Making “AI for All” Real in Hong Kong

To translate that momentum into real adoption, the strategy needs measurable targets. A citywide roadmap could set goals for AI use in industries such as finance, logistics, healthcare, tourism, education, and construction—along with clear metrics for SME participation, workforce retraining, and public‑service deployment.

Just as important are inclusion indicators. Tracking adoption among small firms, non‑technical workers, older residents, and Cantonese-speaking users would help ensure AI adoption spreads across society rather than concentrating in a few high‑tech sectors.

Strengthen the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute

A key institutional pillar is the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute (AIRDI), which the government plans to establish with about HK$1 billion in funding to support AI research and applications .

For “AI for all” to work, AIRDI should function as more than a research funding body. Its role could include:

• Connecting universities, government agencies, and businesses to deploy practical AI tools
• Developing benchmarks and evaluation frameworks for safety, bias, and privacy
• Supporting datasets and models tailored to Hong Kong’s linguistic and regulatory environment

By focusing on deployable applications, the institute can help move AI innovation out of laboratories and into everyday use.

Expand Access to AI Computing Power

AI development increasingly depends on massive computing resources. If those resources are available only to large corporations or elite research labs, smaller innovators and public-interest projects will be left behind.

Hong Kong has already invested in AI infrastructure, including research clusters and computing initiatives connected to the city’s innovation ecosystem . Expanding shared supercomputing and cloud credits for universities, startups, NGOs, and SMEs could dramatically broaden participation.

Tiered access models—free experimentation, subsidised SME use, and competitive research grants—would help ensure that computing resources support both economic innovation and social applications.

Build on Local AI Ecosystems Like InnoHK and HKGAI

Hong Kong already has significant AI research capacity through initiatives such as InnoHK and the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center (HKGAI), a joint‑university collaboration focused on generative AI technologies and locally relevant applications .

One prominent example is HKChat, a chatbot built on a locally developed large language model designed for Hong Kong’s linguistic and cultural environment .

Expanding these tools into trusted public platforms—used in schools, government services, and community organisations—could make AI accessible to people who may never interact directly with advanced technical systems.

Critically, local models must handle:

• Cantonese and written Chinese
• English and bilingual communication
• Code‑switching common in Hong Kong
• Local legal, regulatory, and sector‑specific terminology

Without this localisation, many residents and businesses will find AI tools less useful or harder to adopt.

Create an AI Public Service Layer

One way to democratise AI is to integrate it directly into everyday services. Public‑sector tools could help residents with tasks such as:

• Navigating government services
• Filling out forms or applications
• Translating documents
• Finding job training opportunities
• Accessing health or social services

Providing these tools through libraries, community centres, and mobile apps would ensure that residents without technical expertise—or even personal devices—can still benefit from AI assistance.

Help SMEs Adopt AI in Practice

Small and medium‑sized enterprises form the backbone of Hong Kong’s economy, but they often lack the expertise and resources needed to experiment with AI.

Practical support mechanisms could include adoption vouchers, consulting support, and sector‑specific toolkits for industries such as retail, hospitality, logistics, and professional services. These programs would focus not just on technology adoption but also workflow redesign and employee training.

If implemented well, such initiatives could significantly improve productivity across the SME sector while keeping the city’s economy competitive.

Invest in AI Education and Digital Literacy

Long‑term inclusion requires widespread AI literacy. Hong Kong has already earmarked HK$2 billion through the Quality Education Fund to support digital education in primary and secondary schools, including AI literacy frameworks and teacher training .

Embedding AI education across the curriculum—not only in STEM subjects—can help students understand how AI affects fields such as language, arts, and business.

Equally important is workforce retraining. Short, stackable certifications and vocational programs delivered through universities of applied sciences, vocational training institutions, and employers could help workers learn practical AI‑assisted skills relevant to their jobs.

Use the AI+ Initiative to Drive Sector Adoption

At the national level, the AI+ initiative aims to integrate AI deeply into economic and social sectors, with milestones for broader adoption in the coming years . Hong Kong can adapt this framework through sector‑specific pilots in areas such as healthcare, logistics, financial services, and urban management.

These pilots should define clear objectives: the problem being solved, the datasets used, the agencies responsible, and the safeguards protecting privacy and security.

Successful projects could then scale across the city.

Build Trust Through Strong Governance

Public trust is essential for widespread AI adoption. Residents must feel confident that AI systems used in government or business are secure, transparent, and fair.

Strong governance frameworks—covering procurement standards, data protection, audit trails, and human oversight—can help ensure responsible deployment. High‑risk applications in healthcare, employment, finance, and public services should undergo particularly rigorous evaluation.

The Real Test of “AI for All”

Hong Kong has many of the pieces already in place: research institutes, generative AI initiatives, education funding, and an expanding strategy for AI adoption.

The real test is practical. If a small restaurant owner, a social worker, a logistics startup, a teacher, or an elderly resident can all use AI safely and productively, then the city will have achieved genuine AI inclusion.

If not, Hong Kong may still build a strong AI industry—but it will fall short of delivering “AI for all.”