Generative AI is rapidly becoming a new cornerstone in learning, encouraging students to build on STEM fundamentals while unleashing their creativity to explore limitless possibilities. Samsung's Solve for Tomorrow technology competition, hosted across Hong Kong, calls on students to leverage creativity combined with AI technology to develop innovative solutions for society. Recently, the competition's finals took place, with projects from The University of Hong Kong, Tang Kwok Wah Secondary School–an alumni association school of Queen Elizabeth School, and Tai Po Old Market Public School winning the championships in their respective categories.
The competition spanned from September last year to April this year, lasting for eight months and attracting nearly 500 teams from 180 universities, colleges, secondary and primary schools. Participants joined multiple workshops on AI and design thinking while receiving guidance from expert mentors to refine their projects. This year's participation has doubled compared to the previous edition, with a total of nine teams advancing to the finals. Ultimately, the top three teams in each group were selected, culminating in an intense final showdown last Sunday.
The senior management of Samsung Electronics Hong Kong expressed their approval of incorporating AI elements into the Solve for Tomorrow competition. They hope to collaborate with the academic community to drive creative applications of AI, while providing a series of workshops to help students equip themselves and pave the way for their future. The finalist teams, under the guidance of star mentors, prepared impressive final presentations. On the day of the event, guest speakers also shared insights into AI's impact across various industries, including advancements in smartphone smart features.
For example, experts from MedEXO Robotics mentioned that AI applications 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, as it can drastically reduce analysis time and improve product planning and business models. In conclusion, the guest lecturers encouraged students to continue advancing their knowledge in AI development, understanding the principles behind the technology to remain competitive in this rapidly evolving field.
This year's competition themes highlighted the practical applications of AI, with all winning entries reflecting real-world needs. For instance, the champion project in the secondary school category, "Kangle Tong Smart Wristband and APP," created by Tang Kwok Wah Secondary School of the Elizabeth Middle School Old Students' Association, aims to use an AI assistant to tackle everyday challenges faced by the elderly. The wristband, integrated with AI technology, helps caregivers monitor the health conditions of seniors, ultimately enhancing their quality of life.
The participating students designed this solution after noticing the needs of the elderly around them, conducting multiple tests on the AI model of Ah Lok. This app features a 24/7 AI companion, mental health assessments, medical guidance, and community activity information. The students excelled in this project and received valuable advice from mentors to enhance the functionality of the wristband.
The winning project of the Primary School Group, AI Culinary Master: Tongue-Enhancing FeastAPP, uses AI technology to provide users with tailored dietary advice by analyzing photographs of their tongues—an innovative and striking example of AI application. This project was developed by students over the past summer and has since stood out remarkably. The team's teacher highlighted that this was not only an academic challenge but also a valuable opportunity for the students to gain competition experience.
On the other hand, the team from The University of Hong Kong has developed iWalk Smart Insole, which can gather walking data, offer personalized exercise recommendations, and detect foot and posture issues at an early stage. This also highlights the potential applications of AI in the medical field.
In addition to cash rewards, Samsung is offering internship opportunities at the company for the champions of the tertiary group, showcasing its commitment to nurturing future talent. This effort also aligns with the Education Bureau's collaboration initiatives, providing internship opportunities for winning secondary school teams. These activities aim to inspire more young people to engage in the development of AI and technology in Hong Kong.
