Interview with AIM President and ASAP Research Director: Vision and Challenges for AI Literacy Among Hong Kong Youth

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, AI literacy has become an important topic in the education sector. The Hong Kong Interactive Marketing Association (AIM) and the Asia-Pacific Policy Initiative (ASAP) recently announced the results of the inaugural "Hong Kong Youth AI Literacy Index." To gain deeper insights into this issue, we interviewed Mr. Fang Baoqiao, President of AIM, and Mr. Zhang Boyu, Research Director of ASAP, to discuss their views on AI literacy among Hong Kong youth and their vision for future education.

Long-term Vision for AI Literacy Among Hong Kong Youth

Mr. Fang Baoqiao pointed out that AIM's long-term vision is to enable Hong Kong secondary school students to transition from "being able to use AI" to "understanding AI, mastering AI, and using AI to create their own outcomes." He emphasized that to achieve this goal, AIM has planned and promoted the "Hong Kong Youth AI Literacy Index," hoping to establish a set of sustainable baseline data to provide empirical references for AI training and digital education development.

"Our inaugural index recorded a score of 3.65, which serves as a starting point before the Education Bureau fully implements the 'Blueprint for Digital Education Development in Primary and Secondary Schools' starting from the 2026/27 school year."

Mr. Fang Baoqiao, President of AIM

He added that future surveys will be conducted regularly to assess the effectiveness of related measures across different competency areas and to track students' development in AI literacy, including technical understanding and AI data literacy, critical thinking, AI creation, and confidence and attitudes towards learning AI.

Current Status of AI Literacy Among Hong Kong Youth

Mr. Zhang Boyu mentioned that the survey results indicate that the overall AI literacy index score for the interviewed secondary school students is 3.65, with self-assessments ranging between "neutral" and "agree," leaning towards "agree," reflecting a decent overall level. He noted that 60.59% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed, while only 7.87% disagreed or strongly disagreed.

"Students excel in daily usage and value judgment, with ethical awareness, practical application, and human-machine collaboration all scoring 3.81, indicating a preliminary formation of responsible AI usage attitudes."

Mr. Zhang Boyu, Research Director of ASAP

He pointed out that while students perform well in ethical awareness, their theoretical understanding of technology (3.62) and AI data literacy (3.58) are relatively weak, with the score for AI creation ability being only 3.22, indicating that this area has not been fully developed.

Policy Recommendations for Enhancing AI Literacy

Mr. Zhang Boyu proposed four recommendations to improve AI literacy among Hong Kong youth. First, he suggested clarifying the definition and scope of AI and incorporating data, algorithms, computational power, machine learning principles, and algorithmic bias into the teachable and assessable learning focus. Second, there should be a continuous enhancement of students' critical thinking skills, teaching them how to combat "AI hallucinations" through multi-source verification.

"We recommend providing practical opportunities for students to use AI for creation, such as developing applications or websites."

Mr. Zhang Boyu, Research Director of ASAP

Additionally, he emphasized the need for progressively challenging learning activities to accumulate successful experiences and increase practical opportunities outside the classroom to build students' confidence and willingness to learn.

Challenges in AI Creation Ability

Regarding the low scores in AI creation ability, Mr. Zhang Boyu noted that this reflects an area often overlooked in current AI education. He suggested that the Education Bureau and schools should allocate more space for hands-on creation, allowing students to use AI to develop applications or websites, thus experiencing the complete process from conception to implementation.

"This aligns with the 'Blueprint's' requirement to guide students in using AI tools for innovation and collaboration."

Mr. Zhang Boyu, Research Director of ASAP

He stressed that the rapid development of AI technology requires educators to continuously update their teaching methods to ensure that students remain competitive in a constantly changing environment.

Unique Aspects of Hong Kong's AI Education Strategy

Mr. Fang Baoqiao pointed out that Hong Kong's AI education strategy has several unique aspects. First, the 'Blueprint' views AI education not just as training in tool operation but also considers knowledge, application, ethics, creativity, and attitudes, emphasizing students' experiences during the learning process.

"Hong Kong's curriculum is relatively comprehensive, forming a complete development pathway from primary to secondary education."

Mr. Fang Baoqiao, President of AIM

He believes that this strategy not only equips students with the ability to face challenges posed by AI technology but also promotes their critical thinking and creativity.

Looking Ahead to AI Literacy Education

In conclusion, Mr. Fang Baoqiao emphasized that the key to maintaining competitiveness lies in evidence-based tracking of effectiveness and timely policy adjustments. He stated that this index provides a baseline before the comprehensive implementation of policies, and future similar surveys will objectively assess progress across different competency areas.

"What truly follows students is a foundational understanding of how AI operates, the habit of critical verification, and the ability to use AI for creation."

Mr. Fang Baoqiao, President of AIM

The insights from Mr. Fang Baoqiao, President of AIM, and Mr. Zhang Boyu, Research Director of ASAP, provide direction for AI literacy education in Hong Kong, and future developments are worth looking forward to.