This illustration picture shows the AI (Artificial Intelligence) smartphone app ChatGPT surrounded by other AI App in Vaasa, on June 6, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong will offer customized ChatGPT services for students for free beginning in September, and will release usage guidelines in mid-August to help students and teachers effectively and correctly use the powerful technology.

During a press conference on Thursday, university President Simon Ho Shun-man said HSUHK has already provided the service for teachers. The service will be expanded to students from September.

So far the university has received 2,240 undergraduate applicants and 4,250 postgraduate applicants for the 2023-24 academic year, both numbers being record highs

Ho said HSUHK is among the first institutions to welcome the adoption of the new technology in the city. The university believes that the use of generative AI software in academia should be viewed positively, and he encourages students and teachers to learn and use the latest technologies to enhance teaching, learning, and work efficiency, he added.

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Ho also said that all personal information of students and teachers using the customized version of ChatGPT will not be transmitted to public platforms, ensuring the privacy of its users. The university will also provide training to help teachers and students effectively use the AI tool and respect academic integrity, he added.

“The university will use plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin to address academic integrity issues. Once evidence of plagiarism is found among students, there will be varying degrees of punishment,” Ho said.

So far the university has received 2,240 undergraduate applicants and 4,250 postgraduate applicants for the 2023-24 academic year, both numbers being record highs.

He added that he is confident in achieving its undergraduate enrollment target of 1,700 students for the 2023-24 academic year. The university is also providing scholarships for nonlocal students in a bid to attract more international and mainland applicants.

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In addition, the school increased the enrollment quota for undergraduate students from the Chinese mainland from 150 to 250 this year, following the Ministry of Education’s approval to increase the number of such students from 10 percent to 20 percent.