The School of Communication at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) hosted the AI + COMM: Advancing AI for Social Good International Symposium on Monday, as part of the university’s 70th anniversary celebrations.
The symposium was the first flagship academic event since the January 2026 launch of the AI Media Centre (AIM), highlighting HKBU’s commitment to advancing AI research and innovation for social good.
HKBU Provost Martin Wong Ding-fat said the gathering reflects a vital mission: ensuring that the story of AI is shaped not only by engineers but also by human insight.
Dean of the School of Communication Bu Zhong addressed the challenge of the “AI Divide” and reaffirmed AIM’s philosophy of “AI for Social Good,” built on three pillars — AI Literacy, Creativity, and Truth & Equity.
The event brought together leading scholars, researchers, and industry experts from six countries across North America, Europe, and Asia.
The guest speakers included S. Shyam Sundar from the Pennsylvania State University in the Unites States; Claes de Vreese from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands; Matthieu Guitton from the Laval University in Canada; John Downey from the Loughborough University in the United Kingdom; Lars Guenther from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in Germany; Homero Gil de Zúñiga from the Pennsylvania State University in the United States and University of Salamanca in Spain; Brooke Knight from the Emerson College in the United States; as well as Hai Liang from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Discussions explored how AI can transform media, communication, and civic engagement to benefit society.
In the afternoon, AIM showcased projects demonstrating AI’s potential in communication, including AI-powered fact-checking tools to combat misinformation, ethical persuasion using large language models, and personalized health communication initiatives.
Martin Wong delivers his welcoming address. (HKBU)
Bu Zhong delivers his opening remarks. (HKBU)
