Hong Kong CEOs Lead AI Training for 5,000 Secondary Students
More than a dozen top executives in Hong Kong are stepping up to learn and teach artificial intelligence (AI) skills to 5,000 secondary school students. This initiative, called AI-5000, is a collaboration between the non-profit Project Melo and education technology company Preface, targeting over 50 schools from September 2023 to March 2026.
The programme’s goal is clear: equip young learners with practical AI knowledge delivered directly by business leaders, including Bernard Chan, chairman of M+ museum; George Hongchoy, CEO of Link Reit; and Randy Lai, CEO of McDonald’s Hong Kong.
Why CEOs Are Taking the Lead
Kenny Lam Kwok-fung, co-founder of Project Melo, stresses the urgency for Hong Kong students to focus on AI skills. Having CEOs undergo training and then teach students is a strategy to set a strong example and motivate learners. “If you do it, you set an example,” Lam said.
The hands-on training session, led by Preface CEO Tommie Lo, covered AI’s history, future trends, and prompt engineering—the technique of crafting effective inputs for AI systems. Executives practiced generating a funding proposal using AI and transforming it into a professional pitch deck with another AI tool.
Government Support and Ethical Focus
The Hong Kong government is supporting initiatives like AI-5000 to boost technology education. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po highlighted efforts to encourage companies to provide resources for coding and AI in schools during his latest budget address.
Christine Ip, CEO of UOB Greater China, emphasized reducing the AI knowledge gap between wealthy and less privileged students. She also pointed out the importance of teaching ethical use of AI, stressing that students should learn to manage AI wisely rather than simply relying on it for quick results.
Building Capacity for All Students
Yvette Kong Man-yi, CEO of Arelyx and former Olympic swimmer, shared her optimism about the programme’s potential to help students from diverse backgrounds. “AI is disruptive, but that disruption is also an opportunity,” she said, highlighting the need for the next generation to lead change instead of just adapting to it.
This programme offers a practical model for education professionals interested in integrating AI learning into schools. It shows how leadership involvement can inspire students and bridge knowledge gaps.
For educators aiming to develop AI skills in their students or themselves, exploring comprehensive AI courses like those offered by Complete AI Training can be a valuable step.
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