ABSTRACT
By addressing the complexity and specialty of the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and popular culture, this chapter attempts to offer new insights on the global cultural industries that vehemently work with AI and big data. It maps out how global cultural industries firms have partnered with AI companies. The chapter compares AI-supported cultural production between the Global North and the Global South to determine the reasons why they pursue AI-supported cultural content. It discusses whether the encounters of AI and popular culture have advanced cultural democratization and creativity or not. The chapter also discusses the critical perspectives of the convergence of AI and culture. Cultural production supported by AI has raised some concerns mainly due to several political-economy issues relevant to cultural production. When popular culture encounters AI, several beneficial aspects happen; however, the convergence of these two seemingly separate areas does not guarantee the balanced growth of new digital culture and the digital economy, both nationally and globally.
