TLDR: At the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2025), Iraqi filmmaker and AI prompt engineer Sufyan Al Hussein emphasized that while artificial intelligence can aid creativity, human imagination is indispensable for meaningful storytelling. During his workshop, ‘Creative Storytelling in the Age of AI,’ Al Hussein demonstrated AI’s role as a collaborator for brainstorming and research, but firmly stated that emotion and the ‘spark’ of a story must originate from human creators. He highlighted how storytelling transforms ordinary objects into priceless artifacts by imbuing them with narrative value.
SHARJAH – During the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2025), acclaimed Iraqi filmmaker and AI prompt engineer, Sufyan Al Hussein, delivered a powerful message to aspiring creatives: human imagination and emotion are irreplaceable in the age of artificial intelligence. In his workshop, ‘Creative Storytelling in the Age of AI,’ Al Hussein guided students through the core principles of narrative, from structural elements to the profound impact of emotional depth.
Al Hussein, an award-winning content creator with a substantial online following, underscored that AI serves as a valuable tool for creative processes but cannot replicate the essence of human storytelling. ‘AI doesn’t create — it predicts,’ he stated. ‘It helps me connect dots and find facts, but the emotion, the imagination, the spark — that still comes from us. The story must stay human.’
To illustrate the transformative power of storytelling, Al Hussein cited compelling examples. He referenced Michael Jackson’s iconic ‘Thriller’ jacket, which fetched an astounding $1.8 million in 2011. ‘You can find the same jacket for seventy dollars online,’ he explained. ‘But the moment it carries a story, it becomes priceless. Storytelling isn’t just communication. It’s transformation.’ He also brought up the ‘Significant Objects Project,’ where mundane items gained immense value after being paired with fictional backstories, reinforcing his point that ‘A story is hidden in everything — music, movies, pictures, even conversations.’
Al Hussein, who has lived in the US and Turkey before settling in the UAE five years ago, boasts a diverse career integrating art and technology. Earlier in 2025, he participated in the art category of the Global Prompt Engineering Championship held in the UAE. Through live demonstrations at SIBF, he showcased how large language models (LLMs) can effectively support brainstorming, research, and ideation, yet consistently reminded his audience that ‘the heart of every story is human expression.’
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His workshop served as a crucial reminder that while technological advancements offer unprecedented assistance, the soul and meaning of any creative endeavor ultimately stem from the unique wellspring of human imagination.
