On December 10, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) launched the Advanced Research Institute of Artificial Intelligence (PAAI), one of its five key research institutes aimed at interdisciplinary research and technology transfer. PolyU President Teng Jin-Guang emphasized the institute's role in translating cutting-edge research into practical products and standards, leveraging the university's strong research network in mainland China to benefit societal development.
Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Hong Kong SAR Government, highlighted the government's efforts to advance AI through talent, data, and application initiatives, planning to establish the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute (AIRDI) by 2026 to enhance the local AI ecosystem.
PAAI is designed to tackle challenges in AI development, such as computational centralization and data privacy. Its vision focuses on moving from centralized to decentralized AI architecture, with an emphasis on developing vertical industry-specific models. One of the innovative approaches being adopted is Federated Learning, which enables secure AI development without the exchange of raw data, effectively addressing data privacy issues and removing barriers to data flow in sectors like healthcare and finance.
As Hong Kong's international financial and tech hub, PAAI aims to construct decentralized AI infrastructure that allows various institutions to harness advanced AI technologies securely. Executives at PAAI, including Executive Director Yang Hongxia, revealed that collaborations with medical institutions are underway for the "Cancer GenAI" project, while exploring AI applications in infectious disease prevention and robotics.
PAAI is also advancing key technologies such as collaborative generative AI and edge foundational models, ensuring stability in critical sectors like healthcare, education, finance, and robotics. The Co-GenAI initiative, a decentralized AI concept, has received dual funding from government programs and aims to connect global researchers through a blockchain-based collaboration platform.