Simon (Ir NG Chi Wai, Simon, Chairman of the Hong Kong Institute of Building Information Modelling), David (Mr LAM Chi Man, David, JP, Under Secretary for Development, Development Bureau), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening! It is my great pleasure to join you at this BIM Automation Arena 2025 (GBA Station) Awards Presentation Ceremony and Gala Dinner. Today, we gather to explore a transformative topic: “When AI Meets BIM: Transforming Information Management for Smart Cities to New Heights”. This ceremony is the best showcase of leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to drive innovation and shape our future.

The Government has been steadfast in applying technologies to promote the development of smart government and smart city. Our initiatives aim to enhance and expand existing city management measures and services, bring about benefits and convenience to the public so that the citizens can better appreciate the profound impact of the advancements in innovation and technology (I&T) in their daily lives. One notable example is the application of “Building Information Modelling” (BIM), which is now commonly adopted technology to create the 3D model of a building to facilitate project management, better construction process control, decision support and risk management. Furthermore, BIM technology can combine with other advanced construction technologies, such as the geographic information system (GIS), Internet of things (IoT), etc., to create digital twin of buildings to further facilitate the management and maintenance of buildings and facilities.

The integration of BIM and AI has the promise to revolutionise the way we design, build, and manage our city. By harnessing the power of AI, we can unlock new levels of efficiency, sustainability, and citizen engagement in smart city development.

For example, our Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) has put forward a remarkable proposal to combine AI with BIM. This pioneering proposal uses an AI algorithm to use metadata from Building Information Modelling and Asset Management (BIM-AM) databases and the integrated Building Management System (iBMS) as input parameters to build a digital twin for enhancing chiller plant efficiency.

To seize the opportunities presented by AI, the Government announced in this year’s Budget to set aside $1 billion for the establishment of the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute (AIRDI) to facilitate upstream Research and Development (R&D), midstream and downstream transformation of R&D outcomes and expanding application scenarios. With more application scenarios, we trust that the AIRDI will help accelerate AI adoption in Hong Kong’s construction and building facility management sectors, enabling smart predictive maintenance, energy optimisation, and automated safety monitoring.

Computing power is essential for the research and development of advanced AI models and applications. To support the AI R&D in Hong Kong, we are vigorously investing in cutting-edge infrastructure. The AI Supercomputing Centre (AISC) set up by Cyberport commenced operation last December, to support the strong local demand for computing power, with an aim of enhancing R&D capabilities in different fields and promoting industry development. The computing power of the AISC will be ramped up to 3 000 petaFLOPS gradually within this year. The Government is also subsidising eligible users of the AISC, through the $3 billion AI Subsidy Scheme, to make the much sought-after computing power more accessible. This financial assistance has already benefited some 9 local R&D projects on large language models (LLM), large models in new materials and synthetic biology that will break new ground of AI.

An indispensable application of AI is LLM. As you may be aware, the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center (HKGAI), an InnoHK funded research centre specialising in generative AI, launched the HKGAI V1 LLM just recently, which combines DeepSeek’s base model with HKGAI’s proprietary database architecture and value alignment post-training solutions. There will be enormous potential in developing vertical applications for the construction industry based on this locally developed model. The construction industry is inherently complex, involving numerous stakeholders and intricate processes. Construction projects generate a vast amount of documentation, blueprints, contracts, reports and more. LLM will be an excellent solution to help summarise reports, analyse blueprints or draft guidelines, freeing us from detailed, tedious and repetitive matters for more important tasks.

As we embrace the benefits of AI, we also recognise the importance of addressing governance and ethical considerations. To this end, the Government has formulated the “Ethical AI Framework” to provide the twelve Ethical AI Principles, a set of practical guidance and risk assessment framework for reference, when implementing projects that involve the use of AI technologies. I would like to highlight two of the principles, which are particularly important when applying AI in the construction industry. The first one is “Reliability, Robustness and Security” and the second one is “Safety”. “Reliability, Robustness and Security” means AI applications should operate reliably over long periods of time while ensuring they are both robust and remain secure against cyber-attacks. For “Safety”, it means AI applications should not compromise physical safety. Additionally, we have commissioned HKGAI to explore the formulation of relevant codes of practice and guidelines on the use of generative AI technologies through practical application.

Looking forward, the Government will continue to drive the adoption of AI and innovative technologies, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and driving continuous improvement both within the Government and in the industry. In closing, I am glad to see that AI and technology innovation are transforming our city, improving our world and making our lives better. Together, let us harness the power of AI and BIM to build a future that is not only technologically advanced but also safe, sustainable, inclusive, and resilient. Thank you.

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