Hong Kong can become AI literacy hub, industry leaders say

Industry leaders in Hong Kong say the city can become a hub for artificial intelligence (AI) literacy, helping to build trustworthy AI systems. At the Belt and Road Summit, Ellen Lau, executive director of Preface AI, pointed out a gap between corporate leaders and frontline staff during digital transformation efforts. Leaders often worried about AI replacing employees, but without AI literacy, employees would not be able to adopt the technology and drive digital transformation, Lau explained.

To help people understand various AI models and agents, corporate leaders need to work closely with frontline staff, demonstrating that senior management is also learning and embracing change, she advised. Hong Kong's strength in professional services makes it a potential superconnector for bringing AI models from mainland China to other countries, according to Albert Lam, chief research officer of Fano Labs.

The city's open and mature legal system and regulatory framework could help companies build trustworthy AI models. Lam also noted that Hong Kong has the necessary hardware and environment to assist companies in transitioning from proof-of-concept to proof-of-value stages, making it a prime location for adopting AI models in other markets.