From hardware to software – Lingnan latest milestones in AI development (featuring President S. Joe Qin’s full talk at the TechTalk Series)
The world has now entered the post-AI era, where coexistence and collaboration with artificial intelligence (AI) are certain. In February 2025, Lingnan University offered DeepSeek to staff and students when the High-Performance Computing Data Centre, Lingnan HPC NexT opened, and 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), discussed AI in the TechTalk series. These initiatives emphasise Lingnan's significant achievements in AI research, applications, teaching, and learning as AI technologies evolve rapidly.
Lingnan announced on 20 February that the DeepSeek-R1 model and other existing ChatGPT tools are now available on the Lingnan University ChatGPT portal to enhance teaching and learning, support research, and improve workplace efficiency.
Full playback of Prof S. Joe Qin's lecture in the TechTalk Series.
On 18 February, Prof S. Joe Qin delivered a lecture in the TechTalk Series organised by the University of Hong Kong and the HKAE. Titled “Breakthroughs from ChatGPT to DeepSeek and Higher Education Revolution”, Prof Qin pointed out that DeepSeek, the AI startup from Mainland China, has successfully integrated multiple technologies to further improve AI efficiency. This historic breakthrough has captured attention all over the world, especially due to its low-cost and open-source model. This has not only shattered the Western monopoly on AI, but also made a dramatic impact universally on innovative technologies and AI.
Prof S. Joe Qin (middle), President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science of Lingnan University and a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering, delivers a lecture in the TechTalk Series.
During the Chinese New Year Media Reception that day, Prof Qin mentioned the opening of the High-Performance Computing (HPC) Data Centre, Lingnan HPC NexT”, which he said represents the “Nexus of HPC technology”. The centre houses dozens of supercomputers comparable to some of the current top 100 supercomputers worldwide, providing approximately 6,000 TFLOPS of computing power to support the University’s researchers and students.
Lingnan University announces the completion and official opening of its first High-Performance Computing (HPC) Data Centre, Lingnan HPC NexT.
Lingnan University hosts its 2025 Chinese New Year Media Reception. From left: Mr Ernest Chan Chi-man, Vice-President (Administration) at Lingnan University; Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing; Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science; Prof Xin Yao, Vice-President (Research and Innovation) and Tong Tin Sun Chair Professor of Machine Learning; Prof Lau Chi-pang, Associate Vice-President (Institutional Advancement and External Affairs) cum Director of Institutional Advancement and Public Affairs.