HONG KONG — The Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU)’s School of Communication celebrated its 70th Anniversary on Monday with an international symposium on shaping the future of human-centered AI communication.
The “AI + COMM: Advancing AI for Social Good International Symposium” was the first flagship academic event following the launch of the AI Media Centre (AIM) in January, highlighting the university’s commitment to advancing AI research and innovation for social good.
The symposium brought together distinguished scholars, researchers, and industry leaders from six countries across Asia, Europe and North America to explore how artificial intelligence can transform media, communication, and civic engagement for the betterment of society, the HKBU said in a statement.
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In his welcoming remarks, HKBU Provost Professor Martin Wong said the symposium embodies more than just academic exchange, adding: “It represents the start of a critical mission to ensure that the narrative of AI is written not only by engineers but with the essential voice of human insight.”
Echoing this vision, Professor Bu Zhong, dean of the School of Communication, addressed one of today’s most pressing challenges — the AI Divide.
He emphasized that AIM’s guiding philosophy, “AI for Social Good,” rests on three pillars – AI literacy, creativity, and truth and equity. “Let us make AI a force that respects humans, empowers the marginalized, and retains the warmth that makes all of us human,” he added.
The symposium featured eight keynote speeches by internationally renowned experts in political communication, ethics, climate change, and media psychology, including Professor S Shyam Sundar from the Pennsylvania State University, US; Professor Claes de Vreese from University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Professor Matthieu Guitton from Laval University, Canada; Professor John Downey from Loughborough University, the UK; Professor Lars Guenther from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany; Professor Homero Gil de Zúñiga from the Pennsylvania State University, the US and University of Salamanca, Spain; Professor Brooke Knight from Emerson College, the US; and Professor Hai Liang from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Among the highlights of the event was a panel dialogue moderated by Professor Kenneth Paul Tan from the School of Communication (HKBU) featuring keynote speakers along with Professor Bu Zhong and Professor Paul Mihailidis (Emerson College). The discussion explored how social scientists can contribute to advancing AI for social good and public trust.
During another session, the newly-launched AI Media Centre showcased innovative projects highlighting the power of AI in communication — including AI-powered fact-checking to combat misinformation, ethical persuasion using large language models, and personalized health communication initiatives.
Through four dynamic demonstrations by AIM’s advisor and lab directors —Tik-fan Chan, Professor Ivan Li, Professor Jolie Shi and Professor Vivien Zhou — the center presented practical applications of AI that enhance media integrity, foster interactive learning, and promote trustworthy civic discourse.
Reflecting on the success of the symposium and the Centre’s launch, Professor Bu Zhong said, “Our goal is to ensure AI remains a tool that strengthens society’s moral compass, enhances human understanding, and amplifies the power of truth in communication.”
