Professors of XJTLU Public Lecture｜Harnessing AI’s power to connect cultures, build trust, and shape the global stories of tomorrow.

Date and Time

• Time: 17:30 – 19:00
• Date: 11 th December, 2025
• Venue: BSG21, SIP South Campus
• Language: English
• Speaker: Professor Xiaoling Zhang, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, XJTLU

Abstract

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the way global narratives are created and shared. From automated media production to algorithm-driven distribution and multilingual translation, AI opens up remarkable opportunities to amplify voices, expand cultural reach, and engage international audiences with new speed and scale. At the same time, its rapid rise reminds us that technology alone cannot ensure trust or understanding: cultural nuance, emotional resonance, and ethical responsibility remain essential.

Through real-world cases, the talk highlights moments where AI has enriched international communication, as well as lessons from instances where over-reliance has backfired. It explores how to harness the benefits of AI while thoughtfully managing the risks it brings. It argues that to truly win the global narrative in the AI era, we must move towards integrating AI’s power with human creativity and cross-cultural sensitivity — just as international communication theories and practices have long guided our understanding of how narratives travel. Ultimately, success lies in using AI as a partner that, when guided by human insight, can expand creativity, strengthen communication, and foster shared understanding across borders.

Scan the QR code for live streaming

Speaker

Prof Xiaoling Zhang is Head of the Department of Media and Communication at Xi’an Jiaotong–Liverpool University, where she also co-leads the “Heritage and Communication” research cluster within the University Research Centre for Culture, Communication and Society (CCCS). She also serves as the Faculty International Association of Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Ambassador in China.
An internationally recognised scholar of media, culture, and global engagement, she has published widely in these fields, with recent work focusing on how nations seek to refresh their images and build international soft power. She has extensive experience in leading collaborative academic projects that bring together senior, mid-career, and early-career scholars across disciplines.
Her publications include several well-received special issues of journals, monographs, and (co-)edited influential volumes. She is committed to contributing to the development of theoretical frameworks that help explain the dynamics of communication and culture in contemporary China.
Prof Zhang is also co-editor of the Routledge book series Communicating China: Past, Present, and Future.