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Becoming the guardian of AI

Choi Ching Lam: “I look forward to seeing a more diversified society where everyone can create their own path to pursue their interests.”

More young talents in Hong Kong are entering the field of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) as it gains popularity, Ching Lam being among them. To pursue her interest in computer programming, she participated in the “CUHK Jockey Club AI for the Future Project” over summer vacation in Form Three, which opened the doors to the AI world for her. She then enrolled in AI-related courses and had the chance to conduct research with university professors while still studying in Form Five.

Yet life was not always smooth for Ching Lam, who was troubled by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (“ADHD”) in her childhood. She had to work hard to turn this “disorder” into an “advantage”. Encouraged by the words of British actor Stephen Fry – “We are not nouns, we are verbs” – she freed herself from the stigma associated with “learning disability” by accepting her own uniqueness and proving herself with actions. She says, “With ADHD, I tend to change tasks or activities constantly, so I have many different interests. I am able to get into different disciplinary areas and observe things that others do not see. This has proven to be useful in my research work.”

In recent years AI has gradually integrated itself into human life as a virtual assistant, as Ching Lam expected. In secondary school, she designed an AI programme to teach the elderly Tai Chi, and another to assist doctors and nurses in speeding up the diagnosis of COVID-19. The more AI applications are launched, the less they can be predicted by scientists. “We would describe AI as a black box which we are unable to see through or understand,” she says, adding that this also means humans cannot estimate its power.

Ching Lam wants to understand this “black box” through research, safeguarding AI technology and allowing it to be safe and fair, rather than continuously gaining efficiency. Now working as an intern at an AI institute in Canada, she is planning to obtain a Ph.D so that she can continue her research and become a professor to inspire the next generation.

Did you know?

Established in 1998, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships are one of the Club’s programmes to nurture local talent. To date, some HK$870 million in scholarships have been approved, supporting more than 1,000 students. Apart from undergraduate students, the scheme was expanded in 2015 to include students with special educational needs and those in vocational education. It also supports postgraduate students to pursue further studies at top notch universities in the world. The Club has extended the Scholarships to two further schemes in 2023 to support outstanding students with top scores in the public examinations and students who have achieved excellence while demonstrating resilience and strength of mind to overcome adversities in life to pursue their studies in Hong Kong. The Club also provides JC Scholars with opportunities for further learning, personal development and social service.

Information updated to Nov 2023

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