Bhubaneswar

Celebrated lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar on Saturday said that artificial intelligence (AI) cannot match or substitute the innate creativity of human beings.

Speaking at a literary festival here, Akhtar noted that AI remains limited by the data it relies on.
“I cannot predict the future, but for now, AI cannot replace human creativity in any way. Artificial intelligence has no conscience — its impact depends entirely on how it is used,” he said.

Drawing a parallel with nuclear energy, Akhtar pointed out that technology itself is neither inherently good nor bad.
“If you look through history, every major invention — even the steam engine — was initially feared and labelled harmful,” he added.

According to him, AI continues to have structural limitations. “At present, it is dependent on data. Whatever the future holds, today there is absolutely no threat to human creativity,” he said.

Akhtar described language, culture, mythology, poetry, and art as India’s rich resources. Recalling the nation’s early post-Independence era, he said India once lacked the capacity to produce even simple goods but eventually emerged as a major industrial nation.
“In our pursuit of material progress, we left behind some important baggage, believing we could not carry everything with us — culture being one of them,” he observed.

At the festival, Akhtar received the first SOA Sahitya Samman, which includes a citation, shawl, silver idol of Goddess Saraswati, and a cash award of ₹7 lakh. Instituted this year, the award honours an eminent writer for exemplary creativity, excellence, and intellectual depth.

Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, who inaugurated the festival and felicitated Akhtar, praised his five-decade-long contribution to Indian literature and cinema.
“His work has shaped the cultural consciousness of India. Honouring him enhances the prestige of this award in its very first year,” the governor said.

Kambhampati also emphasised that while technology continues to evolve, it cannot replace the profundity of human experience.

“AI is transforming communication, creativity, and even relationships, but the future shaped by AI will still rely on empathy, ethics, and imagination,” he said.

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The programme, organised by the SOA Centre for Preservation, Propagation and Restoration of Ancient Culture and Heritage of India (PPRACHIN), has drawn more than 100 poets, writers, playwrights, and media professionals from across the country. The festival theme — ‘Culture, Creativity and Artificial Intelligence’ — explores how technological advancements are influencing creativity and literature.