THIS November, Cambodian author Meysan Sotheary will release her groundbreaking new project: a video podcast titled The 00:07, which blends AI with her distinctive storytelling approach.

Known for her fiction and nonfiction works that explore societal issues, Sotheary is now embracing technology, transforming her vision into a dynamic, futuristic narrative that takes her audiences into the year 2028.

Her upcoming podcast is set to revolutionise how stories are told in Cambodia. In a trailer for the podcast, she teases an intriguing premise: “At 00:07, a major event occurred… Bang!!!... A mystery within the top level of Amatak Hospital… the year 2028... unveiling a terrifying incident… that no one could have anticipated.”

The story, which will be released as a podcast, promises a thrilling combination of suspense, science fiction and horror, all enhanced through the use of AI-driven audiovisual elements.

A new approach to storytelling

Initially, Sotheary planned to write The 00:07 as a traditional novel, a dream she’s held since 2021.

However, due to the demands of a busy career, the project took a new direction. Now, with the rise of AI and her growing interest in exploring its potential, she has shifted the format into an innovative storytelling podcast with plans to develop an audiovisual (AV) version in 2028. “My initial idea was to write a typical zombie story, completely unrelated to technology,” Sotheary said in a recent interview.

“But now, I’ve turned it into a technology-driven narrative. The story is still about survival and danger, but I wanted to give it a fresh twist by incorporating technology – both in the story and in how it’s delivered to the audience.”

This bold approach highlights how AI is revolutionising content creation, allowing writers like Sotheary to break free from traditional formats and experiment with new ways of engaging their audience.

She explained that AI technology, particularly in the audiovisual sector, offers a cost-effective way to enhance the storytelling experience, bringing futuristic scenes — such as robot physicians and a high-tech hospital — to life in ways that resonate with today’s audiences.

The story centres around a viral outbreak in the Amatak Hospital’s Senior Centre in 2028. The protagonist is a 12-year-old robotics expert named Vuth, who, along with his team, must navigate the deadly outbreak.

The virus spreads through the hospital, infecting patients and turning them into zombies, and Vuth’s only defence is the advanced robots he created from everyday gadgets like a tablet, phone and pen.

AI and audiovisual storytelling

Sotheary’s integration of AI into her storytelling is a reflection of modern trends in content creation.

“AI-driven audiovisual storytelling helps audiences better understand the plot,” she shared, explaining that her futuristic scenes stand in stark contrast to the medical facilities we know today. —The Phnom /

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2024