Participants on the second day of the 6th World Media Summit (WMS) in Urumqi, China, discussed the unique opportunities and challenges that the news sector faces, especially after the dawn of artificial intelligence, which continues to remodel industries across the world.
The central theme of the six-day summit is ‘Artificial Intelligence and Media Transformation’. It bought together more than 500 participants from 106 countries. Among the attendees were government officials and representatives from international organizations and over 200 major media outlets.
The gathering is being co-hosted by Xinhua news agency and the regional government of Xinjiang, and is part of efforts to discuss the evolving relationship between technology and media.
Report urges media organizations to prioritize ethics by adopting ‘people-first’ approach
The participants talked about how AI tools such as generative algorithms are playing a significant part in increasing news production and delivery, but simultaneously there are risks associated with these technologies, including misinformation and ethical concerns.
Shared on the occasion was a report titled ‘Responsibility and Mission of News Media in AI Era’, which examines the convergence of AI and journalism. The report discusses how AI has transformed content production and distribution in the media sector, which has had a positive impact on efficiency, timeliness, and productivity.
At the same time, the report discusses the associated risks, especially accuracy and authenticity of news. Since correctness is one of the core values of journalism, the report highlights the importance of treading carefully on this path of technological advancement so as to avoid undermining public trust in journalism.
One major focus of the report is the ‘Collingridge dilemma’ – the challenge of finding a balance between technological innovation and the need for governance. The AI has been developing at a very fast pace, but unfortunately authorities are not keeping up with it when it comes to introducing regulations. This has resulted in dissemination of false information, deepfakes, and unethical use of AI to manipulate public opinion.
The report has called on media organizations to take responsibility and adopt a ‘people-first’ approach, with ethical standards and transparency on top of the priority list. Another important issue highlighted in the report is the so-called intelligence divide.
It argues that access to advanced technologies might deepen inequalities both within societies and between countries, which can subsequently result in global imbalances in information access and influence. Finally, the report stresses the importance of dialogue for the sake of cooperation among governments, media outlets, and the public to ensure responsible use of artificial technology.
The ongoing summit has brought together media professionals from parts of the globe on a single platform to discuss these topics and seek common ground on the future of journalism in an era that has been dominated by digital and AI technologies.
