The 2024 China Newspaper and Media Industry Artificial Intelligence Application Conference has commenced, with Ming expressing the intention to correctly understand changes, proactively respond to changes, and scientifically adapt to changes.
The advancement of artificial intelligence technology is driving content innovation and paradigm shifts in the media industry. In the process of establishing Shanghai as an “AI highland,” the city, with its fertile ground for technological innovation, is fostering the empowerment of mainstream media through new technologies and quality development.
On December 19, the 2024 China Newspaper Media Industry Artificial Intelligence Application Conference commenced in Shanghai. The event is organized by the China Newspaper Association and the Shanghai Newspaper Group, co-organized by the Shanghai Newspaper Media Industry Association and the Shanghai Internet Industry Association, with support from the Huangpu District Propaganda Department. The conference is hosted by The Paper and the Industry Newspaper Branch of the China Newspaper Association, with academic collaboration from the China Newspaper magazine and Fudan University’s Smart City Research Center. The opening ceremony was presided over by Chen Qiwei, president of the Shanghai Newspaper Media Industry Association.
Ming Lizhi, Executive Vice Chairman of the China Newspaper Association and former Deputy Secretary of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China, highlighted in his speech that artificial intelligence is experiencing explosive growth today, with continuous breakthroughs in technology applications such as algorithm recommendation, voice interaction, knowledge inquiry, and image generation. The wave of generative AI is spreading globally. The 2024 government work report called for the launch of an “AI+” initiative. Currently, from foundational software to humanoid robots, and from large models to computing networks, China’s AI technology is increasingly promoting the integrated development of the digital economy and the real economy, becoming a new engine for economic growth.
A report titled “Mission and Responsibility of News in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,” released by the National High-end Think Tank of Xinhua News Agency, indicates that 10.2% of global media organizations have established mechanisms to integrate AI into their production processes, while 41% are actively exploring AI applications, encouraging and supporting the use of AI technologies in certain segments of news operations.
Ming Lizhi noted that as AI technology continues to evolve, its application in the global media industry is becoming increasingly widespread, serving as an important driving force for content innovation and industry transformation. As a “local practice” of the national media integration development strategy, the Shanghai Newspaper Group has become a leading example of the fusion and transformation of new mainstream media in China after 11 years of development.
Just in November, the Shanghai Newspaper Group announced the initiation of a new round of reforms, focusing on “systematic transformation,” actively embracing technological changes, and promoting the digital and intelligent development of media. Currently, the Shanghai Newspaper Group is building an AI platform to enable deep application of AI technology in the editorial process and provide full-chain support for creative planning, content production, content distribution, data analysis, and commercial applications. Over the past ten years, The Paper has established itself as a benchmark product for new mainstream media in China, with AI tools and capabilities achieving automation, productization, backend processing, and involvement from all staff. The group is reconstructing its technological foundation, rebuilding technological processes, and reshaping content products to further establish itself as a leading news platform both domestically and globally.
Ming Lizhi pointed out that the application of information technology, especially generative AI, in traditional fields is causing profound changes in modes of technological production, dissemination, and consumption. In response to new circumstances, it is crucial to accurately perceive changes, proactively adapt, and respond scientifically to stay aligned with the development of the times, suit the communication ecology, and meet real-world needs.
“Dear colleagues, Shanghai is a city with a special strategic mission, a beacon for China’s economic development, high-quality growth, and openness to the outside world,” Ming said. On the evening of December 18, as guests began to arrive in Shanghai, one industry friend expressed, “Upon arriving in Shanghai, my heart is filled with excitement.” “I hope that during this conference, we can conduct thorough research and interviews, share the stories of the people building their city, and tell the exciting stories of Shanghai in the context of high-quality development and modernization with Chinese characteristics.”
The 2024 China Newspaper Media Industry Artificial Intelligence Application Conference will take place in Shanghai from December 19 to 20, with hundreds of representatives from the media, technology, and cultural sectors attending. The conference aims to explore the significant impact of AI technology on content innovation and paradigm shifts in the media industry and to enhance cooperation and exchange in artificial intelligence applications across the media industry.
