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In celebration of the 70th anniversary of Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), the School of Communication successfully hosted the AI + COMM: Advancing AI for Social Good International Symposium on HKBU campus.

As the first flagship academic event following the official launch of the AI Media Centre (AIM) in January 2026, the symposium marks a significant milestone in advancing research and innovation in artificial intelligence (AI) for social good. The event brought together distinguished scholars, researchers, and industry leaders from six countries across North America, Europe, and Asia to explore how AI can transform media, communication, and civic engagement for the betterment of society.

In the welcoming remarks, Professor Martin Wong, Provost of HKBU, noted that the symposium embodies more than just academic exchange, “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 & Equity. “Let us make AI a force that respects humans, empowers the marginalized, and retains the warmth that makes all of us human,” he urged.

The symposium featured eight keynote speeches delivered by internationally renowned experts in political communication, ethics, climate change, and media psychology, including Professor S. Shyam Sundar (The Pennsylvania State University, the Unites States), Professor Claes de Vreese (University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands), Professor Matthieu Guitton (Laval University, Canada), Professor John Downey (Loughborough University, the United Kingdom), Professor Lars Guenther (Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany), Professor Homero Gil de Zúñiga (The Pennsylvania State University, the United States and University of Salamanca, Spain), Professor Brooke Knight (Emerson College, the United States), and Professor Hai Liang (The Chinese University of Hong Kong).

A highlight of the event was a panel dialogue moderated by Professor Kenneth Paul Tan from the School of Communication (HKBU), featuring the 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.

In the afternoon session, the newly launched AI Media Centre underscored its long‑term commitment to advancing research, innovation, and education in AI‑driven communication by showcasing 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 — Mr. Tik‑fan Chan, Professor Ivan Li, Professor Jolie Shi and Professor Vivien Zhou — the Centre 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 affirmed, “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.”

The AI + COMM International Symposium exemplifies HKBU’s leadership in pioneering human‑centered AI scholarship and positions Hong Kong as an emerging global hub for dialogue on AI for social good.