National newspaper industry peers gathered in Shanghai to observe “AI + Media.” What are they observing?

On December 19, the 2024 China Newspaper Media Industry Artificial Intelligence Application Conference opened in Shanghai, attracting media professionals from across the country to discuss the profound impact of artificial intelligence technology on content innovation and paradigm shifts in the media industry.

In today’s world, artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the way humans live and work. For the media industry, the opportunities and challenges brought by AI are imminent.

According to the “Report on the Responsibilities and Missions of News in the New Era of Artificial Intelligence” released by the National High-end Think Tank of Xinhua News Agency, currently, 10.2% of media outlets worldwide have established mechanisms to integrate AI into their production processes, while 41% are actively exploring the application of AI technology, encouraging and supporting certain news sectors to adopt AI.

While AI may not be “perfect” yet, the media industry can better embrace the future through questioning AI and collaborating with it. Li Yun, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Shanghai Newspaper Group, stated directly, “Embracing AI is not an optional question; it is a mandatory question concerning the development of media.”

Mainstream media in China must embrace AI. The choice of Shanghai as the conference venue is understandable, as the city is at the forefront of the domestic AI sector. From Shanghai, media professionals can be the first to witness the sparks ignited by AI empowerment.

On the afternoon of the 19th, during the “High-Quality Development Shanghai Tour for Party Newspapers” held concurrently with the conference, media professionals from across the country observed the vibrant examples of Shanghai’s high-quality development from three perspectives: “Practicing the People’s City Concept,” “Cultural Heritage and Innovation,” and “New Quality Productive Forces.” This research showcased various real aspects of the integration of media and AI.

Developing New Quality Productive Forces
Shanghai is moving towards becoming a globally influential center for technological innovation, with the scale of its AI industry exceeding 380 billion yuan. In this international metropolis, mainstream media have already begun to collide and integrate with AI technology, advancing together through mutual empowerment.

One of the research routes taken by media professionals included a visit to the Shanghai Central Science and Technology Innovation Zone and SenseTime Technology, closely related to new quality productive forces, providing an excellent window to observe AI’s empowerment of media.

Entering the SenseTime building, which resembles an “aircraft carrier,” Zhang Huajun, a member of the Party Committee and Vice President of Henan Daily, expressed great interest in the practical applications of AI. He noted that the profound impact of AI on the media industry is just beginning, and the two will continue to merge and empower each other, with the final form yet to be explored by both the technology and media sectors.

SenseTime’s AI technology has been applied in various fields, including industry and daily life. “I knew about SenseTime before, but seeing it today, they are indeed very advanced, with a wide range of applications in AI usage scenarios and industries,” Zhang said. “For our media industry, there are many practical technologies that AI can apply.”

Shen Hui, head of the key laboratory at Guangzhou Daily Media, shared similar sentiments, having already interacted with AI in her work. “We have trialed some AI applications in the media, which at this stage may be more about showcasing works, representing the initial phase of AI application, providing some fresh experiences. Gradually, we hope to use AI as a tool to truly serve our needs.”

Many media professionals discussed the exploration of the integration of media and AI in Shanghai, benefiting from the city’s early layout and technological accumulation in the AI industry, placing Shanghai at the forefront of the new track of large AI models.

Currently, Shanghai Newspaper Group is promoting digital and intelligent transformation through a series of initiatives to reshape production mechanisms. For example, the group has created “Integrated Media Innovation Space” and “AI Digital Human Integrated Media Creation Platform,” while The Paper has launched algorithms such as “Deriving All Things AI Office” and “The Paper Smart Media Music Large Model,” and interface financial news has introduced algorithms like “Financial Leap Large Model,” among many other cases.

Since 2018, Shanghai has hosted the World Artificial Intelligence Conference for seven consecutive years. Over these years, the number of AI enterprises in Shanghai has grown from 183 in 2018 to 348 in 2023, with the industry scale increasing from 134 billion yuan to over 380 billion yuan. In September 2023, the country’s first large model innovation ecological community, “Mosu Space,” was also inaugurated in Shanghai. During this research, many mentioned that innovation requires wisdom and courage. The Central Science and Technology Innovation Zone is located in the core waterfront area of Huangpu, adjacent to the financial aggregation area of the Bund and the Xuhui West Financial City, covering an area of about 1.92 square kilometers. Zhang Huajun remarked that it takes determination to utilize precious land for scientific innovation, and he believes that Shanghai’s science and technology industry will thrive.

The layout of the science and technology industry in the central urban area has become a trend in the development of international innovation spaces. According to the plan, Huangpu District is developing the Central Science and Technology Innovation Zone, aiming to make it a “highlight” in the upgrade of Shanghai’s science and technology landscape, a “melting pot” for top global innovation elements, and an “innovation eye” for showcasing and exchanging cutting-edge technology.

A City for the People
The core of a city is its people. On November 2, 2019, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Shanghai and first proposed the concept of “A People’s City Built by the People, A People’s City for the People,” giving Shanghai a new mission in building a people’s city in the new era.

During the research tour in Shanghai, one route led to the Shanghai People’s City Practice Exhibition Hall and the Bund Old City Hall, where participants learned about Shanghai’s best practices in creating a people’s city. With technological evolution and the development of the times, the focus of news promotion must be on “people.”

Since the opening of the Huangpu River banks, Shanghai has utilized its valuable riverside resources for urban functional shaping, allowing the original urban texture to integrate with new industries and business formats, accelerating the layout of future industries and the creation of an innovative ecosystem, thus creating a riverside showcase that embodies the concept of a people’s city, providing strong support for enhancing urban vitality, development momentum, and core competitiveness.

The Shanghai People’s City Practice Exhibition Hall, located along the Huangpu River at 630 Anpu Road, Yangpu District, features five themed exhibition areas and twenty-five specialized exhibits. Media professionals eagerly entered the venue to see the themed exhibition areas such as “People’s City: Thought Leadership,” “People’s City: Shanghai Blueprint,” “People’s City: Shanghai Reality,” and “People’s City: Shanghai Practice.”

Gong Yongling, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Shanxi Changzhi Daily, remarked, “Despite the high value of land in Shanghai, in the process of building a people’s city, we see the gradual improvement of living conditions and quality of life for the people. The per capita housing area for residents is also expanding, with many residents bidding farewell to old homes and moving into new ones, fulfilling the ‘old renovation dream,’ which makes one feel that Shanghai has truly implemented the concept of ‘having a secure home,’ greatly enhancing the happiness index of the people.”

To make a city “belong to the people, serve the people, and achieve the people,” Shanghai has undertaken extensive practices. For instance, by the end of 2023, Shanghai had established 1,926 community elderly meal assistance locations, including 346 community senior dining halls. In 2024, Shanghai plans to add 40 community comprehensive elderly service centers and 30 community senior dining halls, as well as build 200 service stations at residents’ doorsteps and complete home environment modifications for 6,000 households to be more elderly-friendly.

To provide comfortable and affordable housing for frontline workers such as sanitation workers, couriers, and security personnel, Shanghai has allocated 11,000 beds in “New Era City Builders’ Homes” in 2023, with plans to secure over 30,000 more beds in 2024. The monthly rent for these beds generally ranges from 500 to 1,000 yuan.

Cultural Heritage and Innovation
The development of a city involves both hard and soft power. Generally speaking, economic development represents hard power, while culture represents soft power. If hard power makes a city stronger, soft power makes it greater.

Many people come to Shanghai not only to experience its skyscrapers, elevated subways, and bustling crowds but also to appreciate the city’s cultural charm and characteristics. A significant factor contributing to Shanghai’s international influence is its cultural appeal and allure.

During the research tour, media professionals visited the Bailian ZX Creative Park and Shanghai Dazhong, experiencing the cultural heritage and innovation of the metropolis.

Bailian ZX Creative Park, located on Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, known as “China’s First Commercial Street,” was transformed from the former Hualian Shopping Center and opened for trial operations in January 2023. Focusing on the two-dimensional culture, Bailian ZX Creative Park has introduced numerous flagship stores and first stores of global brands, becoming a social hub for the younger generation.

Upon entering the park, visitors are greeted with a plethora of “two-dimensional” products and a bustling crowd, predominantly young people. Many media professionals showed great interest in exploring the store’s figurines, anime merchandise, original card games, and themed restaurants, engaging with staff to learn about the interests of young consumers.

“Shanghai is a very trendy city that can pay attention to and study the preferences of young people, innovating and transforming in a timely manner to create two-dimensional spaces that attract young people to come offline and visit physical stores. This not only reflects cultural innovation but also commercial innovation,” said Zhou Jianjiang, Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Vice President of Nantong Daily. “Media professionals must also continuously learn and timely discover