HKU makes U-turn to allow ChatGPT use

The University of Hong Kong made a total U-turn, as it allowed students to integrate generative artificial intelligence, including ChatGPT, into their learning and assignments starting next month.

Teachers and students can utilize ChatGPT 4 tools, including Microsoft OpenAI and Dall-E, from the new schoolyear.

Training and online courses on the usage of the generative AI tools will be provided to ensure their effective use.

Vice-president and pro vice-chancellor Ian Holliday said: "HKU embraces GenAI and recognizes AI literacy as essential to teaching and learning. Our goal is to enable our teachers and students to become not only AI literate, but also leaders in exploiting the vast potential of GenAl for the benefit of mankind."

Students will be allowed to ask the GenAI tools up to 20 questions per month. They are advised to utilize the chances to ask quality questions.

On the university's early February suspension of using generative AI tools, Holliday said the move was only temporary and HKU has "mapped out the path" they are taking.

"In the email we sent to students in early February, we told the students that we will work out the use of ChatGPT," he said.

He also explained that the suspension was imposed as HKU would like to ensure students' equal access to generative AI, as well as the security of using it. "At that time, we could not guarantee equal access to GenAI for all students. We were also not sure how to secure the examination process to be safe and fair to all students," he added.

Associate vice-president Pauline Chiu said HKU knew that "GenAI is the future" in early February but it did not have the policy to make the use of GenAI fair for students.

On plagiarism concerns, HKU said the teachers will revise the curriculum to include more forms of assessments, including oral assessments and group presentations, to ensure students' understanding on the course topics.

While the university deems 20 prompts a month enough, some students disagree.

A student in her penultimate year said: "Twenty prompts are definitely not enough, especially towards the end of the semester. We might have to submit four to five assignments a month and we would definitely have more than 20 questions to ask."

Another HKU student, who has purchased the paid version of ChatGPT, said: "Given that I have bought the unlimited version, why would I need their 20 monthly free prompts?"

On Wednesday, incoming Lingnan University president Joe Qin Sizhao said the university has bought the license for using ChatGPT 3.5. Qin said training will be provided to all teachers and students on the use of ChatGPT and professors have to decide clearly when it could be used in assignments. He has also instructed the Business School to start a general education course on GenAI.