Artificial Intelligence: Hong Kong establishes AI lab to promote tech & innovation

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Hong Kong has launched a lab to meet the demand and prospects of artificial intelligence. Mao Dan reports.

From empowering computers and mobile phones with facial-recognition and movement-tracking to enabling real-time human interaction with virtual environments. Artificial Intelligence shows us how technology can open a new world of possibilities.

Hong Kong is working hard to get there and even harder on making them a reality.

XU LI CEO OF SENSETIME "Hong Kong has relatively sound finance, legal and IP protection systems. But it is lagging behind in the innovation of new ways to use AI. A real technology boom needs not only research, but also the application of research. The huge demand from the Chinese Mainland can drive Hong Kong's research, bring in more funding and talent."

To build a platform to meet the demand, a Hong Kong AI Lab was launched with support from Chinese tech giant Alibaba, AI company Sense Time, and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.

The Lab is tasked with advancing the frontiers of AI, and helping startups commercialize their inventions.

CAI CHONGXIN EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN OF ALIBABA "I believe the Lab is an open platform. Today we have Alibaba as a funding enterprise and Sense Time as technology service provider, but I hope more companies in Hong Kong will join the platform."

The Lab's first initiative is a six-month Accelerator Program to cultivate a local community of talent and startups in AI and data science.

MAO DAN HONG KONG "The Hong Kong AI Lab's program will start in September, with two intakes annually selecting 6 to 10 start-ups each time. Selected start-ups will receive up to 100,000 USD in funding, as well as AI Solutions and IT Support through the Lab's platform."

The Lab comes as the HK government is pushing forward innovation in high-tech areas such as biotechnology and financial technology.

ALBERT WONG CEO OF HONG KONG SCIENCE PARK "AI is not an industry itself. AI is a platform to enable different types of industries. For example fin-tech, security, autonomous driving, retail…So what we want to do is to enable a platform in Hong Kong to apply AI."

Through the Lab and its programs, more emerging applications of AI can be expected. Mao Dan, CGTN, Hong Kong.