73pc of HK workers have adopted AI at work: HKUST

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) recently revealed that more than 70 percent of workers in Hong Kong have embraced artificial intelligence (AI) in their jobs, a figure significantly higher than the global average of 31 percent. The university conducted a poll of approximately 3,700 individuals between March and April, finding that a majority of the respondents, aged between 30 and 49, utilized AI daily or weekly.

The primary applications of AI among these workers included drafting and organizing documents, as well as summarizing and analyzing information. Business owners, professionals, and management personnel were found to use AI more frequently than other groups.

Tam Kar-yan, HKUST's vice-president for administration and business, highlighted that while more than half of the junior-level employees surveyed expressed concerns about AI potentially devaluing their skills due to wider adoption, many had not received relevant AI training. Tam emphasized the need for individuals to proactively upskill themselves through available web-based resources and for organizations to provide tailored training. He stressed that both parties must collaborate to ensure effective AI training.

In addition to individual efforts, Tam suggested that the government and educational institutions should also play a role in equipping the workforce with practical AI skills to accelerate the adoption of the technology and promote AI+ development. At present, there is no evidence to suggest that AI is negatively impacting job opportunities for fresh graduates. However, Tam anticipates that certain job roles closely intertwined with AI may gradually decline over time.