An open forum on Social Cybersecurity was held on November 17 during the World Young Scientist Summit (WYSS) 2024 in Wenzhou, East China’s Zhejiang Province. The forum aims to explore cutting-edge research issues in internet security and the opportunities and challenges faced in this field in the era of large models.
At the conference, six young scientists presented insights spanning various areas of the field, including cybersecurity, information dissemination, authentication, tracing and governance, intelligent communication strategies, large-scale models, multi-agent systems, social robots, collective behavior, and social simulation.
Xu Xiaoke, a professor at the Center for Computational Communication Research (Zhuhai) under the School of Journalism and Communication at Beijing Normal University, delivered a keynote speech on intelligent communication. He highlighted the transformative shift in information dissemination mechanisms driven by large language models, describing the evolution from "traditional communication" to "computational communication" and, ultimately, to "intelligent communication." Speaking with VOC, Professor Xu emphasized the profound implications of this paradigm shift.
On social media, advanced tools such as misinformation campaigns, social bots, and recommendation algorithms are increasingly being used to manipulate and even control people's cognitive behaviors. In the era of intelligent communication, the principles of "automation" and "transparency" in communication are emerging as key frameworks across diverse groups. Both organizations and individuals are actively navigating the public opinion landscape with this mindset.
The rise of intelligent communication has exacerbated the spread of misinformation and deepfakes, presenting significant challenges for communication studies. Specifically, it raises questions about how to address new issues arising in the human-machine hybrid communication era through the lens of machine behavior, explained Professor Xu.
Simultaneously, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and large-scale model technologies are paving the way for deeper analyses of user cognition and behavior. These developments offer valuable tools for identifying the key factors shaping audience perceptions and responses.
“We regard AI agents as representatives and agenda-setters for humans in the online environment, introducing the concept of ‘machine behavior affordance.’ This concept offers a novel perspective on communication research in the intelligent media era, emphasizing the ‘actor’ dimension. We hope future research in intelligent communication will continue to expand the boundaries of communication studies, establishing a more robust theoretical foundation for its practical applications,” said Professor Xu.
As a hallmark of the generative AI era, intelligent communication—with its distinctive advantages and vast potential—has become a significant force shaping the global public opinion ecosystem. Xu emphasized the need to proactively address the challenges it presents while fully exploring its transformative potential, cautioning against falling into the so-called "Collingridge Dilemma."
He also urged scientists worldwide to leverage platforms like the WYSS to foster meaningful collaboration. In particular, he called for joint efforts to combat malicious computational communication between nations and regions, advocating for the creation of a healthy, diverse, and transparent information ecosystem. Such cooperation, Xu noted, is essential to revitalizing information dissemination and cultural exchange, ensuring these advancements contribute positively to human society.
Source: VOC
