LettersEthics must be a core priority for any AI literacy programme

Readers discuss technology’s impact on academic integrity, potential setbacks of the city’s imported labour limits, and the upsides of hiring more native English speakers

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A student interacts with ChatGPT, when it was officially available in Hong Kong, at Yu Chun Keung Memorial College in Ho Man Tin on May 30, 2023. Photo: Edmond So

Published: 11:30am, 23 Jun 2026

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Recent headlines across Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China highlight troubling cases of technology misuse.

In Taiwan, a medical school applicant used smart eyeglasses to cheat. A medical school graduate in Hong Kong was caught under suspicion of accessing patient data without authorisation. Major tech companies, such as Tencent, have temporarily suspended certain artificial intelligence (AI) functions during mainland China’s National Higher Education Entrance Examination – also known as the gaokao – to reduce cheating risks. These incidents reveal how students today are adept at leveraging advanced technology, albeit sometimes irresponsibly.

Much attention on the rise of generative AI has focused on its potential to enhance competitiveness. The Hong Kong government is funding AI use in schools. Universities are promoting AI through new courses and training initiatives.

These efforts rightly focus on capacity building and skills development. Yet, even without such measures, many students already show proficiency in using technology for their own advantage. While disadvantaged groups need extra support to bridge the digital divide, the more pressing issue is the lack of emphasis on digital literacy and ethics education.

Education should not be reduced to acquiring skills, getting good grades or preparing for a career. It must also cultivate character and civic responsibility. Encouraging the effective use of advanced technology is important, but nurturing students to become responsible citizens is even more critical. Without ethical grounding, students risk being consumed by temptations, whether it be chasing grades, getting into prestigious institutions or pursuing short-term financial gain and clout on social media.