AI is transforming not only industries but the global balance of power. Claudio Feijóo outlined how the race for AI supremacy could reshape economies and governance, urging governments and publishers alike to build long-term strategies, use AI ethically, and innovate close to home while preserving human creativity and cultural diversity.

As search gives way to AI-driven discovery, publishers face an existential shift in how audiences find content. David Buttle analysed how ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and new interfaces are redefining referral traffic, warning that publishers must adapt their models, assert control of data use, and build direct reader relationships to stay visible and profitable.

Joe Martin shared Hearst’s strategy for thriving in a world of AI summaries and shrinking search traffic: focus on brand trust, engagement, and community. By developing membership programs, global events, and premium experiences, Hearst is building direct connections with audiences and advertisers to make its brands indispensable beyond search.

Bauer Media’s Stefan Betzold unveiled “Tony OS,” an AI-first publishing system that streamlines newsroom workflows and restores creativity. By embedding generative and agent-based AI into content creation and editorial planning, Bauer aims to make publishing faster, more efficient, and more fun—freeing journalists to focus on storytelling, not admin.

Fernando de Yarza shared how Henneo grew from a regional paper into a global media and tech group through clear governance, strategic diversification, and bold investment in print and digital. He argued that crises create opportunity—and that optimism, strong leadership, and focus on users will define the winners of AI disruption.

Jordan Vita detailed how The New York Times is evolving its news product to deepen reader trust—becoming faster, more visual, multimodal, and human. From live blogs and video storytelling to audio and interactive formats, the Times is re-establishing news as an essential daily ritual rooted in transparency and connection.

Drawing lessons from Amazon, Laura Cushing explained how Immediate Media is embedding customer obsession and experimentation into publishing. By applying product-thinking principles—working backwards from user needs, testing fast, and learning faster—Immediate is reinventing its culture and infrastructure to deliver better digital experiences.

Rebecca Miskin shared the inside story of transforming DC Thomson from legacy publisher to digital powerhouse. She described a messy but rewarding process driven by measurement, collaboration, and culture change—proving that transformation is a team sport requiring grit, curiosity, and care.

Kodansha’s Yoshinobu Noma revealed how Japan’s manga industry turned storytelling into a global, multi-platform empire. Through its “one source, multi-use” model, Kodansha expands hit manga into anime, games, and merchandise, using digital platforms and fan engagement to grow revenue and build enduring communities worldwide.

Karen Howe presented new research quantifying media’s contribution to national economies, showing that advertising investment fuels jobs, culture, and democratic health. She urged collaboration across the industry to prove media’s economic impact, shift the narrative from “journalism in crisis” to “media as growth engine,” and keep ad dollars local.

Nicola Murphy and Charlotte Ricca explored how lessons from elite sport can help leaders sustain performance amid uncertainty. By focusing on mindset, values, and control of the controllables, they showed how reframing stress as challenge builds resilience, confidence, and better business outcomes.

This global panel showed how publishers are reinventing themselves as multi-platform ecosystems. From Hearst’s brand extensions and live experiences to Storytime’s children’s storytelling universe and Ananda Vikatan’s award-driven community model, each demonstrated how diversification and community fuel future growth.

OpenAI’s Tom Rubin discussed how publishers can work with AI rather than against it. He introduced OpenAI’s new SDK enabling media brands to create their own apps inside ChatGPT, emphasising accuracy, partnership, and fair value exchange between AI platforms and content creators.

Closing FIPP’s centenary congress, Alastair Lewis and José Enríquez celebrated a century of collaboration between FIPP and CONEQTIA. They reflected on the enduring power of partnership, innovation, and community in media—and looked ahead to FIPP’s next 100 years of global connection and progress.