SOTY 2023/24: Teen tech prodigy wins Grand Prize for AI innovations
Au Cheuk-yi created an AI music-learning platform and virtual campus to spark students’ interest in technology.
Tech prodigy Au Cheuk-yi created an AI music-learning platform and metaverse for her school. Photo: HandoutAu Cheuk-yi, a 17-year-old tech whiz at Diocesan Girls’ School, remembers spending countless hours tinkering with small robots and coding as a young girl.
Little did she know that this fascination would lead her to create groundbreaking innovations, such as an AI music-learning platform that uses IoT sensors, AI posture analysis, and voice control to enhance music practice.
“The inspiration came from my experience learning the double bass. I often didn’t know what I was doing wrong, even while following online tutorials,” Cheuk-yi explained. The platform provides personalised, real-time feedback and aims to help learners practise effectively, even without a teacher present.
She said the biggest hurdle in developing the platform was training the AI model, which required collecting substantial data from different user groups, including beginners, advanced students, and professional teachers.
“The data collection was a long process since we had to supervise it in person. It took a lot of time, but eventually, we managed it through teamwork.”
Cheuk-yi’s interest in AI grew stronger as she progressed through secondary school. She joined the Innovation and Technology Society, formed teams with like-minded friends, and pursued various projects, including the DGS metaverse, which she initiated.
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The DGS metaverse is a virtual campus built collaboratively by students, allowing users to purchase original products designed by their peers.
“The inspiration came from the fact that both the metaverse and e-commerce are hot topics, and they’re among the directions for future technological development,” Cheuk-yi said.
“I think the biggest impact was that this project sparked many students’ deeper interest in technology. They no longer see using technology for creative expression or improving everyday life as something distant or unattainable,” she noted.
Cheuk-yi has also worked on projects involving healthcare and AI. One of her initiatives was using blockchain technology to verify electronic medical certificates. She was inspired to pursue the initiative during the Covid-19 pandemic when fake medical certificates were common.
“The innovation lies in using blockchain technology to verify medical certificates. We wanted a system that could benefit multiple parties,” she said.
“I enjoy using technology to come up with new ideas or find ways to improve a system. I find this creative process very fulfilling.”
In recognition of her achievements, Cheuk-yi won the Grand Prize at the Student of the Year Awards, organised by the South China Morning Post and solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Cheuk-yi believes AI will play an increasingly significant role in education and healthcare. She said technology can enhance students’ self-directed learning and foster independent thinking.
She also noted the importance of critical thinking, especially when dealing with AI-generated information. “We need to cultivate our ability to discern what’s right or wrong in the information AI generates,” she explained.
Cheuk-yi advises other students interested in technology to be brave and take that first step. “Start with simple programming logic and slowly build up the difficulty. Eventually, you will achieve something.”
“If you put in the quiet, consistent effort – not for glory or awards, but simply to serve others – then no matter how tough it gets, you will eventually see the light.”