Asia Media Summit Opens in Maldives With Focus on AI and Tech

The Asia Media Summit (AMS) has officially commenced in the Maldives, bringing together over 300 broadcasting professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region. Organized by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) in collaboration with Public Service Media (PSM), this year's event is centered on the theme “Maldives 2.0: From Tradition to Tech.” The summit kicked off with a series of intensive pre-summit sessions designed to address the rapidly evolving media landscape. These workshops are being held simultaneously across three venues: Villa Nautica, Hulhule Island Hotel, and the Manhattan Business Hotel. Experts and participants are currently engaging in five specialized tracks. The sessions focus heavily on the intersection of journalism and technology, specifically exploring AI tools for news production, visual storytelling, and strategies to maintain digital trust in the age of artificial intelligence. Other critical discussions include social media engagement strategies and the development of climate- and disaster-resilient media, a topic of particular urgency for the low-lying Maldivian archipelago. The official opening ceremony is scheduled for May 12, marking the transition to the summit's main plenary sessions. These high-level discussions will continue through May 13, providing a platform for broadcast managers and journalists to share cross-border insights and innovation strategies. Reflecting the international scale of the event, approximately 80 percent of the attendees have traveled from overseas to participate. This diversity underscores the Maldives' growing role as a hub for regional media dialogue. The summit will conclude on May 14 with a shift from technology to ecology. Participants will take part in a special coral-planting activity at Kudagiri, bridging the event's tech-focused theme with a tangible commitment to environmental preservation.