Generative AI is rapidly becoming an integral part of modern education, demanding today's students to go beyond the basics of STEM and harness their creativity to unlock boundless possibilities. Samsung's 'Solve for Tomorrow' technology competition, held across Hong Kong, called on students to merge creativity with AI technology to deliver innovative solutions for societal challenges. Recently, the competition's final round took place, where trailblazing ideas from The University of Hong Kong, The Alumni Association of Elizabeth Middle School Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School, and Tai Po Old Market Public School clinched the top prizes in their respective categories.
This contest took place from last September to this April, running for a duration of eight months. Around 500 teams from approximately 180 universities, high schools, and middle schools participated, diving into the competition with incredible enthusiasm. Participants attended various workshops focused on AI and design thinking, refining their projects with advice from expert mentors. This year's participant numbers more than doubled compared to the previous event, with nine teams ultimately making it to the finals. The final round was held last Sunday, where the top three teams in each group were selected.
The management team of Samsung Electronics Hong Kong Co., Ltd. highly appreciated the integration of AI elements into the Solve for Tomorrow contest, expressing their hopes to promote the creative application of AI in collaboration with academia. Additionally, a series of workshops were provided to help students upskill themselves and pave their way towards the future. The finalist teams prepared impressive final presentations under the guidance of star-level mentors. On the day of the event, guests also shared insights on the impact of AI across various industries, discussing topics such as advancements in smartphone smart features.
For instance, experts at MedEXO Robotics stated that the application of AI in medical and assistive tools could enhance the effectiveness of personalized rehabilitation training. Meanwhile, the founder of SDMC emphasized the significance of data analysis and AI in digital marketing, pointing out how it drastically reduces the time needed for analysis and improves product planning and business models. In summary, the guest speakers encouraged students to keep learning and understand the principles behind the technology in order to remain competitive in this rapidly evolving field as AI continues to advance.
The winning entries across all categories in this year's contest theme reflect real-world applications of AI. For example, the project that won in the middle school division, 《Kanroton Smart Bracelet and APP》, was created by Elizabeth Middle School Alumni Association Tan Khoo Wah Middle School. It utilizes the AI assistant 《Araku》 to address the everyday challenges faced by the elderly. This smart band integrates AI technology, making it easier for caregivers to monitor the health conditions of seniors and helping to enhance their quality of life.
The participating students recognized the needs of the elderly in their surroundings and designed this plan. They conducted repeated testing using Arak's AI model. This app offers a 24-hour AI assistant, mental health evaluations, medical guidance, and information on community activities. The students performed exceptionally well in this project, receiving valuable advice from mentors and enhancing the features of the wristband.
The winning project by an elementary school group, __ID_2_APP__, is an app that takes photos of the tongue to provide users with tailored dietary advice, serving as a vivid example of how AI technology can be utilized. This project was developed by students during a past summer vacation and garnered significant attention. The team's teacher noted that this was not just an academic challenge but also a valuable opportunity for the students to gain experience through the contest.
On the other hand, iWalk Smart Insole, developed by a team from The University of Hong Kong, not only collects walking data and provides personalized exercise advice but also has the capability to detect foot and posture issues at an early stage. This highlights the potential applications of AI in the medical field.
In addition to cash rewards, Samsung is offering the winning team in the university student category an internship opportunity at the company. This initiative highlights Samsung’s commitment to nurturing future talent while actively responding to the collaborative programs with the Education Bureau. Moreover, the winning high school team is also provided with hands-on internship opportunities. It is hoped that these efforts will inspire more young people to engage with AI and technology development in Hong Kong.
