On April 29, 2026, Prof. Hongbo Fu, Acting Head of the Division of Arts and Machine Creativity (AMC), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) was invited to speak at the event "Stepping into the Digital Intelligence Era: Forum on Art and Technology Talent Development" in Beijing about how HKUST’s AMC is building a new model for art-tech education at the intersection of AI, creativity, and interdisciplinary learning. Established in 2024, AMC is one of the first academic units focused on AI + Arts, with four focus areas spanning Machine Creativity, Machine-assisted Art Practice, Critical Studies, and Art Management.
During the speech, he highlighted how AMC connects education, research, and practice through SIGs, student-led initiatives, and major public platforms such as the HKUST AI Film Festival. The 1st festival received 700+ submissions from 80+ countries and became the first 100% AI-focused film festival in Greater China, while the 2nd edition scaled further with 1100+ submissions and strong student leadership.
Another key point was talent cultivation: from postgraduate programs to the AI Film Hackathon for secondary school students, AMC is building a layered ecosystem that links school education, university training, creative experimentation, and industry engagement. He also discussed how Hong Kong’s art-tech ambitions, the national development agenda, and HKUST’s Strategic Plan 2031 together create strong momentum for this emerging field.
