Yangbin Wang recently joined a distinguished panel at the APEC CEO Summit 2024 in Lima, Peru, alongside notable leaders such as H.E. Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia; Zia Mansoor, Vice President of Data & AI at Microsoft; Karan Bathia, Vice President of Government Affairs & Public Policy at Google; and moderator Jan De Silva, Member of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Canada. The panel focused on the topic of enabling opportunities around AI and mitigating its challenges.
The annual APEC CEO Summit brings CEOs, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders together with the most senior political leaders for two days of robust dialogue on global opportunities and challenges shaping economic, environmental, technological, and societal trends worldwide.
Embracing AI's Opportunities
During his remarks, Yangbin highlighted the potential of generative AI in revolutionizing content creation. He emphasized that AI has significantly lowered the barrier to entry, enabling a more inclusive environment where local creators from diverse backgrounds, including those based in Peru, can share their stories globally. Yangbin noted that traditionally, producing high-quality media required substantial capital, accessible only to a few.
"Generative AI is breaking down barriers, allowing younger generations and individual producers—not just those in Hollywood—to share their unique perspectives, bringing more diversity and equity to the industry," he stated. He also provided an example of how AI tools now enable videos to be dubbed into multiple languages, a process that was previously cost-prohibitive, opening new markets to many creators.
Addressing AI's Challenges and Protecting IP
However, Yangbin also pointed out AI's challenges, particularly concerning intellectual property (IP) rights. Drawing parallels with past disruptive technologies, including the rise of mobile phones and user-generated content, he underscored the need “to protect creators' rights and ensure creators are compensated fairly," he explained.
Yangbin elaborated on how Vobile's technology is crucial in protecting intellectual property and making creative content more valuable. "Our technology is pivotal in upholding the ecosystem's integrity, facilitating innovative revenue-sharing models while safeguarding creators' rights," he added.
Preparing for AI's Impact on the Workforce
Addressing concerns about AI's impact on employment, Yangbin emphasized that AI is a tool to enhance, not replace, human creativity. "AI will augment the creative process. I am a strong believer in the power of human creativity.”
Yangbin also highlighted the need for AI skills training and partnerships for AI education. He mentioned his alma mater, the University of Florida, as a pioneer in preparing the future workforce through AI-focused education and training programs. Partnerships between educational institutions and the private sector will be key to creating a workforce that has the necessary skills and can bridge the digital divide.
Yangbin concluded that while the short-term impacts of disruptive new technologies might be overestimated sometimes, the long-term benefits are often underestimated. He emphasized the importance of global collaboration on AI and expressed optimism that by working together—through technology companies, the private sector, and public institutions—we can solve the complex challenges posed by AI.