A view of an exhibition on the sideline of the the Global Media Congress (GMC) in Abu Dhabi. — WAM/VNA

ABU DHABI — The second day of the Global Media Congress (GMC) has drawn to a close after a series of groundbreaking announcements, discussions and exhibitions that set further new benchmarks in the world of media and communications.

The day was packed with engaging panels, keynote speeches, and interactive sessions led by some of the most prominent figures in the industry.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the GMC continued its focus on nurturing innovation and enabling professionals to benefit from knowledge exchange between decision-makers, thought leaders, experts and professional on the emerging trends shaping the sector’s future.

Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director-General of Emirates News Agency (WAM) and Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee for the Global Media Congress, said: “The Global Media Congress has continued to offer unparalleled value on its second day as we strengthen our global media network through strategic partnerships and collaborations that offer great promise for the future. We were delighted to host so many youth today and their valued presence enriched the excellent discussions and exhibitions that we witnessed. As the Congress continues to shape the future media agenda, we are making every effort to nurture outstanding new creativity and accelerate innovative start-ups in the sector.”

Day two of the Congress, which gave special attention media education and youth engagement, also welcomed a diverse group of students from 100 universities pursuing they interest in the sector.

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNEC Group, said: “Today’s sessions at the Global Media Congress demonstrated our commitment to empowering youth to help shape the future of the media sector. Through fostering innovation and collaboration in the media industry, we are also equipping the next generation to play their full part as creators and entrepreneurs. In bringing together such a diverse array of thought leaders and experts with our youth, the Congress is not just a platform for dialogue, but a catalyst for imaginative new ideas and practices.

ADNEC Group is honored to provide a venue where groundbreaking ideas are shared, and new horizons in media and technology are explored.”

With participants from across the government, media, academic and industry sectors, the Global Media Congress is hosting a world-class programme of speakers, panelists and discussants commenting on and discussing a range of emerging challenges and the full potentialities of the media industry’s future development. The Congress exhibition features leading international and local brands showcasing and demonstrating the latest media-focused tech, products, and services. Both leading companies and innovative new startups are participating at the exhibition, which has a range of platforms, including live stages and media labs, to facilitate commercial partnerships between tech companies and media outlets.

H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, UAE shared his expertise on AI's pivotal role in future innovation. The Minister commented that as generative AI would soon make up more than 90% of Internet content, truth matters more than ever. The growth of AI has profound implications for creativity, and it is likely that those entities that could be trusted with the truth would be more valued in the future. Above all, there was a crucial need to ensure AI would have a positive impact.

H.E. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi addressed the imperative of equipping the youth for a tech-forward tomorrow. His Excellency commented that “we should reassess our approach towards the emerging generation, acknowledging that they possess unique skills and capabilities that empower them to tackle, comprehend, and effectively utilise modern technologies. We must have a clear vision for engaging with this generation, respecting their choices, recognising their accomplishments, and positioning ourselves as partners rather than guardians. This will help prevent the development of conflicting identities within them."

In a deep-dive session, Mark Whitehead, CEO of TwoFour54 in Abu Dhabi, provided firsthand insights on the evolving landscape of media production complemented by an engaging moderation by Youmna Naufal. Whitehead spoke about the supportive ecosystem in Abu Dhabi for the content and film industry and how this ecosystem was situated in a strong global market place that included other major players such as the US and the Republic of Korea. He noted that the presence of a large number of international production companies reflected TwoFour54's goal of further strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a global destination for producers, directors, creatives, filmmakers and programme makers.

The following panel discussion on ‘AI Technology-Dominated Media: Looming Threat or Opportunity?’, featured Neil Maiden, Professor of Digital Creativity - Faculty of Management at Bayes Business in the UK, Jessica Groopman, Director of Digital Strategy & Innovation at Intentional Futures in the USA, Noel Tock, Speaker, Technologist, and Founder of Human Made in the UK, and Michael Bayler, International Brand Marketing Pioneer, Published Author and Speaker from the UK.

The panel discussed whether AI is a threat or an opportunity in the media sector and how the industry might adapt to new technologies. Maiden commented that while generative AI has been perceived as a threat that may replace human ingenuity, its potential to enhance people’s creative skills would draw new investment and business. Groopman observed that one of the most significant dilemmas lies in the fact that, with generative AI, we possess the language of intelligence, even though there is little consensus on what intelligence truly is. Tock added that generative AI is neither a trick nor mere software, and should be regarded as a strategic tool to optimise ideas while holding the promise of opening up new opportunities. — WAM/VNA