The 13th China Internet Audio-Visual Convention is set to convene in Chengdu, marking a pivotal moment for the nation’s massive digital media landscape. As the industry grapples with the disruptive power of artificial intelligence, this gathering serves as the primary forum for harmonizing technological ambition with commercial reality. The event has long been a barometer for China’s streaming and short-video sectors, which command more user time than any other digital activity in the country.
Highlighting the convention's global outlook is the featured participation of renowned futurologist Kevin Kelly. His presence underscores a deep-seated intellectual exchange between Western tech philosophy and China’s aggressive application of generative AI tools. Kelly is expected to address how AI-generated content (AIGC) will not merely augment production but fundamentally rewrite the relationship between creators and their audiences in an increasingly virtualized environment.
The focus of the industry has shifted significantly from simple content distribution to the integration of AI-native production workflows. In a hyper-competitive market dominated by giants like ByteDance and Tencent, the transition to AIGC is viewed as a critical survival strategy to meet the insatiable demand of China’s billion-plus netizens. Companies are now looking to AI to slash production costs while maintaining the high-frequency output required to stay relevant in the scrolling economy.
Beyond the hardware and software, the convention provides critical insight into the regulatory trajectory of the world’s largest online population. Discussions are expected to navigate the fine line between fostering 'New Quality Productive Forces'—a central government priority—and ensuring that AI-driven content remains within the bounds of China’s evolving digital ethics and information control frameworks. The Chengdu summit will likely emerge as a blueprint for how China intends to lead the global shift toward an AI-integrated media ecosystem.