The 6th World Media Summit, held on Monday, October 14, 2024, in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, brought together over 500 participants from 106 countries and regions, including Rwanda.
Under the theme "AI and Media Transformation," representatives from 208 institutionsâ€"ranging from media outlets to government agencies and international organizationsâ€"engaged in thoughtful discussions about AI's transformative effect on the media industry.
The summit delved into how the role of the media is evolving in the face of this technological revolution.
One of the key outcomes of the event was a joint statement that highlighted the need for a balanced approach to adopting AI in media, ensuring that journalistic ethics and professional standards are upheld.
The statement also stressed the importance of enhanced global collaboration to share AI advancements, promoting high-quality development across the industry.
In his keynote address, Fu Hua, president of Xinhua News Agency, emphasized the need for the media to embrace technological advancements while safeguarding the core values of journalism.
"We should proactively align with the technological wave, closely track the advancement of AI, particularly generative technologies like ChatGPT and Sora, and seize every opportunity for media innovation," he said.
The summit also featured findings from a global survey conducted by the Xinhua Institute, a think tank under Xinhua, as part of a report titled "Responsibility and Mission of News Media in the AI Era."
The report revealed that over half of the media organizations interviewed had already integrated generative AI into their operations. Technologies like algorithmic recommendations, voice interaction, and image generation are being widely applied across news collection, production, distribution, and audience feedback.
While media leaders acknowledged the immense potential of AI, they also pointed out the critical role humans must continue to play.
Fu Hua cautioned against a purely technology-driven approach: "We should move beyond 'tech-centric thinking' and effectively leverage the initiative of editors and reporters. Ultimately, humans must have the final say in human-machine interaction."
Other media leaders echoed these sentiments, recognizing AI's valuable contributions to newsrooms while emphasizing that human oversight is essential to maintaining journalistic standards and ensuring the production of high-quality, trustworthy content.
This year's summit was jointly organized by Xinhua and the Xinjiang regional government.
In addition to discussing the core values of journalismâ€"objectivity and truthâ€"the event offered attendees a unique opportunity to experience Xinjiang's vibrant culture firsthand.
Ma Xingrui, secretary of the Xinjiang regional committee of the Communist Party of China, described the summit as a valuable chance for journalists to gain deeper insights into Xinjiang's development.
With its diverse cultural heritage, Xinjiang, which covers about one-sixth of China's territory, has seen significant economic growth in recent years.
In 2023, it ranked among the top five provincial-level regions nationwide across six major indicators, including GDP growth, investment, consumption, and income levels.
Situated at the heart of the Silk Road Economic Belt, Xinjiang is increasingly emerging as a vital hub, connecting Asia and Europe while serving as a key gateway for China's westward expansion.
All photos: Xinhua
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