Watching the rise of AI-generated content, especially in creative fields like filmmaking, has been a fascinating yet complex experience. The Trace Project, billed as Singapore's first AI-generated sci-fi movie, has opened important conversations about what AI means for creatives and cultural representation. From my perspective, AI tools can be tremendously empowering when used as creative aids — helping filmmakers, animators, and editors streamline aspects of production and explore visual ideas that were once cost-prohibitive. The democratisation of filmmaking through AI means independent creators might tell more diverse stories without needing millions from big studios. However, there’s also a genuine concern about job displacement. If AI reduces the need for large creative teams, where do emerging talents gain experience and mentorship? Film is a craft honed over years, often by starting with small roles and learning on the job. If AI skips those steps, future filmmakers might lose those critical development opportunities. On cultural representation, since Trace Project was launched on Singapore’s National Day and framed as a Singaporean story, it raises deeper questions. Singapore’s rich multiracial and multicultural society deserves more expansive storytelling that goes beyond iconic landmarks or simplified narratives. Using AI could potentially help create diverse worlds, but only if creators consciously embed authentic experiences — otherwise, the depiction may feel narrow or tone-deaf. Interestingly, this AI-powered film imagines a dystopian future on Mars while itself relying on intensive computational resources, highlighting the irony and environmental impact of generative AI tech. This juxtaposition reminds us that technology isn’t neutral; it reflects our choices as storytellers and citizens. Ultimately, the big questions are: Do we use AI to enhance our creative community or replace storyteller voices? Will Singapore build a future that empowers more creatives through technology, or one that reduces the human element? These are conversations every creative, technologist, and audience member should engage with as AI reshapes art and culture worldwide.