According to a new report from the The South China Morning PostMicrosoft has pledged to expand its generative artificial intelligence services into primary schools.
In a major step for the education sector, Microsoft is set to maintain access to OpenAI models despite the company's recent restrictions in Hong Kong and China.
The news follows the successful launch of GenAI in the Classroom in collaboration with the Hong Kong University of Education’s Jockey Club Primary School, where over 200 students gained access to AI tools.
Microsoft to implement artificial intelligence in Hong Kong classrooms
The company’s previous efforts to bring AI into the classroom saw more than 200 fifth- and sixth-grade science students gain access to an AI chatbot and text-to-image generation tools powered by OpenAI’s GPT and Dall-E models.
The expansion into K-12 education will be facilitated through Gamenoodlesoup, a global training partner specializing in educational and entertainment technology.
Fred Sheu, Microsoft Hong Kong's national technology director, affirmed the company's continued commitment to the region: “I believe our educational offering in Hong Kong will definitely continue.”
Microsoft’s AI initiative in Asia comes at a time when OpenAI is restricting access to its API in the region amid geopolitical tensions between the US and China. However, despite the ongoing tensions, Sheu assured that Microsoft’s Azure AI services will not be affected despite the company’s affiliation with OpenAI.
More broadly, Microsoft's business operations in China have come under scrutiny recently, with its president, Brad Smith, confirming that China accounts for only 1.5% of its global revenue.
Speaking about generative AI in the classroom, Jockey Club Primary School Principal Elsa Cheung Kam Yan highlighted the educational benefits of the technology, noting that it gives students broader access to information and promotes exploration beyond conventional resources.
