SYDNEY, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The International Symposium on AI and the Future of Screen Industries was held at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney on Thursday and Friday.
The symposium, hosted by UNSW in collaboration with Emerging Media Journal and the Asia-Pacific Communication Alliance (APCA), brought together leading scholars, industry experts and practitioners from around the world to explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the screen industries.
Scholars from the Chinese mainland, China's Hong Kong and Taiwan joined their counterparts from other countries at the conference, which was presided over by Prof. Elaine Jing Zhao of UNSW.
Liangwen Kuo, editor-in-chief of Emerging Media Journal and professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Prof. Changfeng Chen, president of APCA from Tsinghua University, delivered welcome speeches on behalf of the organizers.
The symposium featured a robust program, including keynote sessions, roundtable discussions, and multiple thematic sessions that delved into various aspects of AI influence on media and communication.
Highlights of the event included keynote addresses from distinguished speakers such as Prof. Dal Yong Jin of Simon Fraser University from Canada, who provided a comprehensive historiography of AI in the audiovisual industries.
Participants engaged in insightful discussions on topics ranging from the integration of AI and virtual reality for mobile screens in Asia to the ethical considerations surrounding AI-generated content.
Sessions such as "AI Imaginaries and Philosophies," chaired by Prof. Paul Gladston, and "Institutional Innovation and Cultural Production," chaired by Prof. Liangwen Kuo, offered deep dives into the philosophical and practical implications of AI in media.
The symposium showcased a diverse array of research, with presentations covering AI's role in everything from public opinion and media trust to creative production and cultural heritage preservation.
Notable presentations included Yimin Xu's comparative analysis of gender, AI, and morality in Chinese science fiction films, and Paul Gladston's exploration of contemporary arts and AI.
Interactive sessions allowed participants to explore real-world applications of AI in media. For instance, Xiao Yang's presentation on the influence of recommender algorithms on consumer behavior sparked lively debates about the future of digital marketing and content consumption.
A key objective of the symposium was to foster the next generation of scholars in the field of AI and media studies. The event featured dedicated sessions for early career researchers and PhD candidates, providing them with a platform to present their work and receive valuable feedback from established experts.
The symposium concluded with a vibrant roundtable discussion moderated by Prof. Stephanie Hemelryk Donald of University of Technology Sydney.
The roundtable synthesized insights from the event and highlighted future research directions and collaborative opportunities in the rapidly evolving field of AI and media.
This symposium underscored the critical importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing the complex challenges and opportunities presented by AI.
As AI continues to reshape the media landscape, such events are essential for fostering innovation, ethical considerations, and informed discourse, participants said. ■