KUALA LUMPUR – Once upon a time, receiving a handwritten ‘Selmat Hari Raya’ card as a token of remembrance and affection from loved ones and friends was one of the most anticipated moments leading up to Aidilfitri.
A variety of creative designs and patterns were available, and some cards even played nostalgic festival songs when opened, adding to the Aidilfitri atmosphere.
However, over time, digital cards have become the preferred option. The latest trends show that netizens are getting more creative by converting them into cartoon animations and personalized visuals generated using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Suzana Ali Hassan @ Ali is one of those leveraging AI technology. However, she said this is not meant to replace the sentimental value of traditional greeting cards, but rather serve as a new medium to express creativity and emotion in keeping with changing times.
The 35-year-old said that even though communication methods have moved to digital platforms, integrity still depends on personal intent when choosing the design, message and concept to convey to the recipient.
“We used to write greetings by hand to change the atmosphere, but now our intentions and efforts are meaningful, even if they are generated by AI.
“Choosing the right design to gift someone. Even with AI, the emotion still comes from the heart. AI is just a tool to realize what is in our hearts,” she said when contacted by Bernama recently.
Johorian, who frequently uses Gemini Pro and Flow applications to create AI-generated creations, features his own visuals with a cat character named Pumpkin as the main focus of his content, appealing to fans of adorable cats.
Suzana said they have also shared tutorials on creating AI greeting cards on social media and have received encouraging responses as many users create their own greeting cards and share their creative results.
“Many people are satisfied when they successfully create their own cards because they can include personal elements such as pets or favorite characters. AI is just a tool, but the intention to make others happy still comes from within,” she said.
Nurul Shuhada Roslan echoed this view, saying that digital methods are not only more convenient, but also allow users to design cards to their own tastes while saving on shipping costs, especially when sending cards to friends and family who live far away.
“The tradition may change, but the atmosphere is still there and thanks to AI, the design is no longer limited and has become more interesting. The sincerity is still there, as is the effort of the person giving the Raya card,” the 27-year-old said. – Barnama
