoshop yet, nor can Kontext, but when they become capable of doing so, it will be time to develop new approaches again. We’re riding the wave of our times, and change is the only constant. So keep following the trends—it’s the only way.
Additionally, this week, while chatting with friends about my exact positioning, I reflected on it and decided that writing remains primary, with AI-generated video as secondary. Writing is where my creativity naturally flourishes, and I’ve been writing for over a decade, if not two. I still want to be a creator of stories.
I don’t know how much longer I can focus on creation like this, but this is truly a period I must make the most of. Nothing is permanent, and I must take the Computational Universe to its ultimate form. I’m not sure if you’re also at a time when you can create your own works directly, but if you have the opportunity, you should definitely take it.
Follow me as we explore AI filmmaking together.
