Navigating the future of reading in the AI era

"Reading's fundamental meaning lies in building deep connections with oneself, others, and the world," said renowned literary critic Li Jingze at the 2025 Reading Leadership Conference, which kicked off on Thursday in Lanzhou, Northwest China's Gansu province.

With the theme "Reshaping the Reading Ecosystem in the AI Era", the conference brought together hundreds of acclaimed writers, education experts, and reading advocates to explore the future of reading in the face of rapid technological advancements.

Hosted at the Gansu Grand Theatre by the Reader Publishing Group, the event promoted reading as a foundational lifestyle. It emphasized creating integrated "reading" and "learning" communities that span households, schools, and neighborhoods. In her opening address, Ma Yuping, executive vice-minister of CPC Gansu Provincial Committee Publicity Department, highlighted this initiative as a concrete step toward fostering a reading-oriented society and deepening national reading habits.

The conference facilitated in-depth discussions on critical topics such as "Reading and the Construction of the Human Spirit" and "How AI-enabled Education Can Cultivate Inquisitive Minds".

Liu Liangcheng, a celebrated writer and recipient of the Mao Dun Literature Prize, emphasized that authentic literature is nurtured by real-life experiences and manual labor, underscoring the symbiotic relationship between technology and literary creation.

Addressing educational transformation, Professor Li Huaiyuan from the Beijing Institute of Education emphasized to China Daily the importance of shifting from "symbolic thinking" to "data thinking". He urged that reading should evolve into problem-oriented training to help students break free from "information cocoons".

The conference also unveiled several innovative platforms to enhance the reading ecosystem, including the upgraded "Reader App (3.0)", a leading digital reading and cultural service platform, graded reading materials for youth, and a one-stop service platform integrating reading into daily life. Additionally, the "Leadership Reader Project" recognized exemplary reading promoters and schools, fostering a broader culture of quality reading across society.