Third CMG Forum in Beijing highlights harnessing AI as force for good

The third China Media Group (CMG) Forum was held on Monday in Beijing, with this year's event focusing on the role the media industry can play in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure it becomes a force for good to the benefit of mankind.

Themed "A Force for Good: Shared Responsibility in AI," the forum attracted more than 200 participants from international organizations, media, think tanks, and multinational companies.

Participants stressed the important role of the media in promoting the innovative application of AI as well as strengthening its governance.

Addressing the forum, CMG President Shen Haixiong said that the CMG is ready to learn from friends around the globe and jointly explore the unlimited possibilities of AI together so as to inject more positive energy into the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, and Daren Tang, director general of the World Intellectual Property Organization also delivered video speeches at the forum, with both noting the importance of harnessing the opportunities of AI while managing its potential risks.

The forum also saw video messages from figures such as entrepreneur and philanthropist Bill Gates, award-winning scholars and computer scientists, and representatives from leading international media organizations such as AP, Reuters and AFP.

Participants said the media plays an irreplaceable role in promoting the innovative application of AI, as well as the establishment of rules, regulations and the global governance of this fast-evolving technology.

Forum attendees also stressed it is necessary to accelerate the intelligent development of the media, so as to give full play to its role as a bridge for promoting in-depth exchanges and close collaboration among countries.

The forum also saw the launch of an AI Governance Media Action Initiative. Joined by leading media groups from Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America and Arab states, the initiative stressed using AI for technology empowering, industry supervision, media credibility, safe development, in-depth cooperation and responsibility sharing.

First held in 2022, the CMG Forum has grown into an important platform for exchanges among global media.

Third CMG Forum in Beijing highlights harnessing AI as force for good

Third CMG Forum in Beijing highlights harnessing AI as force for good

Food prices in Sudan in April increased by over 127 percent compared with the same period last year due to the persistent conflict, according to a report released by the World Food Program (WFP) on Monday.

The average cost of the WFP local food basket (LFB) increased to 1,016 Sudanese Pound (SDG) (about 1.7 U.S. dollars) per 1 LFB, reflecting a 11.89 percent increase from the preceding month and a substantial 127.29 percent rise from the same month of the previous year, the report said.

The soaring food prices are a result of the ongoing conflict that began on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

SAF and RSF continued to engage in fierce exchange of fire in the Greater Capital Area, central and western parts of Sudan.

The RSF on Monday released a statement that the SAF carried out air strike on Khartoum Oil Refinery.

Local media reported that the RSF attacked a village in Gezira State in central Sudan on the same day, causing one death and several injuries.

War-torn Sudan facing soaring food prices amid persistent conflict