Editor-in-Chief of China Youth Daily: Rebuilding Media Capabilities in the AI Era “Leave to AI what AI can improve; do to the utmost what only humans can do.”This was stressed by Dong Shi, Deputy Party Secretary and Editor-in-Chief of China Youth Daily, at the 5th China Newspaper Industry Innovation Development Conference sub-forum in Chongqing on Oct. 19. She noted that output is depreciating while judgment—what is true, important, and publishable—is scarce. AI can work but cannot judge; trust matters. Verification is becoming a core asset, and on-site reporting is an AI-era moat. Data capability must shift from citing data to producing data and setting agendas. As technology advances, human roles become more important. Success should be measured by whether reporters enter the field, uncover facts, serve users, promote progress, and offer reliable facts and trusted judgment. She added that mainstream media’s smart-media transformation is not just equipment upgrading but capability reconstruction.