From June 28 to 30, the 2026 Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS) International Conference on Media and Communication Studies was held in Shenzhen under the theme “The Hybrid Subject: Navigating Human-AI Communication.” The event brought together renowned experts and scholars from more than ten leading institutions across Asia, Europe, and North America, including Seoul National University, KAIST, the University of Zurich, the University of Augsburg, the University of Maryland, Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the University of Science and Technology of China, Beijing Normal University, and Shenzhen University.

From left to right: Chen Liang, Chul-joo "CJ" Lee, Nuri Kim

Chen Liang,  tenured associate professor and assistant dean of PHBS, delivered the opening remarks. On behalf of the school, he extended a warm welcome to the guests, vividly introduced the history of Shenzhen and PHBS, and outlined the mission of the Financial Media program. 

Chul-joo "CJ" Lee, professor at Seoul National University and co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Communication, gave a keynote speech titled "Mobilizing Public Support for AI Governance." Drawing on communication theory and public emotion research, and combining empirical findings from the US and South Korea, he delved into how effective information dissemination can mobilize public support for AI governance in an era where AI technology is ubiquitous yet controversial.

Nuri Kim, associate professor at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) and co-editor-in-chief of Media Psychology, gave a keynote speech titled "The Diagnostic Machine: What AI Reveals About the Value of Human Communication." Using the AlphaGo vs. Lee Sedol match as an entry point, she profoundly analyzed how AI's intervention as a "diagnostic machine" reveals the irreplaceable "internal goods" and unique intrinsic value of human communication when it enters human activities.

During the day-and-a-half paper presentation session, 9 research teams showcased their latest findings in sequence, followed by discussant reviews and lively exchanges among attendees.

From left to right: Ouyang Minglong, Chul-joo "CJ" Lee

Ouyang Minglong (Peking University) and PHBS Associate Professor Ye Weiming explored how multiple local human-AI interactions accumulate to affect broader social system dynamics and peer effects. Chul-joo Lee offered suggestions regarding actor modeling methodology and theoretical contributions to communication studies.

From left to right: Chenchen Wang, Nuri Kim

Wang Chenchen (University of Maryland) and her coauthors examined the applicability of Large Language Models (LLMs) in deductive news text coding, emphasizing the necessity of human supervision in complex interpretive tasks. Discussant Nuri Kim offered suggestions on theoretical contributions and the standards for LLMs versus manual validation.

From left to right: Qi Wang, Nuri Kim

Qi Wang (Beijing Normal University) and her coauthors analyzed the differences in truth discernment capabilities between humans and LLMs (GPT) under varying proportions of misinformation exposure through comparative experiments. Nuri Kim noted that researchers should consider the selection of mediating variables and the feasibility of LLMs as actors.

From left to right: Yiutan Yau, Soojin Roh

Yiutan Yau (Jinan University) and her coauthors investigated how "Fear of Missing Out on AI (FoMO-AI)" leads to over-reliance on generative AI and maladaptive usage behaviors. Discussant Soojin Roh, assistant professor at PHBS, acknowledged the phenomenon mentioned and provided suggestions on research and experimental design.

From left to right: Sebastian Scherr, Bao Luye

Sebastian Scherr (University of Augsburg) and his coauthors reconstructed a patient-centered communication accommodation model in the era of AI chatbots based on the perspective of functional affordances. Discussant Bao Luye, assistant professor at PHBS, affirmed the conceptual framework and proposed suggestions for classifying health scenario applications.

From left to right: Liang Che, Chen Zhuo

Che Liang (USTC) et al. studied how generative AI transitions from an information tool to an embedded team member role, thereby affecting human-AI team collaboration performance. Discussant Chen Zhuo, assistant professor at PHBS, suggested improvements regarding theoretical deduction and the verification of measurement method validity.

Left to right: Bilal Mazhar, Hu Yangjuan

Cao Bolin (Shenzhen University) and Researcher Bilal Mazhar et al. explored differences in user comfort levels when disclosing sensitive information based on machine vs. human cues during AI interactions, based on cross-national survey data. Discussant Hu Yangjuan, assistant professor at PHBS,  provided suggestions on cross-national data validation and result interpretation.

From left to right: Qi Xi, Chen Zhuo

Qi Xi (Beijing Normal University) and his coauthors studied whether personalized persuasion by conversational AI can effectively change Chinese public perceptions and attitudes toward genetically modified foods. Discussant Chen Zhuo recognized the experimental design and provided suggestions on variable construction.

From left to right: Lan Jianfeng, Ye Weiming

Lan Jianfeng (Shanghai Jiao Tong University) and his coauthors  revealed how platform capitalism transforms intimate relationships into subscription services of different payment tiers by analyzing multiple AI companion applications. Discussant Ye Weiming, associate professor at PHBS, suggested improvements to the paper's narrative construction and pointed out the necessity of empirical data in enhancing the paper's value.

Academic Workshop

On the afternoon of June 29, Professor Chul-joo "CJ" Lee hosted the "Workshop on Academic Writing and Publishing," sharing insights on review criteria for top international journals and experiences in academic career planning with the participants.

Tech Enterprise Dialogue

On the morning of June 30, the conference held a dialogue themed "Technological Surge and Business Reshaping: A Dialogue with China's AI Pioneers." Participants included Chun Ni; deputy general manager  of Desay SV Technical Center; Yue Chen, CEO of Maimai, and Mike head of AI Strategy, Tencent BG, with Ye Weiming as moderator.

Group photo of some participants.

Looking ahead, PHBS will continue to deepen the academic community's understanding of the evolution of human-AI communication and build a bridge for close interaction between academia and industry through interdisciplinary and transnational dialogues, contributing to the exploration of the intersection of frontier media technology, business, and social development.

Photo Highlights

Source: Financial Media Program

Text: Liu Kailam, Wang Wenchang