Cultivating AI innovation on campus

“We used simple machine learning frameworks with Python and the Raspberry Pi platform to train image classification and object detection models.”

Smart identification: Participants in the artificial intelligence course at Kowloon True Light School have built a round-the-clock surveillance system to identify different species of fish and monitor their behaviour. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

Secondary Four student Camilla Yip was among the participants who joined an on-campus artificial intelligence (AI) programme, focused on fish identification and ecosystem monitoring, at Kowloon True Light School last year.

Driven by a fascination with fish ecology since childhood, Camilla signed up for the three-month course as soon as she learned about it.

The after-class workshop was split into two parts: first, students deepened their understanding of fish ecology through dissection and specimen preparation; then, they shifted to AI, collaborating to build a functional surveillance system using a single-board computer and an AI-powered camera.

Boundless potential: Kowloon True Light School student Camilla Yip says her interests previously lay only in ecology, but that she has learned how AI can make ecological monitoring both faster and more accurate. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

Interdisciplinary alchemy

“Different fish species may attack each other due to contrasting sizes and habits when they are living in the same tank,” explained Camilla, highlighting the need for round-the-clock monitoring.

To train the system, Camilla gathered many pictures of various fish species and annotated the images by labelling the species and location of each fish. “I learned that AI depends on extensive data and constant fine-tuning to perform well,” she noted.

Camilla found that while manual inspection of images is slow and prone to error, AI can automatically analyse video footage to identify fish species and detect unusual behaviour.

“For example, if a fish is swimming slowly, it might mean the water quality is bad. Or it can alert us when the fish that should not be together are in the same tank.”

Camilla added that while her interests once lay solely in ecology, this experience showed her how AI can make ecological monitoring both faster and more accurate.

Enhanced syllabus: Kowloon True Light School STEAM Co-ordinator Lam Chun-tung says the course, which weaves cutting-edge technology into the school’s curriculum, is supported by a grant from the IT Innovation Lab in Secondary Schools programme. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

Cultivating capabilities

The Government is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of innovation and technology leaders.

The Digital Policy Office oversees the IT Innovation Lab in Secondary Schools programme and the Knowing More About IT programme for primary schools. By funding extra-curricular activities, these initiatives allow students to dive deep into emerging fields such as AI, blockchain, cloud computing and big data.

Kowloon True Light School STEAM Co-ordinator Lam Chun-tung said the course was supported by a $50,000 grant from the IT Innovation Lab in Secondary Schools programme, which enabled the school to hire external tutors and purchase specialised experimental equipment.

Mr Lam explained that the school joined the initiative to weave cutting-edge technology into the curriculum, creating a future-ready learning environment. He emphasised that by mastering AI, students learn to bridge the gap between theory and sustainable, real-world solutions.

Looking back at the group of 15 participants, he recalled that most had no prior experience with Python before joining the workshop.

“Throughout the process, students demonstrated outstanding collaborative spirit and achieved a significant breakthrough in their AI model training proficiency,” said Mr Lam.

Embracing innovation: Digital Policy Office Assistant Commissioner for Digital Policy (Common Services & Sourcing) Wendy Kwan says schools and students have responded enthusiastically to the programmes. Image source: www.news.gov.hk

Remarkable results

Digital Policy Office Assistant Commissioner for Digital Policy (Common Services & Sourcing) Wendy Kwan described the response as enthusiastic, with more than 500 secondary schools and 520 primary schools getting involved.

To date, more than $1.07 billion in funding has been approved, and over 10,000 technology-related activities have been organised, benefiting more than 790,000 students.

“These figures clearly show that the programmes have successfully promoted an innovative culture in schools, inspired students’ potential and enhanced their information technology skills,” commented Ms Kwan.

She cited an award-winning project in which pupils developed an intelligent recycling bin. The system used a small robot and an AI camera to recognise various types of waste and automatically open the correct recycling lid. The project won the Student Innovation (Primary) Bronze Award at the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2024.

Ms Kwan also highlighted another activity where students deployed Internet of Things sensors for real-time environmental monitoring, using AI to optimise the pearl farming process.

The Government’s commitment to digital excellence will continue after the two programmes conclude later this year.

To keep the momentum going, the Education Bureau has set aside $2 billion under the Quality Education Fund to encourage schools to further develop digital education. The bureau will also release the Blueprint for Digital Education later this year, setting a definitive course for AI literacy in the classroom.

In addition, the 2026-27 Budget proposed $50 million to fuel a city-wide AI culture - supporting public bodies, technology companies and tertiary institutions in hosting courses and competitions as part of a roadmap to integrate AI education into everyday life.

LONDON (AP) — Running past Buckingham Palace during training, Tilly Dowler is closing in on a goal she once thought out of reach.

Dowler, who has Stargardt disease and says she has about 10% useful vision, only began running last year, starting with a couch to 5K program before building up to marathon distance. She is now preparing to run the London Marathon with her boyfriend as her guide, using AI powered Oakley Meta Vanguard smart glasses to help her navigate and track her progress.

“They are AI assisted,” she said. “While running, I can ask for live cues, such as what landmarks are around me and how far I have run.”

She said the glasses allow her to combine audio feedback with guidance from her running partner.

“I can put my music on but still be able to listen to my guide runner,” she said.

Her goal is not focused on speed.

“My mission was to inspire other people with sight loss and people going through something really tough and inspire them to believe in themselves,” she said.

Dowler is among a growing number of visually impaired runners using AI enabled smart glasses. These wearable devices combine standard consumer products with cameras, microphones and open ear speakers. They can be controlled with your voice, buttons or some simple gestures and use artificial intelligence to interpret surroundings and provide audio feedback.

The most well known smart glasses are from tech company Meta, which makes them in partnership with Ray-Ban and Oakley. More than 7 million pairs of Meta Ray-Bans were sold last year, underscoring their growing popularity. But they’ve also stirred privacy worries, including being used to film people without their knowledge as well as concerns that Meta was sending the video to human reviewers for AI training.

For Sha Khan, who lost around 90 percent of his vision in 2021 due to retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt disease, the technology has become part of daily life as well as training.

“It’s like literally a part of me now,” he said. “If I step out the front door, I wouldn’t do that without my glasses on.”

Khan also relies on his guide dog, Moby, in his day to day life, using him for navigation outside of running.

He said the hands free nature of the glasses is especially useful because it allows him to stay focused on working with Moby without needing to handle a phone.

Khan began running in 2022 after a volunteer from Guide Dogs UK, a charity that provides guide dogs and mobility support for people with vision loss, encouraged him to try it after his sudden loss of sight loss and the impact that it had on his mental health.

While training with guide runners, he uses voice commands to interact with the glasses.

“If they say that’s Big Ben ahead of us I can just say ‘hey Meta take a picture,’” he said.

He said the hands free nature of the device is important.

“I don’t need to be worrying about fumbling with a mobile phone,” he said.

Smart glasses use a front facing camera to capture visual input and artificial intelligence to analyze it, converting the information into audio delivered through speakers built into the frame.

Chris Lewis, a technology analyst who is visually impaired and has used smart glasses while skiing, said the system provides an additional layer of awareness.

“The AI is taking the images coming in, analyzing it and giving you the information about what’s in front of you, what might be moving and what might be changing,” he said.

He said this allows users to receive information in real time without losing awareness of their surroundings, which is important for activities such as running.

However, Lewis said events like marathons can pose additional challenges, with large crowds putting pressure on mobile networks and potentially weakening signal, which in turn can affect how reliably the glasses deliver real time information.

Guide Dogs UK, which also provides other services to help people live independently, says the technology should be used alongside existing support systems rather than replacing them.

“These glasses can really support and enhance somebody’s independence but they’re not there to be relied upon or replace core independent skills,” said Tommy Dean, a technology specialist at the charity.

He said guide dogs, mobility training and human support remain essential, particularly in complex environments.

Ben Hatton, an analyst at CCS Insight who studies emerging consumer technologies, said reliability remains a key challenge.

“If you’re going to allow visually impaired people to walk down the street or cross busy roads with the technology then it has to be perfectly reliable every single time,” he said.

He said factors such as accuracy, connectivity and cost will determine how widely the technology can be adopted.

Despite those limitations, experts say advances in artificial intelligence are enabling mainstream devices to play a growing role in accessibility.

“The fact that consumer technology can enhance the experience of someone with a sight problem adds to the potential to be more and more independent,” Lewis said.

More than 59,000 runners are expected to take part in the London Marathon on Sunday, according to organizers, following a 26.2 mile route through the capital that starts in Greenwich and finishes near Buckingham Palace.

Sha Khan, center, poses in front of Buckingham Palace with his guide runners ahead of London Marathon 2026 in London, Thursday, April 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mustakim Hasnath)

Sha Khan's guide dog, Moby, stands while on a leash in Green Park, London, Thursday, April 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mustakim Hasnath)

Tilly Dowler poses in front of Buckingham Palace ahead of the London Marathon 2026 in London, Thursday, April 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mustakim Hasnath)