The University of Hong Kong has announced that staff members will now be able to use ChatGPT, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool, during a trial period from April 17 to June 30. There are nine terms and conditions governing its use, with daily limits also in place. Additionally, once the university’s Generative AI Task Force establishes a policy and guidelines for students, it may make the platform available for student use.
ChatGPT is a popular AI tool developed by OpenAI, and is used globally for tasks ranging from writing essays to providing detailed answers to complex questions. It has taken the world by storm since its launch, leading universities to grapple with how to approach students’ use of it and other AI tools. Other tertiary institutions have also announced policies regarding ChatGPT, with the Chinese University of Hong Kong planning to expel any students found to be using it in their work without institutional permission. On the other hand, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have given its staff free rein to create their own guidelines for the tool’s use.
The announcement was made by Professor Ian Holliday, HKU’s vice-president for teaching and learning, who commented on the significance of ChatGPT and the university’s willingness to engage and experiment with it. He added that, based on the usage pattern in this period, charging system for a future roll-out would be developed. Moreover, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong reportedly said that the government had no plans to formally introduce ChatGPT for internal use, citing limited access to the tool in Hong Kong and potential risks.
OpenAI is a $1 billion, non-profit research lab founded by Elon Musk, Sam Altman and Greg Brockman with the goal of forming strong AI safely and to benefit humanity. It is based in San Francisco and backed by Microsoft, as well as venture capital firms such as Y Combinator, Founders Fund and Khosla Ventures. The company focuses on both research and developing new AI technology, and also commercializing existing OpenAI technologies, such as ChatGPT. OpenAI’s AI technologies are used in a variety of applications, including personal assistants and customer service bots.
In conclusion, the University of Hong Kong has allowed its staff to use ChatGPT for free during a trial period, with a variety of terms and conditions in place. At the same time, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong has said the government had no plans to formally introduce ChatGPT for internal use, citing various risks and limited access to the tool in Hong Kong. Once the university’s Generative AI Task Force has established a policy and guidelines for student usage, the platform may be available for student use.
