AI drives DIY content boom, turning users into creators

Artificial intelligence (AI) is breaking down the barriers to creative production across video, music, and gaming, ushering in an era where anyone can become a one-person content studio. OpenAI’s newly released Sora 2 video model can generate lifelike footage from simple text prompts, signaling a profound shift in how digital media is created and consumed.

According to Market.us, the global AI-based content creation market is projected to grow from $15.2 billion in 2024 to $175.3 billion by 2033, reflecting an annual growth rate of 32.1 percent.

Leading the surge is OpenAI. Within five days of its release, Sora 2 surpassed 1 million downloads, outpacing even ChatGPT’s early growth. With AI tools becoming increasingly powerful, high-quality video production now requires little more than a creative idea and a few typed instructions — from camera angles to background music. This democratization of production is turning everyday YouTubers and TikTok users into professional-grade creators.

Music and gaming are undergoing similar transformations. Platforms like Suno and Udio enable users to generate personalized songs simply by describing a mood or theme. One Seoul office worker recounted asking Suno to “create a warm song for my commute home,” then adding lyrics about “city lights,” producing a track that perfectly matched the request. Consumers are rapidly evolving into “prosumers,” blending creation and consumption.

AI “cover” music — such as Blackpink’s voices singing K-pop Demon Hunters’ “Take Down,” which surpassed 1.1 million views — is spreading fast on YouTube. What once required complex studio setups can now be achieved with a single prompt.

Big tech is accelerating this DIY trend. Amazon integrated Suno into its Alexa service, allowing users to say “Sing me a lullaby” and instantly hear a freshly composed tune. In gaming, Roblox added generative AI tools that let users design maps and items without writing code, boosting its daily active users to 111.8 million in the second quarter.

In Korea, major tech platforms are rapidly joining the movement. Naver has rolled out AutoClip AI for automatic short-form video generation and AI Highlight for extracting key scenes, while launching the CUTS platform for short animations. Next month, Naver will debut its AI-driven global social platform ThingsBook across North America.

Kakao is also building an AI-powered content ecosystem. It recently introduced a short-form section inside KakaoTalk and plans to add automatic short video creation through its in-house AI model Kanana. Meanwhile, Kakao Entertainment’s Helix Shorts converts webtoons and web novels into short-form videos using AI tools available free to creators.

Gaming giant NCSoft’s AI subsidiary NC AI is also lowering creative barriers. Its Varco 3D service generates 3D images in just 10 minutes — a process that once took weeks — while Varco Sound creates background music tailored to text or imagery. These innovations are expected to revolutionize content creation for indie game developers.

“AI creativity isn’t just a trend — it’s a structural shift reshaping the content industry,” said an industry official. “Beyond infrastructure, Korea must strengthen creator education and reward systems to remain globally competitive.”