Shanghai Theatre Academy Symposium Explores AI's Role in Future of Theater

Leading scholars and tech-art practitioners from nine countries gathered at the Shanghai Theater Academy (STA) on April 26 for an international symposium on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the stage.

The symposium, titled "The Evolution of Theatrical Art in the Digital Intelligence Age," drew participants from China, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, and the Philippines as part of the 2026 Global Dialogue on Art and Technology.

The event released the "STA Insights on 'Studies of Future Theater,'" a document calling on the global theater and technology communities to jointly explore new paradigms for artistic evolution and build a future theater ecosystem rooted in humanistic values.

Brian Kite, Dean and Vice Provost of Graduate Education at UCLA and Professor of Theater, said the core value of artificial intelligence lies in serving as a creative partner rather than replacing human artists.

Aidan Meller, Director of Ai-Da Robot Studio, shared insights into cutting-edge practices in human-machine collaboration and cross-media interaction.

The symposium also marked the official launch of the inaugural International Advisory Committee for the Digital Intelligence Culture and Art Innovation Laboratory, and the establishment of a joint laboratory on Digital Intelligence Filmmaking and Production by STA and Macau University of Science and Technology.