Hong Kong has taken a significant step by implementing the city’s inaugural curriculum on artificial intelligence for junior secondary students. This comprehensive curriculum includes lessons on ChatGPT, as well as an exploration of the ethical considerations and social impacts associated with this technology.
As per a memo circulated by the Education Bureau to over 450 public secondary schools, teachers are encouraged to allocate a total of 10 to 14 hours for AI education within the information and communication technology (ICT) subject, targeting students in Form One to Three, starting from September.
The curriculum aims to equip students with fundamental AI concepts, encompassing areas such as computer vision, computer speech and language, robotic reasoning, ethical issues surrounding AI, and the resulting societal effects.
The curriculum draws inspiration from the “AI for the Future Project,” an initiative launched in 2017 by the Chinese University to provide AI education to secondary students. Approximately 50 percent of the curriculum focuses on exploring the ethical dimensions and social impacts of AI.
Yam Yeung, a research professor at the university who spearheaded the “AI for the Future Project,” emphasized the importance of students understanding that powerful tools like AI can have both positive and negative implications for society. He expressed his hope that students would gain a comprehensive understanding of how to responsibly and effectively utilize AI.
