The Spectrum of Knowledge: Navigating the Intersection of Academics, Technology and Innovation
The last elective course of Boban’s career is also the beginning of knowledge inheritance.
The morning light was fading, and a soft orange-gold color appeared in the sky. I carried my computer bag and walked slowly towards the classroom. The air was filled with a unique atmosphere of the new semester-expectation, anxiety, and a hint of unspoken awe.
Today, I am about to receive the first class of “New Media Theory” taught by [You Zixiang](https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-tw/You Zixiang), and it may also be the last elective class in my doctoral career. This idea has been swirling in my mind for a long time, bringing an indescribable emotion - it not only symbolizes that a certain stage of the learning journey is coming to an end, but also means that I am gradually moving towards deeper research and practice.
I was still the first person to arrive, and later I saw my classmates entering the classroom one after another. In front of me were strange faces, most of them were junior students from the first degree program. Their eyes shone with anticipation and curiosity, which reminded me of myself a year ago. At that time, I entered the doctoral class with enthusiasm, full of desire for unknown fields, and endless respect for knowledge.
Professor You Zixiang’s voice echoed in the classroom. He talked about the development trajectory of new media, from the emergence of digitalization to how AI technology changes the communication ecology. Every word is like a puzzle piece of memory, leading our thinking to deeper exploration. I lowered my head to take notes, but I was thinking in my mind - when the boundaries between media and technology are gradually blurred, how should we define “new media”? As a researcher, how can I provide a new perspective for this change?
Should the inheritance of knowledge be a dynamic co-creation rather than a static output?
This class is not only the study of academic theory, but also a deep thinking challenge. When knowledge is no longer just a static concept, but an ever-changing dialogue, I know that I am witnessing and participating in the evolution of the information age.
We are both receivers, transmitters and even creators of knowledge.
Afternoon reflection: When academic achievements turn into a series of numbers, how should I interpret my efforts?
In the afternoon, I hid in the cafe and worked. I received a letter from the secretary of the doctoral class, asking the students to hand over their academic publications in the past year. So, I turned on my computer and started sorting out last year’s academic publication records. However, when the numbers appeared on the screen one by one, I was stunned——
Published in six seminars, four academic journals, and two books.
These achievements are the result of my sleepless and immersed research over the past year. The publication of every seminar is a dialogue with the academic community; every journal article is a rigorous academic review; and the completion of two [special books] (https://vista.im/ai-book) is the embodiment of knowledge output. However, I began to think - do these numbers really represent my academic value?
Academic research is not only about the number of publications, but more importantly, whether it can promote the progress of the field and stimulate new perspectives and discussions. I don’t want to be a scholar who publishes just for the sake of publishing, but someone who can actually make research valuable. This kind of thinking makes me more determined: the future academic path is not just about pursuing the number of papers, but how to make these studies become knowledge assets that have a substantial impact on society.
In addition to working hard to publish papers, you must also have the courage to respond to changes in the world.
In the evening, thanks to the help of my friend [Yongxi] (https://www.facebook.com/yunghsi), I searched for paper information through Deep Research of ChatGPT, which made my literature review more efficient. The powerful computing power of AI is changing the way research is conducted. In the future, competition in academia may no longer be about who can write the most in-depth papers, but who can make good use of technology to transform research into a more influential knowledge system.
Teaching exchange: between the lines, see the new generation’s views on AI
In addition to the coursework of the MBA class, another important gain today is the experience report from the journalism students.
Reports sent by students showed two extreme views - some students are full of expectations for AI, believing that AI will completely change the news industry, improve efficiency, add personalized content, and make the relationship between the media and the audience closer.
But other students are skeptical of AI. They worry whether AI will replace journalists, weaken originality, or even change the nature of news?
Some students said that they want to be Harry Potter in the AI era!
I tried to re-examine how AI changes the media ecology through the perspective of the younger generation, and found that they oscillate between hopes and worries, reflecting the anxieties and opportunities of talent cultivation and industrial transformation. At the same time, in the field of marketing, the immersive experience of Marketing 6.0 and the rise of generative AI are redefining the interactive relationship between brands and consumers. On this day, I kept shuttling between academia, industry and teaching, trying to find my own direction in this wave of knowledge flow.
Such observations make me even more convinced: AI will not replace news, but will redefine the ecology of news dissemination. My role may not only be to teach students how to use AI tools, but to help them understand how to find their own value in the AI era and use technology to empower themselves.
The future of marketing: When AI and immersive experiences intersect, how should brands evolve?
In the afternoon, I also took the time to complete a column for the “Technice Island” website, exploring the impact of AI on the marketing industry, and thinking about how “Marketing 6.0” (https://fc.bnext.com.tw/articles/view/3466) can combine immersive experiences to establish deeper interactions between brands and consumers.
In this new era, digital marketing is no longer just advertising, but an experience jointly shaped by consumers and brands. The application of generative AI, real-time data analysis and immersive marketing brings brand marketing to a new realm.
After writing this article, I am more convinced that future marketing is not just one-sided messaging, but a smart dialogue that continues to optimize.
The flow of knowledge creates infinite possibilities
Today, every link from academic research, teaching experience to market observation reminds me that learning is endless and thinking has no boundaries. There may still be challenges in the future, but as long as we continue to explore, think, and share, the flow of knowledge will create infinite possibilities and illuminate a broader world.
