Limitations of AI in health & social care explainer films
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising how we produce content – and explainer animations are no exception. Especially in sectors like health and social care, AI can offer a faster and more cost-effective way to create educational videos.
It’s no surprise, then, that more organisations are exploring AI tools to help reach patients, carers, and communities with vital information.
But here’s the truth: while AI has its place in animation production, it has significant limitations, particularly when we’re talking about content that needs to be inclusive, culturally sensitive and rooted in lived experience.
When working with marginalised communities or communicating sensitive health information, co-creation is key. Read on for our 5 reasons why the human touch is so important in creating truly inclusive health and social care explainer videos.
1. The human experience can’t be automated
Why AI can’t capture lived experience
Health and social care topics are deeply personal. When you’re creating explainer videos for people who may be vulnerable, marginalised or navigating complex life situations, nuance matters. AI simply isn’t capable of truly understanding or conveying the emotional weight behind many of these stories.
Things like empathy, cultural context, and real-world understanding come from people, not algorithms. Without a human touch, AI-generated animations can feel cold, disconnected, or at the worst, tone-deaf.
2. Co-creation isn’t optional – it’s essential
Involving communities in the creative process
Effective explainer animations don’t just talk at people, they speak with them. That means involving the very audiences you’re trying to reach. Whether through workshops, interviews or feedback sessions, co-design helps ensure your message is relevant, respectful, and resonant.
While AI can churn out draft scripts or generate visuals, it can’t facilitate a conversation. It can’t build trust. And it certainly can’t interpret subtle cultural cues or adapt in real time to the needs or values of a group. For that, you need real people collaborating every step of the way.
3. Representation is more than a stock character
The risk of cultural misrepresentation
One significant risk with AI-generated content is that of poor representation. Many AI models are trained on datasets that don’t reflect the diversity of our communities. That means the animations they create may unintentionally reinforce stereotypes or overlook important cultural nuances.
Creators with lived experience – and those who work closely with community partners – are far better equipped to craft animations that feel genuine, inclusive and relevant.
It’s not just about ticking boxes; it’s about building trust through authenticity.
4. Trust is earned, not generated
Building trust through authentic storytelling
In health and social care, trust is everything. For communities that have been historically underserved or misrepresented, generic or AI-driven content just doesn’t cut it. People can tell when something has been created with care… and when it hasn’t.
When audiences see themselves reflected in the content, when they feel heard and respected, they’re far more likely to engage with it. That’s something AI can’t replicate, no matter how advanced it becomes.
5. A balanced approach works best
Making health and social care explainer videos more effective
Don’t get us wrong, AI can be a powerful tool when used in a meaningful way. It can speed up parts of the animation process, such as writing draft scripts, generating voiceovers or creating visual assets.
But it shouldn’t be the starting point for content that’s meant to connect on a human level.
At CC Animation Studio, we firmly believe the most effective explainer videos are co-created with communities, not just constructed by code. Our team works closely with health professionals, patient advocates and lived-experience contributors to ensure every animation is both accurate and meaningful.
Because when it comes to communicating complex or sensitive information, people don’t just need clarity, they need connection.
Final thoughts: People, not just data, build connection
In health and social care, explainer videos need more than just information – they need empathy, inclusion, and real connection. That’s why we co-create our animations with the people they’re made for. Because stories that resonate don’t come from algorithms – they come from you.
Our team of world-class artists, animators, scriptwriters and editors has created hundreds of high-profile explainer films, charity films and website introduction animations for corporate clients, artists and charities worldwide, all from our animation studio in Bristol, UK.
