Flag Raising Ceremony Students’ Sharing 2026-9-21

Written by TSE Yuen Ka Anson (Form 6) and TAO Yuansen Michael(Form 5)

Anson: Good morning, Principal, Assistant Principals, teachers, and our fellow students. I’m Anson, from Form 6 Delonix.

Michael: I am Michael, from Form 5, Bombax.

Anson: This summer, Michael and I had the opportunity to join the HKU AI Literacy programme in Shanghai. The programme is a one-week-long, credit-bearing course, meaning we both got HKU credits upon passing the final exam. Since last year, this course has actually become a required programme for all undergraduates at HKU, which reflects how AI has begun playing a key role in our lives. :

Michael: As generative AI tools become deeply integrated into academic institutions and future workplaces, developing digital literacy is essential for every student. Today, we aim to share the practical skills we acquired for interacting with AI effectively while emphasizing the importance of AI ethics and academic integrity.

Anson: For me, the programme was really eye-opening because we got to experience actual university life. We lived in dorms and were in charge of our own meals. We attended lectures and took notes every day. We had homework and group projects, and attended a final exam at the end of the programme. I also got to make friends with people from all over the world - including Shanghai, Indonesia, and even Kazakhstan. Getting an early taste of university life was enjoyable, but one of the biggest takeaways I had was from the programme’s content itself. I wouldn’t call myself the biggest fan of AI, but learning that generative large language models are actually just next-word predictors has grounded my ideas of what AI can do in the future. What about you, Michael? What stood out to you in this programme?

Michael: From the lecture, I am aware that artificial intelligence, as a predictive mechanism, is not capable of thinking logically. One particular instance that stands out to me was analyzing an AI-generated research reference. We watched utterly fabricated reference lists confidently provided by AI, which could mislead users. The issue is known as AI Hallucination. I can now attest to how AI can have a negative impact, and the genuine benefits of AI are only unlocked with humans’ discernment. By mastering responsible interactions, we can transform AI from a risky shortcut into our personalized learning partners.

Anson:  Reflecting on the programme, I learnt a lot of valuable things. The lectures covered a multitude of topics: LLMs, data centers, AI ethics and the future of AI. It was refreshing to see that the programme considered both the benefits and harms of AI and approached the technology with caution and a holistic view.

Michael: The spirit of innovation inspires us to act with a high ethical standard. Let us carry forward a strong commitment to academic integrity, using AI as a supportive scaffold instead of a substitute for original thoughts. We should properly state tool and source usage as required, and ensure our pieces of coursework reflect our genuine dedication and intellectual effort.

Anson: Even if you are a generative AI skeptic or someone who uses it often, I encourage you to learn more about the background and mechanisms of generative AI. It helps to understand exactly how this technology functions and thus how to use it to the best of your abilities.

Michael: Let us embrace technological innovation responsibly by sharpening our skills to interact with AI. Please do not dump the entire work to AI and paste the answers to your work directly; it is definitely imprudent to trust a predictive mechanism. If you are interested in joining the programme, please watch for the email that may be sent later. Thank you very much, and we wish you all a productive year ahead!

Thank you!