Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - AI can scale content, but it cannot automate trust. As translation and digital production accelerate, cultural understanding and factual accuracy still depend on human judgment, industry and communication executives said at the 2026 Land-Sea Economic Forum.

The forum opened in Kuala Lumpur on July 30. During a roundtable on AI-generated content and intercivilizational exchange, four panelists examined how organizations can use AI to reach international audiences without overlooking cultural sensitivities, regulatory requirements or reliable sourcing.

Industry and communication experts participate in a roundtable discussion at the 2026 Land-Sea Economic Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 30, 2026. (Photo/2026 Land-Sea Economic Forum)

Kanesan Veluppillai, managing director of WE Communications Malaysia, said AI did not have to become a barrier between cultures, but people must retain responsibility for final decisions.

Asia has large populations using different languages and communication practices, while China itself has regional languages and dialects, he said. Producing content for different communities therefore requires more than direct translation.

“AI can translate words, but people must interpret their cultural meaning,” Veluppillai said, stressing that human judgment remains essential to effective communication.

Translation requires local knowledge

Sang Jian, deputy general manager of the Western China International Communication Organization (WCICO), said the organization continues to combine AI tools with human review when translating and distributing international news.

AI has accelerated multilingual translation, he said, but different countries have their own cultural taboos and sensitive subjects. Organizations therefore need stronger language databases and reference materials.

"We still use AI plus human beings," Sang said. "We continuously add materials to the corpus so that it can become more accurate and reach audiences more effectively."

He said long-term cooperation with local institutions and youth groups was also necessary. Local partners could advise Chinese content producers on whether a report suited a particular market, while Chinese organizations could offer similar guidance to overseas partners communicating with audiences in China.

Wu Xian, chief representative in China of the Malaysia MyGerak Association, cited cross-border trade as an example of how poor translation could create direct commercial consequences.

Many companies represented by the association are operated by Malay business owners, Wu said. Before 2021, some relied on basic translation software when preparing labels for the Chinese market. The wording did not comply with Chinese customs requirements, causing products to be returned to Malaysia.

He said AI could help companies understand Chinese consumer habits, customs and market requirements before adapting their products.

Samuel Quek, chief technology officer of BIPO Group, said large language models were not necessarily correct when handling cultural differences. Greetings and forms of expression, for example, vary between Asian and Western societies.

"We still need human beings to confirm whether it is correct and whether it fits the culture," Quek said.

AI could expand access to information across government, manufacturing, logistics and international trade, he said, but unequal access to data remained a challenge. Countries and organizations with larger industrial and internet-of-things datasets may have more resources for training and applying AI systems.

Speed cannot replace accuracy

The panel also discussed how AI could change education and international content production.

Veluppillai compared the current debate with earlier concerns that computers and spreadsheet software would eliminate teachers or accountants. Technology changed how people worked, he said, but did not remove the need for human interaction, study or professional supervision.

Children still need to learn science, mathematics and other foundational subjects, he said. AI may help them check information or work faster, but teachers remain necessary.

Wu said a Malaysian delegation visited a Chinese secondary school in May where AI had entered the curriculum. The technology raised a question for students: whether they would continue thinking independently when answers became readily available.

Teachers wanted students to use their own reasoning to manage AI rather than allow AI to replace it, Wu said.

Quek said parents should also help children develop critical thinking and consider what roles they wanted to play over the next 5, 10 or 15 years.

For professional media organizations, Sang said AI-generated entertainment and factual news required different standards. AI can help create scripts, images and videos rapidly, but journalism must prioritize authenticity, accuracy and timeliness.

Sang said WCICO reporters already use AI for initial video editing, research and multilingual translation, but human oversight remains essential at every stage, especially before publication.

He added that the spread of AI-generated and manipulated information made source verification more important. News organizations needed to identify an accurate and trustworthy original source among the large volume of information returned by digital tools.

Chongqing, where the WCICO is based, is expanding its AI and digital-content industries. The Chongqing government's "AI+" action plan released in 2025 calls for expanded high-quality datasets, richer language corpora, AI-supported tourism and livestreaming services, and stronger safeguards for AI-generated content, personal information and intellectual property. 

The plan targets AI agent and next-generation intelligent-device adoption of more than 70% by 2026. The city has also set a goal for the added value of its core digital-economy industries to reach 13% of gross domestic product by 2030.