HKU Hosts Hong Kong Global AI Governance Conference 2026, Advancing Global Dialogue on AI Governance
The Musketeer Foundation Institute of Data Science at the University of Hong Kong (HKU IDS) hosted the Hong Kong Global AI Governance Conference 2026 (HKGAGC 2026) on 10–11 April at the Rayson Huang Theatre, bringing together 38 leading scholars, policymakers, and industry practitioners to examine emerging challenges in artificial intelligence (AI) governance.
The two-day Conference attracted over 400 registrations. Across keynote dialogues, fireside conversations, and panel discussions, the Conference addressed a central question: how governance frameworks can keep pace with rapidly evolving AI systems. Discussions highlighted the limitations of existing regulatory approaches, the growing complexity of global coordination, and the need to move beyond narrow geopolitical framings in shaping AI governance.
In his welcome address, Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU, noted: "AI development is growing exponentially. We need to plan ahead to address its potential social, legal, political, and philosophical implications." He expressed his hope that scholars from around the world would work together to advance AI governance, promote deeper integration between technology and the humanities, and ensure that AI develops in a safe, controllable, and beneficial manner.
The Conference is a flagship global forum on AI governance, policy, and ethics, initiated by the Centre for Interdisciplinary Dynamics: Ethics, AI and Society (IDEAS) under HKU IDS. It reflects Hong Kong's distinctive convening power—its ability to bring together world-class scholars and leaders from leading Western institutions, Chinese Mainland universities, and technology firms. Rather than enforcing a single ideology or seeking uniform consensus, Hong Kong also serves as a bridge across cultures, systems, and intellectual traditions.
Mr Ka Chai Leong, benefactor of HKU IDS and Founder of The Musketeers Education and Culture Charitable Foundation, also delivered opening remarks. He highlighted the rapid advancement of AI and its transformative impact on everyday life, noting the importance of initiatives such as IDEAS in advancing discussion on AI governance.
The Conference featured distinguished speakers including Dr Xu Li (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, SenseTime), Professor Tony Chan (Third President of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, 2018–2024), Professor Duncan Ivison (President and Vice-Chancellor, The University of Manchester), Professor Lan Xue (Dean of Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University), Professor Cass Sunstein (Harvard Law School, via video contribution), and Professor Mark Wu (Henry L. Stimson Professor of Law, Harvard Law School), alongside senior representatives from international organisations and policy institutions.
Speakers emphasised that AI governance is not solely a technical or regulatory issue, but one that requires sustained engagement across disciplines and institutions. Key themes included the role of education in preparing AI-resilient societies, the conceptual foundations underlying AI systems, and the challenges of accountability, explainability, and institutional design across different political and legal contexts.
