Peking University Debuts First AI Film for 128th Anniversary

Peking University, one of China's most prestigious academic institutions, has released its first-ever AI-generated promotional film to mark its 128th anniversary on May 4, 2025. The film, titled 'Raise the Torch' (举火), blends artificial intelligence filmmaking techniques with over a century of institutional history, signaling a growing trend among elite universities worldwide to embrace generative AI for storytelling and branding.

The release comes at a time when AI-generated video content is rapidly maturing, with tools like OpenAI's Sora, Runway Gen-3, and various Chinese competitors pushing the boundaries of what synthetic media can achieve. Peking University's decision to use AI for such a high-profile commemorative piece underscores the technology's growing acceptance in mainstream institutional communications.

Key Facts at a Glance

• What: Peking University released 'Raise the Torch,' its first AI-generated promotional film
• When: May 4, 2025, coinciding with the university's 128th founding anniversary
• Content: The film showcases major historical events, notable alumni, and key research achievements spanning over a century
• Significance: One of the first major AI promotional films produced by a top-tier global university
• University background: Founded in 1898, Peking University is China's first national comprehensive university
• Notable legacy: 12 of China's 23 'Two Bombs, One Satellite' pioneers were Peking University alumni

'Raise the Torch' Tells a 128-Year Story Through AI

The promotional film draws on Peking University's rich history, weaving together pivotal moments from the institution's founding during the Hundred Days' Reform of 1898 through to its modern-day research accomplishments. Originally established as the Imperial University of Peking (京师大学堂), the institution was China's first national comprehensive university and was renamed to its current form in 1912 following the Xinhai Revolution.

The film's narrative centers on the metaphor of passing a torch across generations. It highlights how early pioneers 'broke the ice in the long night,' preserving hope through periods of national crisis and transformation. The visual storytelling transitions from historical sequences depicting anonymized scientists working on classified defense projects to modern researchers pursuing breakthroughs in space exploration and frontier technologies.

What makes the production particularly noteworthy is its thematic ambition. Rather than simply showcasing campus scenery or student life — the typical fare of university promotional materials — the AI-generated film attempts to capture abstract concepts like sacrifice, legacy, and intellectual continuity across more than a century.

Why an AI Film Matters for University Branding

The decision to produce an AI-generated promotional film rather than a traditional live-action piece represents a strategic statement as much as a creative choice. By using AI, Peking University positions itself at the intersection of technological innovation and cultural heritage — a message that resonates with prospective students, faculty recruits, and international partners.

This approach aligns with a broader trend in higher education marketing. Universities worldwide are experimenting with generative AI tools for content creation:

• MIT has integrated AI-generated visuals into research communications
• Stanford University regularly publishes AI-related content showcasing its HAI (Human-Centered AI) institute
• Tsinghua University, Peking University's crosstown rival, has invested heavily in AI research centers
• University of Tokyo has explored AI-assisted documentary production
• Technical University of Munich has used AI tools for multilingual outreach campaigns

Peking University's film, however, appears to be among the first cases where a top-tier global university has produced an entire commemorative film primarily using AI generation technology. This sets a precedent that other institutions are likely to follow.

The Broader AI Video Generation Landscape

The release of 'Raise the Torch' arrives during an explosive growth period for AI video generation. The market has evolved dramatically since OpenAI first previewed Sora in February 2024. Today, multiple platforms offer increasingly sophisticated video generation capabilities.

In China specifically, the AI video generation space has become fiercely competitive. Companies like Kuaishou (with its Kling model), ByteDance, Alibaba, and numerous startups have released tools that rival or, in some specific use cases, surpass Western counterparts. Chinese AI video tools have shown particular strength in handling cultural and historical content, which may explain why Peking University's production team chose this route.

The quality bar for AI-generated video has risen sharply. What would have looked obviously artificial just 12 months ago can now pass casual inspection. For institutional videos that blend archival-style footage with symbolic imagery — exactly the style 'Raise the Torch' employs — AI generation offers several advantages:

• Cost efficiency: Traditional historical recreations require sets, costumes, actors, and extensive post-production
• Creative flexibility: AI allows rapid iteration on visual concepts that would be prohibitively expensive to reshoot
• Historical visualization: Scenes depicting events from the 1890s or 1950s can be generated without relying on limited archival footage
• Stylistic consistency: AI tools can maintain a unified visual aesthetic across different historical periods

Peking University's AI Ambitions Run Deeper

The promotional film is just one visible expression of Peking University's broader engagement with artificial intelligence. The institution has been a major player in China's AI research ecosystem for years, contributing to advances in natural language processing, computer vision, and machine learning.

Peking University's School of Intelligence Science and Technology, along with affiliated research labs, has produced influential papers and trained many of the engineers now working at leading Chinese AI companies. The university's alumni network extends deep into companies like Baidu, SenseTime, Megvii, and numerous AI startups.

By choosing AI as the medium for its anniversary celebration, the university creates a direct link between its historical mission — modernizing China through education and research — and its current role in advancing frontier technologies. The symbolism is deliberate: the same institution that helped build China's nuclear and space programs in the 20th century is now helping build its AI capabilities in the 21st.

What This Means for AI Adoption in Education

Peking University's AI film signals a maturation point for generative AI in institutional settings. When one of the world's most respected universities chooses AI-generated content for its most important annual celebration, it sends a powerful message about the technology's readiness for professional use.

For the global education sector, several implications emerge. First, the barrier to high-quality video production drops significantly. Smaller institutions with limited marketing budgets can now produce visually compelling content that previously required six-figure production budgets. Second, the acceptance of AI-generated content in formal, prestigious contexts reduces the stigma that still surrounds synthetic media in some circles.

However, challenges remain. Questions about authenticity, disclosure, and artistic integrity continue to surround AI-generated content. It remains unclear whether Peking University explicitly labeled the film as AI-generated in its initial release, or whether audiences were expected to recognize the synthetic nature of the visuals independently. Transparency standards for AI-generated institutional content are still evolving globally.

Looking Ahead: AI Films as the New Normal

Peking University's 'Raise the Torch' likely represents an early milestone rather than an anomaly. As AI video generation tools continue to improve — with models from Google DeepMind, Meta, OpenAI, and Chinese competitors all advancing rapidly — the cost-quality equation will increasingly favor AI-assisted production for institutional content.

By 2026, industry analysts expect AI-generated or AI-assisted video to account for a significant share of corporate and institutional promotional content. Universities, with their combination of prestige consciousness and budget constraints, are natural early adopters.

The real question is not whether more universities will follow Peking University's lead, but how quickly the approach becomes standard practice. For an institution founded in 1898 during a period of radical modernization, embracing the latest transformative technology for its 128th birthday feels entirely on brand. The torch, it seems, continues to be passed — this time to artificial intelligence.

As the global AI race between the United States and China intensifies, symbolic gestures like this carry weight beyond their immediate context. They signal institutional confidence in AI capabilities and a willingness to integrate the technology into the fabric of cultural expression, not just scientific research.