St. Paul's Co-educational College says it is unaware of AI firm’s involvement in "MediSafe"

St. Paul's Co-educational College issued a statement on Wednesday clarifying that it had no prior knowledge of AI Health Studio's involvement in the development of its student’s award-winning AI platform "MediSafe," a project now embroiled in controversy over its authorship.

The platform, developed by 16-year-old student Clarisse Poon Hei-shun, has faced scrutiny since June over patient privacy concerns and allegations that its development was outsourced to a U.S. company.

In its online statement, the school emphasized that "MediSafe" was one of Poon’s entries in multiple competitions and noted that it has been actively following up on the incident since the controversy arose.

The school highlighted its commitment to supporting students in various competitions, adding that teachers provided guidance on research feasibility during the preparation process.

However, the school asserted it was unaware of the relationship between "MediSafe" and AI Health Studio until a media report revealed the company’s claim that the project was commissioned by the student’s mother last March.

While encouraging student participation in competitions, the school stressed the importance of academic integrity and noted that guidelines have been established to educate students.

Regarding the announcement by Poon and her family that they would voluntarily return all awards for the AI-assisted medication safety project, the school expressed understanding and respect for their decision.

It also voiced hope that the controversy would conclude with the withdrawal, allowing Poon to focus on her health and prepare for the upcoming school year.