Lingnan University announces free access to DeepSeek-R1 for all staff and students.
Lingnan University announced that, starting from yesterday (February 20), it has provided free access to the DeepSeek-R1 model for all Lingnanians. Faculty, staff, and students can conveniently select from GPT-3.5, GPT-4o, GPT-4 Turbo, or DeepSeek-R1 through the University’s ChatGPT portal, thus enhancing teaching, learning, research, and improving work efficiency.
The University’s Chief Information Officer highlighted that DeepSeek-R1, as a reasoning model, stands out by displaying its thinking process, allowing users to adjust prompts more easily and accurately for better responses than other AI models that do not reveal their thought process. DeepSeek excels in technical, mathematical, and coding tasks, providing precise, step-by-step solutions ideal for research and coursework.
Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science of Lingnan University, and a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering (HKAE), delivered a lecture in the TechTalk Series co-organised by The University of Hong Kong and the HKAE on 18 February. Titled “Breakthroughs from ChatGPT to DeepSeek and Higher Education Revolution”, the lecture discussed the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) in recent years and its widespread impact.
Prof Qin highlighted the impressive progress in both academic and industrial research of large language models (LLMs), with one prominent achievement being the launch of Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT). The AI startup from mainland China, DeepSeek, has successfully integrated multiple technologies to further enhance AI efficiency. This game-changing breakthrough has captured widespread attention, especially due to its significant low-cost and open-source model. It has not only shattered the Western monopoly on AI but also made a profound impact on global innovative technologies and artificial intelligence.
Prof Qin said, “With DeepSeek’s emergence, attention is shifting towards resource optimisation and reducing AI development costs. Its significance lies in achieving the widespread use of AI through open access, thereby successfully breaking the AI market monopoly.” He emphasised that humanity has entered the post-AI era, where coexistence and collaboration with AI are inevitable. AI is evolving into a tool as user-friendly as Excel spreadsheets. Additionally, the growing use of various AI technologies, including chatbots and content generation is enriching learning experiences, saving time in content creation, and sparking creativity.
Prof Qin further emphasised the importance of nurturing students’ critical thinking ability and sound judgment in this era of rapid technological advancement. At Lingnan University, for example, we have offered free access to ChatGPT for all students, faculty, and staff since August 2023. Subsequently, it has been upgraded to GPT-4o and GPT-4 Turbo. The University has also integrated generative AI into various courses, equipping students with AI skills to thrive in future workplaces while teaching them to use AI responsibly and avoid being replaced by it.
Prof Qin remarked, “Currently, AI still has limitations, especially in terms of creativity. We should view it as a supplementary tool. Banning students from using AI would only hinder their ability to learn how to use it appropriately. Instead, educators should guide students in shaping correct values, enabling them to distinguish right from wrong.”
The lecture sparked engaging discussions during the Q&A session. One audience member enquired about the potential “dark side” of AI and whether over-reliance on AI could result in the decline of human intelligence. Prof Qin responded that by using new technologies positively, we can reduce their negative impact and gradually build an “immune system” to survive in the digital era.
Another question raised by an attendee was whether humans would be replaced by AI in the near future. Prof Qin explained that while some repetitive jobs may be replaced, specialised professions will still require experts. For example, 50 years ago, only experts could operate professional cameras, but nowadays anyone can take photos with a smartphone. Nonetheless, professional photographers remain irreplaceable. Furthermore, AI-powered weather prediction models, which leverage AI’s capabilities to collect and integrate data, are increasingly being used. This new technology provides accurate forecasts while helping the public prepare for and better respond to environmental and climate changes. These serve as perfect examples of how human and AI can coexist and collaborate.
