Shen Yang gives a presentation at the event on Wednesday in London. Photo; Courtesy of Beijing Yanshan Press

Experts from the publishing industry, academia, and the arts convened on Wednesday at the China exhibition area of the London Book Fair to discuss the future prospects of artificial intelligence (AI) in the publishing and creative industries.

Under the theme "Technology Meets Tradition: Embracing Al's Potential in the Publishing & Creative Industry," the event was organized by the New Media Research Center of Tsinghua University's School of Journalism, Beijing Yanshan Press, and China National Publications Import and Export (Group) Co Ltd in cooperation with Shimmr AI, a UK-based company, and the China Youth Press International Ltd.

The dialogue sessions, moderated by the vice president of Beijing Yanshan Press, covered a range of topics. The first round discussed how AI empowers publishers and authors, as well as academic publishing's effect on generative AI.

The second round explored the possibilities and challenges AI brings to book publishing, featuring representatives from Oxford Brookes University and Springer Nature. 

The third round focused on the intersection of AI technology and traditional art, with insights from contemporary Chinese artist Li Hongbo and Professor Shen Yang.

In the final round, the CEO of Shimmr AI and Shen discussed how AI can enhance creativity and profitability in the publishing industry.

The highlight of the event was the presence of Shen, who appeared in the form of four AI avatars during the discussions. This innovative approach allowed attendees to experience firsthand the integration of AI into various aspects of work and life. 

Shen also presented a short video titled London through the eyes of AI, as a gift to the participants during the event.

Global Times