Hong Kong Tech Chief Warns Artificial Intelligence Will Unleash ‘Greatest Industrial Revolution’

Hong Kong's technology chief has issued a warning regarding artificial intelligence, stating it will surpass all previous industrial revolutions. Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong indicated significant impacts on graduates and traditional workers, prompting accelerated training and industry development for new employment opportunities within the city.

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Sun Dong expressed his belief that the artificial intelligence wave would have an effect on Hong Kong and its entire society that would exceed all prior industrial revolutions. He specifically stated that as a new wave of development unfolds, many new opportunities would emerge. Simultaneously, he noted, some traditional sectors were expected to gradually decline, which he described as an inevitable outcome of this technological shift.

The minister observed employment difficulties among recent university graduates, a pattern he identified as a global trend affecting even students from leading United States universities. He pointed out that students graduating from renowned, world-class universities, including those specialising in computer science, were currently facing unprecedented challenges in securing jobs, experiencing pressure from the evolving landscape of Big Tech hiring. Sun Dong clarified that whether driven by artificial intelligence or other influencing factors, this wave was unavoidable and could not be altered by human will. The only viable approach, he maintained, was to confront it proactively with strategic planning.

And, to bridge the digital divide and equip the workforce, the government has been ramping up training efforts for both targeted groups and the broader public. At a more focused level, the Science Park, Cyberport, and the Productivity Council have jointly proposed to host more than 200 events over the next two years. These initiatives are specifically aimed at equipping an estimated 50,000 professionals, students, elderly residents, and owners of small to medium-sized enterprises with critical artificial intelligence survival skills.

On a broader scale, a televised Artificial Intelligence Masters Series has already achieved 1.8 million views, indicating substantial public engagement. Furthermore, additional educational resources will be integrated into the government's iAM Smart application, which currently boasts 4.5 million registered users, making such information widely accessible. The government specifically earmarked USD 6.37 million in its current year's budget to further promote the understanding and adoption of artificial intelligence across society.

When questioned about how Hong Kong firms could navigate geopolitical restrictions on chip imports and access to United States technologies, Sun Dong indicated that every situation presented both positive and negative aspects. He recalled that when generative artificial intelligence large models first emerged in 2024, Hong Kong made a strategic decision to pursue independent research and development. This choice positioned the city as one of the few places globally capable of developing its own foundational large language models with independent intellectual property rights.

But, he also added that Western nations and other international counterparts faced a similar dilemma. These entities desired models aligned with their own values but frequently lacked the internal capacity to develop them independently. In contrast, Hong Kong's proprietary models and their vertical applications uniquely reflected the values of "one country, two systems." Sun Dong reported that this particular achievement had been recognised by international observers, highlighting the city's distinct position. Vertical applications are defined as tailor-made software solutions designed for a specific industry, niche market, or specialised job function.

Under the government's artificial intelligence development strategy, specifically designed to boost the sector's development, authorities aim to deploy artificial intelligence across 100 public service procedures this year. This forms part of a larger objective to implement 200 artificial intelligence related solutions by the close of 2027. Progress on these initiatives was reported as "satisfactory" by Sun Dong, according to the South China Morning Post. A dedicated interdepartmental working group, led by the deputy chief secretary, has meticulously selected specific projects that are closely related to people's livelihoods and are expected to have a certain social impact.

The government is collaborating with several well known artificial intelligence enterprises from mainland China to advance these initiatives, Sun Dong confirmed. Further details regarding these partnerships will be announced at a later date. To support this growing artificial intelligence ecosystem, the city's computer processing power expanded significantly, providing 5,000 petaflops of computing power by the end of last year. This substantial increase in capability underpins the development efforts.

So, Science Park and Cyberport have jointly attracted more than 1,000 artificial intelligence enterprises in just over two years, contributing to a concentrated hub for technological innovation. These organisations continue to foster an environment for technology firms, indicating sustained growth in the sector.

• Hong Kong's technology chief warns artificial intelligence will surpass previous industrial revolutions.

• The city is proactively developing proprietary large language models and public artificial intelligence projects.

• A USD 6.37 million universal education programme aims to equip the workforce with artificial intelligence skills.

• Training initiatives target 50,000 professionals and have reached 1.8 million via televised series.

• The government plans to deploy artificial intelligence across 200 public service procedures by the end of 2027.

Source: SCMP