BRIDGE Summit: Yang Lan Discusses Media's Evolving Role In The Age Of Hyper-Information

The BRIDGE Summit is a significant event that highlights the media sector's global role and the creative industries' influence. Yang Lan, Chairperson of Sun Media Group, shared these insights with the Emirates News Agency (WAM). She emphasised that this summit serves as a platform for dialogue and cooperation, aiming to enhance the sector's contribution to community development.

Yang Lan highlighted that the summit arrives at a crucial moment when communication technologies and artificial intelligence are rapidly evolving. The name "BRIDGE" symbolises more than just a title; it represents a vision connecting people, ideas, and cultures. The UAE stands as a vital link between East and West, making this gathering an ideal venue for fostering global dialogue and cooperation.

The BRIDGE Summit offers a rich programme with specialised workshops, providing content creators and innovators an opportunity to exchange expertise. Discussions focus on media's future, generative AI, and digital platforms' responsibilities. These conversations are shaping a new phase where human creativity merges with advancing technology capabilities.

Yang Lan expressed her honour in speaking at the summit alongside experts and decision-makers worldwide. With over 35 years in media, she was among the first to present documentaries on artificial intelligence history to Chinese audiences since 2016. She has closely observed AI's transformative impact on content industries in production, distribution, and overall media experience.

Sun Media Group is leading projects exploring technology's intersection with arts. They organised an international digital arts exhibition and launched the "Reviving Crafts" exhibition. This initiative combines intangible heritage with contemporary design using AI tools to uncover new creative dimensions.

Yang Lan explained that they have developed immersive entertainment experiences based on AI technologies in cities like Beijing and Shanghai. These interactive spaces attract young people increasingly. Their goal is to expand globally, allowing digital art to move beyond experimentation into broader cultural impacts.

Democratisation of Creativity

The world is experiencing what Yang Lan describes as true democratisation of creativity alongside cross-sector innovation expansion. The BRIDGE Summit goes beyond technology itself by focusing on human connection and mutual inspiration as progress's essence. The future of media relies on societies building stronger relationships between people, knowledge, and technology.

Yang Lan noted that today's media is not just about conveying news but has evolved into an advanced industry driven by innovation, research, and data. It requires understanding audiences deeply and how they interact with content. The summit opens discussions about media's role in the hyper-information age.

With inputs from WAM