Faced with the challenges of artificial intelligence (AI), University of Hong Kong (HKU) President Zhang Xiang announced that by 2025, all new undergraduate students at HKU will be required to take AI-related courses. Meanwhile, Lingnan University President Joe Qin revealed that starting Feb. 20, Lingnan has made the DeepSeek-R1 model available for free to all its faculty and students for teaching and learning purposes. Many universities in Hong Kong are actively embracing AI, exploring ways to integrate AI with various disciplines, enhancing students' AI application skills, and setting an example for the government and society in addressing AI challenges.
In Shenzhen's Futian District, 70 AI employees have already been deployed to assist in public services, highlighting the rapid AI-driven transformation across various industries in the mainland. The HKSAR government must proactively embrace AI, encourage exploration of AI applications across sectors, and help citizens cope with the AI wave while establishing security measures to prevent and address potential misuse of AI technologies.
The rapid development of AI technology poses challenges for the education sector. HKU President Zhang Xiang emphasized the need for universities to rethink teaching models. Accordingly, HKU's innovation center under construction will focus on AI and other areas, and all incoming undergraduate students, regardless of their majors, will be required to take AI-related courses. Lingnan University President Joe Qin stated that humanity has officially entered the post-AI era and must learn to coexist and collaborate with AI. Various AI technologies, including chatbots and content generation tools, are increasingly being used to enhance learning experiences, save content creation time, and stimulate creativity. Prohibiting students from using AI would hinder their ability to learn how to utilize it correctly and effectively. Teachers, therefore, play a crucial role in helping students establish proper values and discern right from wrong.
Similarly, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is integrating AI into teaching, while the Hong Kong Polytechnic University has launched AI talent training programs, application research, and AI laboratories. The proactive adoption of AI by Hong Kong universities serves as a model for the government and society in addressing the anxiety surrounding the AI wave.
Currently, the HKSAR government has initiated small-scale AI trials in areas such as inquiry services and AI-generated document drafting. The Hospital Authority recently announced that starting next month, six hospitals will pilot the use of generative AI to assist doctors in drafting medical reports. While pilot programs and small-scale explorations are prudent approaches, Hong Kong's pace of embracing AI applications still lags behind the fervent adoption seen in the mainland.
Recently, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council held a meeting on the "AI+" initiative, deciding to fully promote the integration of central enterprises into the national computing power infrastructure, deepen collaboration with leading private enterprises and research institutions, implement high-value application scenarios, and accelerate the development of large AI models. Several insurance companies and insurance asset management firms in the mainland have completed localized deployment of the DeepSeek model. Shenzhen's Futian District has also taken the lead by deploying AI to assist in public administration. The HKSAR government must act swiftly to catch up, implement AI application learning across all government departments, encourage the integration of AI with public services, and promote proactive AI adoption across society.
It is important to recognize that new illegal activities have emerged amidst the AI wave. Hong Kong has already seen cases of fraud involving AI-generated face-swapping. The Cyberspace Administration of China is currently addressing AI misuse, targeting issues such as generating and spreading false information and implementing internet manipulation through AI. Measures include enhancing the labeling of generative content. The HKSAR government must prepare safety measures for AI applications and steadily advance the use of AI in the region.
(Source: Wen Wei Po)
Related News:
Baidu, WeChat integrate DeepSeek to enhance search experience
Comment