Residents have been quick to praise the new tool, with one user commenting that it feels like having a knowledgeable and friendly companion by their side.

When a user types "recommend square dance videos in Guangzhou" into the "Guangdong Qunyi Hui" AI assistant, a list of video links with award details and performer information appears within seconds. One viewer left a message saying, "I no longer have to search aimlessly. Watching these videos to learn the moves and choreography is like having an experienced sister guiding me." This is just one example of how the AI assistant, developed by the Guangdong Provincial Cultural Center, is serving the public daily.

The "'Guangdong Qunyi Hui' AI Assistant" project has recently been included in the "Artificial Intelligence + Culture and Tourism Application Ecosystem Map" issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's Department of Science, Technology and Education, becoming a nationally recognized model for AI applications in the cultural and tourism sectors.

Guangdong has a vibrant tradition of grassroots cultural creation, with years of competitions and events building a rich cultural foundation. The "Guangdong Qunyi Hui" platform, in collaboration with 143 cultural centers at the county level and above across the province, has consolidated premium resources from ten artistic disciplines—including music, dance, drama, folk arts, calligraphy, fine arts, and photography—into a unified database. The AI assistant integrates guided appreciation and smart recommendations, helping audiences understand artistic works while also delivering personalized content based on their needs. In 2025, the platform served over 3.253 million users.

Three key challenges drove the creation of the AI assistant

According to Yang Yang, interim head of the Guangdong Provincial Cultural Center, the AI assistant was developed in response to three pressing issues. While grassroots cultural works depict the everyday lives of creators from various regions, many viewers struggle to grasp the artistic depth behind them. "Why is a piece of calligraphy good? What makes a photograph's composition brilliant? Without a systematic understanding of art, people cannot truly appreciate these works," Yang explained.

Another challenge was the fragmentation of resources. Despite decades of accumulated cultural works, materials were scattered across different cities, making it difficult for residents to find suitable performance references or connect with qualified instructors for activities like square dancing. Additionally, traditional cultural centers often offered uniform services that failed to address the diverse needs of different age groups.

In 2023, the provincial center decided to tackle these issues head-on. Taking the lead, it established the "Guangdong Qunyi Hui" resource database in partnership with 143 cultural centers, using unified standards and a shared platform. This data foundation, known as the "Six Libraries and One Map," includes program libraries, exhibition libraries, literature libraries, activity libraries, talent libraries, and award libraries, all connected through a knowledge mapping of artists, works, and events. It covers ten artistic disciplines, including music, dance, drama, folk arts, literature, fine arts, calligraphy, photography, and acrobatics.

To date, the platform has uploaded 7,768 programs, 691 events and special features, 1,502 exhibited works, 756 literary pieces, 9,703 audio and video files, and 9,304 images. Every work is now linked to its competition history, awards, creators, and artistic category, creating a complete data trail.

Supported by this data foundation, the provincial center developed the AI assistant using a technology stack combining Dify, NL2SQL, and large language models. Users can interact with the system using everyday language to quickly locate the resources they need.

One creative professional reportedly can't get enough of the tool, saying it provides endless inspiration from the vast collection. The AI's ability to explain calligraphy techniques, composition, and artistic conception in detail has led many users to say they finally understand and appreciate the works for the first time.

However, some users have pointed out issues, such as certain programs being unavailable or videos not downloadable. Yang views this feedback positively. "When people use the tool seriously and point out problems, it shows the tool has truly become part of their lives. This feedback pushes us to improve copyright agreements and expand resource coverage."

Public cultural services must not be left behind in the digital wave

The recent inclusion in the national application ecosystem map is a significant achievement. Yang believes the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's initiative signals a shift toward identifying, selecting, and promoting AI innovation across the industry, providing a framework for how AI can be practically applied in cultural and tourism settings.

For Yang, being selected is about more than recognition. "It shows that intelligent public cultural services have gained national-level approval and that the value of AI for public benefit has been recognized. This boosts confidence not just for Guangdong but for cultural centers nationwide. We hope to turn our experience into a replicable model for the whole industry."

In June, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism issued an action plan to accelerate the adoption of AI technologies across the cultural and tourism sectors. In August, the department launched a new initiative for 2026, setting up nine priority areas, including high-quality cultural datasets, industry-specific large models, support for artistic creation, and improved public cultural services.

Yang sees these policies as driving three major transformations: from encouraging experimentation to systematic implementation, from optional enhancement to essential tasks, and from technology-driven approaches to scenario-focused solutions.

For cultural centers, this represents both pressure and opportunity. The AI assistant provides more than just a tool for the public—it creates a pathway for the entire industry. By integrating resource collection, authorization, processing, and application, it encourages grassroots centers to standardize their digital resources and drives the digital transformation of cultural services across the province.

"Public cultural services absolutely cannot be absent from this wave," Yang emphasized.

Looking ahead, the Guangdong Provincial Cultural Center plans to expand its data foundation, broaden service scenarios, deepen technological empowerment, and widen public access—all while maintaining strong safeguards for content security, copyright protection, and accessibility for elderly users.

"Technology will keep evolving, but our mission as a cultural center will never change," Yang said. "We hope every person, whether in a bustling city or a remote village, can equally access and participate in culture. AI simply brings us one step closer to that ideal."