Hong Kong tech chief warns AI will unleash ‘greatest industrial revolution’

Hong Kong's tech chief Sun Dong warned that artificial intelligence will trigger the 'greatest industrial revolution,' surpassing all previous ones, and will significantly impact graduates and workers in traditional sectors. He announced initiatives including proprietary large language models, public AI projects, and a HK$50 million education program to prepare for the paradigm shift.

Hong Kong tech chief warns AI will unleash ‘greatest industrial revolution’ Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong says city is proactively preparing for paradigm shift with key AI initiatives As Hong Kong marks the 29th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule on July 1, the South China Morning Post talks to the city’s senior officials about the administration’s achievements so far and what may lie ahead. Hong Kong’s tech chief has warned that AI will “exceed all previous industrial revolutions” and heavily impact graduates and workers in traditional sectors, while pledging to accelerate training and industry development to create new jobs. Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said Hong Kong was proactively preparing for a paradigm shift by developing proprietary large language models LLMs , launching artificial intelligence AI projects for public use, and rolling out a HK$50 million US$6.37 million universal education programme. “The impact of this AI wave on Hong Kong and its entire society will, I believe, exceed all previous industrial revolutions,” Sun told the South China Morning Post. “As a new wave of development unfolds, many new opportunities will emerge. At the same time, some traditional sectors will gradually decline – this is an inevitable outcome.” Tech chief Sun Dong on Hong Kong’s development of AI Sun noted that employment struggles among local fresh graduates reflected a global trend with even students from top universities in the United States feeling the pressure.