The Hong Kong government is testing a new AI tool similar to ChatGPT for its employees.Â
They plan to make it available to the public later this year. Sun Dong, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Innovation, Technology, and Industry, announced the trial.
This AI tool, called the “document assistance application for civil servants,” is designed to help improve government work.
It was developed by a research center at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, with help from other universities. In the future, the app might include features for graphics and video design.
The government aims to roll out this app to all its departments in 2024.
Sun Dong mentioned that it was hard to get support from big companies like Microsoft and Google, so the government decided to lead the initiative.
China wants to be a world leader in AI by 2030, competing with the US. Currently, OpenAI’s ChatGPT is not accessible in China, including Hong Kong and Macao, due to internet restrictions.
However, some people use VPNs to bypass these restrictions.
Chinese tech companies, like Alibaba and Baidu, have created similar AI models that follow China’s censorship rules.
 In May, China’s cyberspace academy reported on an AI chatbot being trained on President Xi Jinping’s ideas. Additionally, SenseTime launched SenseChat in Hong Kong, which can respond in Cantonese but avoids sensitive political topics.
Francis Fong, honorary president of the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, expressed cautious optimism about the local AI program’s potential.
