Enhancing Youth Engagement in Intangible Cultural Heritage through Human-GenAI Co-Creation

Engaging the younger generation is crucial to the preservation and innovation of intangible cultural heritage (ICH). However, the technical barriers to ICH participation often deter youth generation. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) provides opportunities to lower barriers but risks undermining ICH authenticity and leading to over-reliance on automation driven by GenAI. To address these challenges, we aim to develop a human-GenAI co-creation system to support the transmission and innovation of ICH. Using Canton Porcelain as a case study, we collaborated with experts to design EnamelAI Painter that simplifies the participation process while promoting creativity. In a study with 19 participants, this system demonstrated advantages over existing AI and non-AI tools, enhancing creative engagement and user experience. EnamelAI Painter balanced GenAI automation with young novices’ engagement, preserving cultural authenticity and fostering interest in ICH. This work contributes a human-GenAI co-creation framework that provides actionable recommendations for the digital preservation of ICH.