Investigation upholds originality of award-winning AI software 'MediSafe'

A two-month investigation by the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) has confirmed the originality of 'MediSafe', an AI software developed by a local secondary school student that recently won awards in international competitions.

The findings, released on Saturday, definitively established the project's eligibility for both local science contests and the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions.

The probe was initiated following online allegations suggesting the student had outsourced development work to a US company rather than creating the technology independently.

After thorough examination, HKAGE - which helps select Hong Kong's representatives for such competitions - concluded MediSafe was indeed the student's original intellectual creation.

Documentary evidence revealed the student had first presented the concept to her teacher in October 2023, months before submitting the project to the Hong Kong Youth Science and Technology Innovation Competition in January 2024 and the JPC Innovation and Technology Competition in February. The comprehensive 22-page submission included detailed analysis, theoretical frameworks, case studies, proposed app functionalities, and solution designs.

Regarding the Geneva competition where MediSafe won silver, HKAGE consulted with the event's Hong Kong liaison who confirmed that judging criteria emphasized originality and creativity.

The liaison verified that the student presented her innovative concept alongside a self-developed prototype during the competition, clarifying she did not use any "professional system" as some online claims suggested.

While standing by the competition organizers' judgments, HKAGE pledged to take strict action should any violations be discovered in future cases.

The Academy also called for more rational public discourse, noting the student, her family, and even the original whistleblower had faced disproportionate online attacks throughout the controversy.

(Judy Cui)