Computer Science Artificial intelligence

Five leading AI models showed biases towards a limited number of products

Lingnan University is showing five innovative interdisciplinary projects powered by artificial intelligence (AI) at InnoCarnival 2026, the annual flagship innovation and technology event organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC). Among the exhibits is Face Fortress: Adaptive All-In-One AI for Digital ID Safety, the AI-powered facial verification system developed by Prof Sam Kwong Tak-wu, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research), Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, and J.K. Lee Chair Professor of Computational Intelligence. The system is now being used by Lingnan as a way to screen for fake academic qualifications. Prof Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Hong Kong SAR Government, visited Lingnan’s exhibition booth today, 24 October, to learn firsthand how the system uses AI to screen facial images and detect deepfakes.

The rapid progress of artificial intelligence (AI) has given rise to challenges ranging from algorithmic bias and system security to energy consumption. Jointly hosted by Lingnan University and the Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, and co-organised by the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Fund Town, the 2026 Summit on AI Ethics and Governance was held today (23 October) in Qianhai, Shenzhen. Themed "Shaping Responsible AI", the Summit brought together over 200 key experts, including Chinese and international academicians, university presidents from China, and renowned AI scholars from APEC member economies, such as Australia, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and the US. Participants discussed how countries can advance AI innovation while balancing safety, social responsibility and sustainable development.

Lingnan University announces the renaming of its Department of Translation to the Department of Language Industry and Technology (LIT) starting in the 2027/28 academic year. Related undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes will adopt new names in the same academic year, reflecting the Department’s strategic development direction in the digital era.

Humanitarian innovation and invention projects developed by the United Nations University Hub on Humanitarian Innovation and Technology at Lingnan University (UNU Hub at Lingnan University) have won five awards at the 2026 edition of the European Product Design Award (EPDA). “Incuvia - Modular Foldable Baby Incubator” received three, including the “Design for Humanity” Special Award, which selects only 10 winners a year, and the “Top Design” Special Award in the Industrial / Healthcare: Medical Products Category, the highest honour in the category. “PureAura - Portable Mini Energy-saving Air Purifier” also received two awards. Lingnan University is the only one of the Hong Kong SAR’s eight UGC-funded universities selected as one of the 10 main winners of the year, bringing honour to the Hong Kong SAR.

Underground sewer pipes are essential to our cities, but because they're difficult to access, detecting damage before it leads to major problems isn't easy. To address this, researchers at Tohoku University have developed a new method that uses bacteria found in wastewater and computer models to identify pipes at risk of severe corrosion. This could help cities spot problems earlier and prioritize inspections.

The patterns that make up the weaves in textiles are seemingly endless. Certain patterns produce different qualities, such as making a material better at allowing sound to travel through it. But given the vast arrangement possibilities, testing each pattern arrangement can be a never-ending process. Now, a research team has developed an AI-assisted method to sift through the pattern possibilities.

Lingnan University has announced the admission of 14 outstanding students to its inaugural Samuel C.C. Ting Elite Class (CCT Class). Selected from high-achieving undergraduates awarded University Entrance Scholarships, the students come from eight countries and regions, namely the Hong Kong SAR, the Chinese Mainland, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, the Philippines, Russia, and the UK. They will receive four-year full-tuition scholarships, a guaranteed hostel place with fees covered for four years, dedicated one-to-one mentorship, artificial intelligence (AI) training provided by leading multinationals, precedence in frontier research projects, opportunities to meet Nobel laureates and leading scholars, and priority for admission to postgraduate programmes.

Dr. Didith Rodrigo is the first Asian woman elected IAIED president, bringing Philippine expertise to equitable AI in education worldwide.

Lingnan University has officially opened applications for its undergraduate programmes for the 2027/28 academic year. Starting from today, both Chinese Mainland Gaokao candidates and students holding international qualifications may submit their applications through the University's online system.

Lingnan University has achieved remarkable results in the 2026 edition of the World’s Top 2% Scientists list published by Stanford University. The 54 Lingnan scholars named represent an increase of about 25 per cent over last year’s 43. Among them, 21 are ranked in the world's top 100, and six are ranked first either in China or the Hong Kong SAR in their respective disciplines, underscoring international recognition of Lingnan’s academic influence as it transforms into a research-oriented liberal arts university comprehensive in arts and sciences in the digital era.

The University of Osaka, D3 Center, SANKEN, and NEC Corporation, have jointly developed RED-ONION (Research EnhanceD Osaka university Next-generation Infrastructure for Open research and innovatioN), a next-generation data transfer infrastructure designed to securely and rapidly transfer large volumes of research data—including sensitive data related to genomics and healthcare, as well as the results of its analysis and processing—in both directions between the D3 Center and SANKEN on the university’s Suita Campus. The infrastructure is scheduled to begin pilot operation in October 2026.

Researchers at the University of Osaka have developed a method for distinguishing the L- and D-forms of amino acids based on current waveforms generated by single molecules passing through a nanogap. The L/D ratio of amino acids is a potential biosignature of life. Major features of the amino acid composition were captured for astrobiologically relevant samples. The method could be used to develop electrical instruments for extraterrestrial life detection.

A new computational method aligns spatial transcriptomics data while retaining cell-level measurements.

Lingnan University held a flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on the University campus on 1 October. Honoured guests included the Hon Andrew Yao Cho-fai, Council Chairman of Lingnan University; Dr Patrick Wong Chi-kwong, Chairman of the Court; Ms Carrie Leung Ka-lai, Treasurer of the Council; Mr Sammy Leung Chung-sing, Council Member; Prof William Shum Wai-lam, Council Member; Mr David Kwok Sek-chi, Member of the Court; Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science; Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing; Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning; and Mr Ernest Chan Chi-man, Vice-President (Administration), and Lingnan senior management, staff, and students.

Researchers from the University of Osaka and collaborating institutions accelerated protons to nearly half the speed of light using a long-pulse laser and ultrathin graphene. A moving electric field carried the protons to high energies, and artificial intelligence helped detect rare high-energy particles among millions of detector images. This technique could pave the way for future AI-driven autonomous laser experiment systems.

A new framework developed by SUTD researchers could improve how robots, autonomous systems and augmented reality tools recognise objects and navigate complex real-world environments.

Correlation does not imply causation. Using AI to discover new materials is becoming more common, but data-driven approaches sometimes rely heavily on correlations and make testing AI-based predictions difficult. A new perspective paper published by Tohoku University researchers developed a framework for incorporating physics-based principles into AI to generate more interpretable, testable, and meaningful predictions.

The University Grants Committee (UGC) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region presented the 2026 UGC Teaching Award to Prof Helen Geng Hongyan, Assistant Professor of Teaching of the Division of Science at Lingnan University. She received the award in the General Faculty Members category. The award recognises her student-centred, innovative teaching approach, which breaks through traditional boundaries between the arts and sciences, incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) and Service-Learning in science education, stimulates students’ interest in interdisciplinary learning, and demonstrates excellence in teaching.

Lingnan University and the Civil Service Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government jointly organised the first Government Career Fair on the Lingnan campus today (29 September), with 20 exhibition booths, bringing together over 15 government bureaux and departments — including the Digital Policy Office, the Education Bureau, disciplined services and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, totalling over 30 civil service grades. Recruitment activities were held alongside career talks, on-site interviews, and written examinations, helping students gain a deeper understanding of the career development opportunities available across different government grades.

AI-assisted TB screening could reduce costs and bring diagnostic support to underserved communities, helping narrow gaps in public healthcare.

The Lingnan University Institute for Advanced Study (LUIAS) held a ceremony on campus yesterday, 23 September, to confer the title of Senior Lingnan Scholar on Prof Meng Bingchun, a renowned scholar in media and communications, and Professor in the Department of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), in recognition of her important academic contributions in the fields of media studies, communication governance, and digital culture. Her distinguished lecture, titled “The politics and poetics of AI: From great power competition to imaginaries of good life”, offered an in-depth analysis of the divergent artificial intelligence (AI) policies and development models of China and the US, explaining that this competition is not only a rivalry over “hard power” in data and computing capabilities, but also a contest between the two sides’ visions of good life.

Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan University, welcomes the release of Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address delivered by Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Mr John Lee, and responds as follows:

Lingnan University has achieved outstanding results in the newly released 2026 ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS), with eight subjects on the list, nearly three times as many as last year. Five subjects, including Computer Science and Engineering, and Electrical and Electronic Engineering, made the list for the first time, and Artificial Intelligence, which made its debut on the list last year, saw a significant leap in its ranking, breaking into the global top 100 for the first time in the 76th to 100th band. This achievement underscores Lingnan’s dedication to advancing interdisciplinary research in artificial intelligence and data science, and demonstrates widespread recognition from the international academic community.

AI-powered cyborg cockroaches, Undiagnosed kidney disease, Plants as genetic engineers, AI and mental workload, Carnivorous plants confirm Darwin prediction, Moisture conveyor belt and Forever chemicals in furry friends. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.

Lingnan University recently hosted the Research and Knowledge Transfer Excellence Awards Presentation Ceremony 2026. At the “Excellence Beyond Achievement Where Technology Meets Humanity” ceremony, 53 Lingnan scholars were presented with the Outstanding Researcher Award, the Early Career Researcher Award, and the Research & Knowledge Transfer Fund Award for their exceptional contributions to academic research and knowledge transfer that advance societal development. The University’s overall innovation and technology performance reached new heights in the 2025/26 academic year, with the number of granted patents for research projects increasing sixfold year-on-year to set a new record.

Prof Sam Kwong Tak-wu, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research), Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, and J.K. Lee Chair Professor of Computational Intelligence at Lingnan University, was recently elected to the Class of 2026 Fellows of the Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) in recognition of his outstanding academic achievements and remarkable contributions in the field of science. Fellowship of the RSC is one of the highest honours Canada bestows upon scholars and scientists. This year, 105 people worldwide were elected as new Fellows, and Prof Kwong is one of the three scholars in Hong Kong SAR to receive this prestigious recognition. He will attend the induction ceremony in Ottawa in November.

Finding better materials to store hydrogen safely and efficiently is key to clean energy, but AI models trained on incomplete data can recommend candidates that don't actually work in practice. An international team led by Tohoku University, drawing on insight from 69 researchers, has proposed a "physics-aware" framework that combines thermodynamic constraints, reproducible data, and real experimental feedback to make AI-guided materials discovery more reliable. The roadmap could help accelerate the search for practical hydrogen storage solutions to support future clean-energy systems.

Researchers at Tohoku University have combined multiple tools to create an automated, self-improving AI workflow that may improve our search for polymer material candidates so that it is less expensive, less costly, and more environmentally friendly.

Prof Jean-Michel Morel, Chair Professor of the Division of Industrial Data Science at Lingnan University, has been elected a Foreign Member of the Luxembourg Academy of Sciences and Arts (LASA). The honour recognises his pioneering research extending from mathematical foundations to image analysis and industrial data science, and demonstrating the profound contribution of fundamental mathematics to artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision, and image analysis, aligning with LASA's mission to foster interdisciplinary exchange.