BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Publishing professionals from around the world on Friday gathered at the 2026 International Publishing Forum in Beijing to discuss how AI is reshaping the future of publishing.

Held under the theme "Redefining Publishing in the AI Era," the forum brought together nearly 300 publishing executives and professionals from 26 countries and regions and focused on the opportunities and challenges facing the industry in the digital era.

Participants agreed that AI should serve as a tool to enhance, rather than replace, human creativity. They said the technology's greatest potential lies in fostering a new publishing ecosystem based on human-machine collaboration, enabling creators and publishers to improve efficiency and expand the reach of quality content.

At the same time, attendees stressed the need to uphold key industry principles, including intellectual property protection, content authenticity and credibility, and linguistic diversity, while preserving the central role of human originality in content creation.

Participants also urged the global publishing community to work together to establish industry standards and copyright frameworks for AI applications. Such rules, they said, should ensure fair compensation and source traceability, and clearly define rights and responsibilities.

These efforts are essential to protecting the interests of creators and publishers and ensuring that high-quality original content continues to thrive and reach wider audiences in the AI era, according to the participants.

The forum, held during the Beijing International Book Fair, was jointly organized by the Publishers Association of China and the International Publishers Association.