A forum held on Sept. 2 at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University (AADTHU), invited scholars and industry leaders to explore innovation in art design against the backdrop of artificial intelligence (AI) development.

Professor Lu Xiaobo delivers his keynote speech at the 2023 AI + Design Innovation Forum held at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University (AADTHU) in Beijing, Sept. 2, 2023. [Photo courtesy of AADTHU]

The 2023 AI + Design Innovation Forum, organized by AADTHU and the Institute for Smart Scene Innovation Design (ISSID), brought together renowned scholars, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and investors to discuss cutting-edge issues in AI development. Objectives included understanding global AI trends; exploring ways to promote the integration and synergy between art design, AI technology, and the digital economy; and nurturing innovative talent capable of bridging expertise in AI and art. The forum aims to drive innovation collaborations and empower industrial development.

The theme of this year's forum was "Artificial Intelligence and Design Innovation, Industrial Transformation and the Digital Economy," focusing on the widespread application of AI technology in the field of design and the profound transformation brought about by the digital economy on a global scale.

In his opening speech at the forum, Qin Chuan, Party Secretary of the academy, said that guided by the concept of integrating arts and sciences, AADTHU actively explores innovative education in art and design in the era of AI. In late 2022, they established a new team for foundational teaching and research with the aim of cultivating students' interdisciplinary thinking and innovation capabilities. By deeply integrating the innovative power of art and the rational thinking of science, they strive to better address the design demands and challenges of the AI era.

Qin Chuan, Party Secretary of the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, speaks at the 2023 AI + Design Innovation Forum in Beijing, Sept. 2, 2023. [Photo courtesy of AADTHU]

Qin added that AADTHU will focus on developing paths for interdisciplinary talent cultivation and strive to promote the integration and innovation of science, technology, and art design. The academy also aims to nurture high-level innovative talents in the new era who possess both scientific literacy and humanistic sentiments. They are committed to embarking on the transformative and innovative path of art education in the era of AI.

Zhang Bo, a fellow of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, honorary dean of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence at Tsinghua University, and academic advisor to ISSID, delivered a keynote speech at the forum. He addressed the frequently debated question in the era of AI: "Can machines create art?" He also addressed the anticipation of innovations that will be brought about by "collaborative creation."

Lu Xiaobo, a distinguished professor of arts, humanities, and social sciences at Tsinghua University and director of ISSID, expounded on how art and AI complement each other and will progress hand in hand from the perspective of "the vitality of art." He reminded attendees to embrace new technologies while also emphasizing the importance of emotions and culture. In the rapid development of AI technology, it is crucial to uphold timeless values.

Marc Hebert, board chair at Leonardo/The International Society for the Arts, Sciences and Technology (Leonardo/ISAST), and chief operating officer at Estuate, a global information technology services company, discussed how art and science serve as the dual wings of human wisdom, providing insights and perspectives from the "Leonardo" journal.

Experts join a discussion during the 2023 AI + Design Innovation Forum held at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University in Beijing, Sept. 2, 2023. [Photo courtesy of AADTHU]

Sun Maosong, professor in the Department of Computer Science and Technology and executive deputy dean of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence at Tsinghua University, elaborated on the characteristics and limitations of generative AI from his expertise, providing an insightful perspective for innovative thinking.

Xu Yingqing, professor at AADTHU and head of the Tsinghua University Future Laboratory, expounded on the development trajectory of an intelligent society. He emphasized the importance of not only recognizing the changes brought by AI technology on humanity but also focusing on its impact on society. Xu later provided concrete suggestions in this regard.

Later, top executives from iFlytek, China Telecom, HiDream.ai, Adobe, Alibaba Cloud Research Institute, Goldman Sachs, Amazon Web Services, and the Nvidia Corporation also delivered speeches at the forum, discussing their companies' explorations in AI development and solutions.

A roundtable discussion session was also held, where panel guests expressed their own opinions and engaged in a thought-provoking exchange and collision of ideas regarding the topic of "design, computation, and the digital economy."

In addition, "Zhuangshi," a Chinese academic journal known for its comprehensive strengths in artistic design and published by AADTHU, has established a partnership with "Leonardo," the highly influential American art and science academic journal founded in 1968. Fang Xiaofeng, associate dean of AADTHU and editor-in-chief of "Zhuangshi," together with Marc Hebert, board chair at Leonardo/ISAST, announced their collaboration to co-create a special issue.

It is hoped that the special issue serves as an international platform for communication, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in the global fields of art and science. The announcement of this collaborative special issue signifies a significant step forward in promoting the integration of art and science by both parties involved. The authors hope to highlight exceptional papers and work from distinguished scholars, artists, and scientists, covering various domains such as intelligent design, digital art, media design, bioart, virtual reality, and more, ultimately showcasing the beauty of the convergence between art and science.

Fang Xiaofeng, associate dean of AADTHU and editor-in-chief of "Zhuangshi," poses with Marc Hebert, board chair at Leonardo/ISAST, following the announcement of the two journals' collaboration to co-create a special issue during the 2023 AI + Design Innovation Forum held at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University in Beijing, Sept. 2, 2023. [Photo courtesy of AADTHU]

About 300 attendees participated in the forum, including many senior executives from relevant enterprises, businesses, and industries, as well as faculty and students from Tsinghua University. In the context of AI-driven design innovation, collaboration between the education sector, academia, and industry is crucial, while the forum's discussion about how AI can lead social transformation, drive educational reform, and focus on cutting-edge issues in AI development was received enthusiastically by attendees.