HKGAI Debuts Cutting Edge AI Projects at InnoEx 2024 | The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

The Hong Kong Generative AI R&D Center (HKGAI), a joint-university collaborative venture, led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), announced today an array of its AI projects covering applications in various areas at InnoEx 2024. 

With funding from the HKSAR government’s InnoHK initiative, HKGAI has established eight projects on AI aimed at developing foundation models tailored for applications in various industries including legal, medical and creative fields in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Backed by its independently developed model, HKGAI showcases for the first time ten generative AI services and applications at the InnoEx 2024 to allow expo-goers to experience firsthand:
 

• Expert Consultation Service Chatbot: An expert real-time consultation service Chatbot, which can provide an array of advice as lawyers, tour guides, and more;
• An Encounter Across Time And Space: Creating animated sequences and composited photos with an user upload photo;
• Let deepfakes nowhere to hide under AI’s sharp eyes: Deep-fake Detection Technology, which differentiates the real from digital manipulations;
• Resurrecting Glory: A Rebirth of the Past: Bringing back legendary singers and stars to life to reinterpret today’s popular songs;
• AI Instantly Transforms Stories into Videos: Text to Video Conversion, which transforms texts instantly into feature length videos;
• 3D Image Content Generation: A showcase of high quality 2D-to-3D assets created by AI;
• Future Writing-Copilot: an AI-powered office assistant, which can assist with all daily writing tasks to boost work efficiency;
• AI Illustrates: Future Greater Bay Area Of A Thousand Miles: A stunning visual rendering of the 11 cities in the GBA;
• AI Singer App: An application that allows users to upload a voice sample and hear any songs sang in their own voices; and
• Smart Photo Diary: a photo diary, where AI analyses photos uploaded by users and create stories fitting to their emotions and actions.

“HKGAI has preliminarily completed the first independently trained foundation model, supporting both Chinese and English languages. This milestone marks Hong Kong's first locally developed foundation model, signifying a breakthrough in AI innovation,” said Prof. GUO Yike, HKUST Provost and an internationally leading researcher in the field of AI who also serves as the Director of HKGAI. 

“Positioned in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, HKGAI will continue to leverage its unique strengths and role, actively promoting the cultivation of local AI talents and addressing ethical, safety, and governance issues related to AI technology and applications. We are committed to harnessing the economic driving force of the innovation sector in Hong Kong, continuously enhancing Hong Kong's global influence in AI research and applications,” Prof. Guo added.

HKGAI, founded in October 2023, is the sole R&D center focusing on generative AI under InnoHK. The center is led by HKUST in collaboration on research with five top-tier universities in the region – The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the National University of Singapore.

Organized by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the InnoEX 2024 is being held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center from April 13 to 16. Interested parties are invited to visit booth 3E-B03 to experience HKGAI’s innovations and technologies.

About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class research intensive university that focuses on science, technology and business as well as humanities and social science. HKUST offers an international campus, and a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy to nurture well-rounded graduates with global vision, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking. Over 80% of our research work were rated “Internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. We were ranked 2nd in Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2023, and our graduates were ranked 29th worldwide and among the best from universities from Asia in Global Employability University Ranking 2023. As of September 2023, HKUST members have founded 1,747 active start-ups, including 9 Unicorns and 13 exits (IPO or M&A), generating economic impact worth over HK$ 400 billion. InvestHK cited QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021 to demonstrate the performance of five world’s top 100 local universities in several innovation-centric areas, among which HKUST ranked top in four engineering and materials science subjects.

About The Hong Kong Generative AI Research & Development Center
The Hong Kong Generative AI Research & Development Center (HKGAI) was established in September 2023, focusing on the research and development of generative artificial intelligence technologies. It is one of the research centers under the InnoHK program, a key initiative of the Hong Kong SAR Government. Led by Prof. GUO Yike, the Provost of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, HKGAI collaborates with four local top-tier institutions: The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, City University of Hong Kong, as well as the internationally renowned National University of Singapore. HKGAI focuses on developing a series of Multimodal, Multilingual Foundation Models, vertical Foundation Models, and the tailor-made applications for Hong Kong society. In addition, HKGAI conducts research on ethics, security, and governance in generative AI technologies and applications, providing consultation and recommendations to the HK SAR Government. HKGAI will strive to enhance the role of Hong Kong's innovation and technology industry in promoting economic progress in the Greater Bay Area, cultivating AI talent and ecosystem in Hong Kong, and increasing Hong Kong's global influence in the fields of AI research and application.