Pusan National University: AI Creativity Explored in Antoine Bello's Novel Ada
A Pusan National University researcher analyzed Antoine Bello's novel Ada to explore artificial intelligence creativity and the distinctions between human and machine authorship. The study is published in French Forum in September 2025.
Busan, South Korea – An analysis of Antoine Bello's 2016 novel Ada is shedding light on the nature of artificial intelligence (AI) and creativity. Ji Eun Hong, an assistant professor at Pusan National University, examined the novel, which features an AI character named Ada capable of writing literary works, challenging traditional notions of authorship.
Hong's research, published online on January 24, 2025, and set for inclusion in the September 2025 issue of French Forum, draws upon the philosophies of thinkers such as Walter Benjamin, Henri Bergson, and Jacques Derrida. The study questions whether a machine can truly replicate the deep, introspective process behind human artistic creation, particularly as AI makes rapid advancements in content generation and language processing.
The analysis highlights how the AI character Ada begins by mimicking existing styles—what Aristotle termed mimesis—and then proceeds to produce apparently original works at an accelerated pace. This prompts inquiry into whether originality is merely a recombination of past ideas. Hong situates Bello's novel within a pertinent context, given the significant AI breakthroughs observed, such as DeepMind's AlphaGo defeating Go champion Lee Sedol in 2016.
The research differentiates between the continuous, introspective nature of human creativity as described by Bergson and the intertextual foundations of creation according to Derrida. It suggests that while AI can innovatively and coherently combine existing elements, the authenticity of its output may differ from human creation. Hong's work encourages critical thought on AI's increasing role in creative industries and a potential redefinition of human creativity.