On the use of pride, hope and fear in China’s international artificial intelligence narratives on CGTN

Carolijn Van Noort

doi:10.1007/s00146-022-01393-3

Abstract

China communicates strategic narratives about artificial intelligence (AI) in digital media productions to create a shared meaning about its actions and its image in the global race to develop AI. Building upon the literature in emotions and strategic narratives, this study seeks to clarify which emotions are discursively used in China’s international AI narratives, and their function and significance. Specifically, the study investigates emotion discourses in AI-focused videos disseminated on China’s international broadcasting (CGTN YouTube channel). The analysis reveals that pride, hope and fear discourses have multiple functions in China’s international AI narratives on CGTN. Hope is used to represent China as a key competitor in the global AI race, who is catching up to the US. China uses pride to showcase its advances in AI applications, to highlight its transformation of traditional industries, and to identity itself as equal to the US. Fear is used to frame US’s perception of China’s AI developments, to suggest their crisis of confidence, but also to refute the “China threat”. Additionally, the fear discourse is used to deliberate anticipated risks, particularly on job loss and data privacy. These emotion discourses forge China’s identity as a future global AI power. The paper then discusses how these findings contribute to key debates about Chinese discourse and media strategy.

Highlights

Several governments around the world seek to lead the Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation wave, including China, the UK, and the US (Executive Office of the President National Science and Technology Council 2016; House of Lords 2018; Savage 2020)
This paper investigates emotion discourses in AI-specific videos disseminated in China’s international broadcasting
This study shows that in addition to the core emotions of hope and fear, pride plays a role in China’s international AI narratives on China Global Television Network (CGTN)

Summary

Introduction

Several governments around the world seek to lead the Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation wave, including China, the UK, and the US (Executive Office of the President National Science and Technology Council 2016; House of Lords 2018; Savage 2020). China’s AI development plan from 2017 notes that AI “is thought to be the strategic technology leading the future, [and] the world’s major developed countries regard the development of artificial intelligence as the major strategy to increase national competitiveness and enhance national security” (The State Council of China 2017, 2). Cave and ÓhÉigeartaigh identify an emerging frame synthesized as the “‘race for technological superiority’ in AI” which has potential dangers for inclusive deliberation and maximizing benefits for society (Cave and ÓhÉigeartaigh 2018, 36). This international competition in AI causes the perception of opportunities and threats. With AI being a key technology in future human development, we need to know how nation–states are communicating about it

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion