Staying true and 'breaking the circle' – Media in intelligent age

As generative artificial intelligence (AI) produces lengthy articles in seconds, virtual anchors take the anchor desk, and algorithms accurately capture users' emotions, the global media ecosystem is being reshaped at an unprecedented pace.

On the occasion of the Fifth CMG Forum, a survey launched by CGTN among global netizens shows that respondents believe a media ecosystem of "human-machine collaboration" has already taken shape, with artificial intelligence playing an increasingly important role in driving a new round of productivity transformation in the media.

In the survey, 78.2% of respondents believe that news reporting methods are undergoing profound changes in the intelligent age, with AI-assisted editing, algorithm-driven recommendations and personalized distribution, and automated content generation seen as the three key areas where AI empowers media content production.

In addition, 71.7% of respondents say that the role of the media in carrying forward civilization and promoting cultural communication will be further enhanced in the intelligent age.

Barrier-free cross-language and cross-cultural communication, preservation of endangered languages and local cultures, and the digitization of cultural heritage with intelligent storytelling rank as the top three most anticipated aspects.

At the same time, respondents remain cautious about the potential risks that AI technology poses to media. Among these, information authenticity, the potential for AI to accelerate the decline of human innovation capabilities, and the misuse of personal data rank as the top three concerns.

95.9% of respondents advocate that media products generated using generative AI technology should be clearly differentiated and labeled when published. 92% call on media organizations to improve review mechanisms for AI-generated content. 91.1% call for laws and regulations to govern the application of AI in the media, in order to safeguard a healthy and diverse media ecosystem.

Additionally, 77.4% of respondents believe that strengthening international cooperation among media organizations can help jointly address the challenges brought by the AI era and provide direction for building a more resilient global media ecosystem.

The CGTN poll – published in English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian – attracted 7,438 netizens to vote and share their views within 24 hours.