Macau needs to hire more non-locals to develop new AI technologies, CE admits

Macau needs to find ways to attract more qualified non-local staff to support the development of new technologies relating to transportation, translation, and security systems, the Chief Executive (CE) Ho Iat Seng said on Monday in a meeting with the honorary president of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence of Tsinghua University, Zhang Bo.

“In the future, Macau still needs to attract more qualified staff from the mainland and from abroad to support the development [of new technologies],” Ho said, while referring to several projects that have been launched by local university institutions.

“Currently, at the University of Macau, the Polytechnic University of Macau, and the Macao University of Science and Technology, autonomous buses, translation platforms, and security systems have been launched, which reflects [the fact that] higher education institutions play a pivotal role in the growth of artificial intelligence technology,” the CE mentioned, noting the need for more qualified non-local staff.

The CE also reaffirmed that there will be a space dedicated to Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects in the Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, pointing out that such projects should be directed there.

In turn, and while making a brief presentation on current trends in new technologies as well as the success of the industrialization operating model, Zhang pointed out that Macau needs its own research and development team to explore artificial intelligence, calling on the government to recruit qualified staff from the mainland and from abroad to research and develop artificial intelligence techniques suitable for the development of local industry, and to achieve the goal of linking industry, university, and research.