'Soft power' through AI learning

Staff reporter

An artificial intelligence educational base co-created by mainland technology giant Baidu and Hong Kong Qianfan Technology will open next year at Cyberport, which will help to enhance Hong Kong teenagers' "soft power," says Karson Choi Ka-tsan, chairman of Qianfan Technology and Sing Tao News Corp chairman.

At the launch ceremony at Cyberport on Friday, Choi said the Baidu AI Cloud Innovation Centre and educational base hopes to offer training to society, especially younger generations.

"The base has invited a Baidu research team to engage in a series of lively teaching and training programs to grow the concept of AI in the minds of younger generations and to help Hong Kong nurture innovation talent," Choi said.

He added that as more young people learn about AI, IT-related knowledge and skills, this will be crucial for Hong Kong's development into an international innovation center and smart city.

"We are also honored to have the University of Hong Kong as the first higher education institute to sign a cooperation agreement with the educational base, enhancing Hong Kong youngsters' soft power and competitiveness together," Choi said.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he welcomes efforts by different sectors of society to inject new vigor in the city's AI technology development, for which he had launched a series of policies in his policy address last month, including setting up a HK$10 billion I&T Industry-Oriented Fund and optimizing the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund.

He also said the Baidu AI Cloud Innovation Centre was among the new batch of strategic enterprises to establish or expand business in Hong Kong this month.

"This collaboration is inter-sector and inter-regional: Hong Kong Qianfan Technology is responsible for investment and daily operations while Beijing's Baidu will be responsible for software and hardware construction technology-wise as well as deploying staff [to the base] for training and technical support," he said.

"These are in line with [the government's] goal of developing Hong Kong into an international high-end talent hub, contributing further to the country's high-quality development."

The launch ceremony was also attended by Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong, Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin and Shen Dou, Baidu's executive president and chief of Baidu AI Cloud.

Shen hopes to utilize Baidu's profound accumulation of experience in the field of AI, combined with Cyberport's unique position and rich resources, to build an AI technology ecosystem based in Hong Kong with the potential to expand into the Asia-Pacific region, reinforcing the city's position as an international IT hub.

The educational base, which opens next year and spans over 1,800 square meters, will offer theoretical and practical courses for local tertiary institution students and showcase cutting-edge AI applications. It is expected to benefit more than 1,000 Hong Kong students annually.

Also during the ceremony, HKU associate vice president Pauline Chiu signed a cooperation agreement with Qianfan Technology directors William Shum Wai-lam and Rachel Chan.

Beginning with HKU as its first partner institute, the base will host lectures on AI foundation knowledge - a total of five courses annually.

It will also arrange field trips to the mainland highlighting AI industry trends as well as invite top mainland AI professionals and academics to hold seminars and talks.