Ai-powered interactive storytelling: The neverending story

This thesis explores how classical narrative forms can be restructured through the technological possibilities offered by the digital age. The project is based on the "Fantasia in Danger" chapter from Michael Ende's The NeverEnding Story, and grants the user the ability to influence the direction of the narrative through choices. In doing so, the storytelling is transformed from a fixed structure into a multi-path, interactive narrative. The user is not merely a passive viewer but becomes an active participant who shapes the story through their decisions. Artificial intelligence is considered in this study not only as a technical tool for production but also as a creative component of the narrative. Both MidJourney and ChatGPT were utilized in the visual production process. While visuals generated with MidJourney reflect more cinematic compositions, the ones created through ChatGPT resemble Studio Ghibli-style illustrations. In terms of text generation, ChatGPT was used to develop alternative narrative flows shaped by user choices. Thus, AI has contributed directly to both the aesthetic and structural dimensions of the narrative. The project is structured as a multi-layered experience design model in which narrative scripting, AI-assisted visual and textual production processes, and an interactive web-based platform are integrated as a whole. The narrative offers user-specific pathways through its choice-driven flow, while visual and textual components serve as complementary elements that deepen the experience. In this context, the project aims to contribute to the literature as a practice-oriented model developed at the intersection of AI-based content creation and user interaction within the scope of digital storytelling.