Hong Kong has a chance to shape AI based on its own values

While artificial intelligence can reflect biases and put livelihoods at risk, existing models in Asia prove it can be tailored based on local needs

Guided by ethics, Hong Kong’s application of AI has the potential to serve marginalised students, improve healthcare access and optimise traffic flows

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Adam Au

Adam Au is the general counsel at a multinational corporation.

Published: 9:30am, 6 Jun 2024

As artificial intelligence (AI) seeps into every facet of society, Hong Kong stands at a crossroads. Will we shape AI on our own terms, or be shaped by it? Current discussions focus on attracting AI investment and talent, without sufficient attention to where and how AI should be applied.

Other Asian cities are developing tailored AI models aligned with local contexts. Singapore has taken a unique approach with Southeast Asian Languages In One Network (SEA-LION), an open-source AI model designed to address the cultural mismatch of Western AI. It incorporates Southeast Asian languages, knowledge bases and sociocultural norms. Meanwhile, mainland China recently unveiled an AI system integrating President Xi Jinping’s ideology, showing how AI can become a tool to promote state agendas.

These models exhibit an inventive creativity in shaping AI to reflect the needs and priorities of their populations, rather than passively adopting an off-the-shelf technical tool. They offer examples of how AI can be localised in aspects ranging from language and terminology to underlying value systems and problem-solving methodologies.

Like any tool, AI is not neutral – it reflects its creators’ agendas and biases. Our collective goal should be to apply innovation towards major social priorities, not just solely for private motives driven by profit.