Press Release

HKBU launches Hong Kong’s first AI Media Centre to advance AI and humanities integration from social sciences perspective 

Friday, 30 January 2026

 

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) today (30 January) held the launch ceremony for its AI Media Centre (AIM) under the School of Communication, the first of its kind among local universities to adopt communication-driven approaches to studying AI’s impacts on people, society, and behaviour change. Committed to fostering social development through innovative projects that benefit the public, AIM fully underscores the University’s enduring commitment to creating positive social impact through transdisciplinary research.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of HKBU, and the launch of AIM holds special significance for the University’s research development. The launch ceremony was officiated by Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development) cum Dean of Graduate School; Professor Zhong Bu, Dean of the School of Communication and Director of AIM; and Professor Charles Feng, Associate Dean (Postgraduate Studies) of the School of Communication and Co-Director of AIM at HKBU.

In his welcome remarks, Professor Lyu said: “The researchers of the AI Media Centre come from media studies, sociology, psychology, and data science. This mix is intentional. It allows us to tackle real human issues with both technical expertise and profound social insight.”

Professor Zhong said: “Through AI Media Centre, we are moving beyond the binary of ‘people versus machine’ to a future of ‘people plus machine’. We call this ‘Intelligence with Integrity’. Let us make AI a force that respects us, empowers us, and, most importantly, retains the warmth that makes us human.”

A Fireside Chat themed “Social Science Approaches to AI” was also held today, featuring several local communication scholars. The panel included Professor Christine Huang, Head and Chair Professor of the Department of Media and Communication at City University of Hong Kong; Professor Fu King-wa, Director of Bachelor of Journalism Programme and Professor of the School of Future Media at the University of Hong Kong; and Professor Celine Song, Director of Media Intelligence Research Center at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. They highlighted an AI-related phenomenon that demands urgent social scientific investigation and discussed how the social sciences can respond to these emerging challenges.

Located at the Lee Shau Kee Communication and Visual Arts Building at HKBU, AIM aspires to establish itself as a central hub for research and teaching on AI applications from a social sciences perspective, placing humanity at the core to push the boundaries of AI applications in the field. The Centre strives to develop practical, human-centred AI tools that tackle real-world challenges, and forge strategic partnerships with industry and academia by fostering transdisciplinary collaboration. AIM provides a collaborative climate where scholars can incubate rigorous ideas and translate them into innovations with high social impact, while also training future professionals with advanced AI knowledge to meet the evolving needs of society.

AIM encompasses nine research labs, each led by HKBU experts in their respective fields and focusing on a key societal intersection with AI. They include the AI and Animation Lab, AI and Media Psychology Lab, AI and Wellbeing Lab, AI Experience, Design, and Games Lab, AI and Journalism Lab, AI and Persuasion Lab, AI and Methods Lab, AI and Social Good Lab, and AI and Governance Lab.

With the support of AIM, HKBU scholars have embarked on pioneering research projects, such as developing AI-powered health applications to predict suicidal thoughts and providing timely interventions, and automated AI detection tool to tackle misinformation. Other projects include exploring everyday impacts of societal AI in building digital trust, and investigating the transformative potential of AI technologies in communication.

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Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development) cum Dean of Graduate School (middle); Professor Zhong Bu, Dean of the School of Communication and Director of AIM (4th right); and Professor Charles Feng, Associate Dean (Postgraduate Studies) of the School of Communication and Co-Director of AIM at HKBU (4th left) officiate the launch ceremony of the AIM. Guests of the ceremony include Mr Edward Choi, Representative from the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit of the the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (3rd right); Professor Christine Huang, Head and Chair Professor of the Department of Media and Communication at City University of Hong Kong (2nd right); Professor Fu King-wa, Director of Bachelor of Journalism Programme and Professor of the School of Future Media at the University of Hong Kong (3rd left); Professor Celine Song, Director of Media Intelligence Research Center at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (2nd left); Ms Irene Hui, Executive Director of Hong Kong Economic Times Holdings Limited (1st left); and Mr Lo Bing-chung, President of the Communication Alumni Association of HKBU (1st right).
Professor Lyu Aiping, Vice-President (Research and Development) cum Dean of Graduate School at HKBU, delivers welcome remarks.
Professor Zhong Bu, Dean of the School of Communication and Director of AIM at HKBU, shares the vision of AIM.
(From right) Professor Kenneth Paul Tan, Professor of the Department of Journalism at HKBU, hosts a Fireside Chat featuring speakers: Professor Zhong Bu, Dean of the School of Communication and Director of AIM at HKBU; Professor Christine Huang, Head and Chair Professor of the Department of Media and Communication at City University of Hong Kong; Professor Fu King-wa, Director of Bachelor of Journalism Programme and Professor of the School of Future Media at the University of Hong Kong; and Professor Celine Song, Director of Media Intelligence Research Center at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
HKBU holds the launch ceremony for its AI Media Centre under the School of Communication.