Hong Kong’s first homegrown artificial intelligence large language model, HKGAI V1, was unveiled on Tuesday, with capabilities like interactive dialogue, content generation, meeting summarization, legal case referencing, and environmental analysis.

The model, developed through collaborative research among five local universities and the SAR government’s InnoHK research and development platform, had been pilot-tested at more than 70 government departments, and could be ready for public use by the end of this year.

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The model comprises five specialized systems, each targeting a distinct vertical application -- dialogue, document processing, meeting assistance, legal analysis, and environmental insights.

Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said the tool, built over a year and a half, marked a new chapter in the city’s innovation, heralding a new chapter in the development of AI.  

He praised Hong Kong scientists for their efforts, saying he’s glad the SAR is part of the AI-led tech boom.

According to Sun, the large language model, launched in the first half of last year, had been tested in all of the government’s 70-plus departments with the administration’s strong support.

Following the debut of mainland AI startup DeepSeek, which took the world and the AI sector by storm, a team from the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Centre swiftly combined the center’s data processing ability with DeepSeek’s parameters, which led in the HKGAI V1’S development.

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Guo Yike, provost of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said it’s the nation’s first large-scale model based on DeepSeek’s full-parameter fine-tuning and continuous training.

At a press conference on Tuesday, the team also demonstrated the use of the dialogue system that can provide real-time answers to users’ enquiries in Mandarin, Cantonese and English, including real-time content, such as government department structures and the latest box office results.

Guo said the model, leveraging unique local data from Hong Kong, has achieved the localization and internationalization of DeepSeek, and will advance open-source and domestic adaptation.

He said the development of such a large model had taken about 18 months, with the initial version of the document assistance application having been pilot-tested in SAR government departments since mid-2024.

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The trial has received positive feedback, and Guo hopes to make the model publicly available by the end of this year.

Sun also highlighted the SAR government’s broader efforts to support AI development, including the establishment of an AI supercomputing center, a HK$3-billion ($385.5-million) AI funding scheme, and the clustering of over 800 AI companies at Science Park and Cyberport.

He hopes Hong Kong’s AI model would not only serve local industries and residents, but also overseas Chinese communities, potentially benefiting tens of millions of users worldwide.

Contact the writer at stephyzhang@chinadailyhk.com