The opening ceremony of the “WeChat-HKUST Joint Lab on Artificial Intelligence Technology” (or WHAT LAB in short) jointly organized by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and WeChat was held on November 26. The Joint Lab aims to improve people’s life service experience through artificial intelligence technology and simultaneously develop big data research and broaden the knowledge domain. This cooperation will be an important milestone in the cooperation between WeChat and universities.

The Joint Lab is located at HKUST and led by Professor Yang Qiang, Professor of Engineering Department, Chair Professor and Department Head of Computer Science and Engineering Science at HKUST. The research scope of the Lab includes machine learning, natural language processing, robotics, data mining and speech recognition. It brings together top scientific research talents from the mainland of China and Hong Kong SAR and uses the data of WeChat platform to develop innovative applications of artificial intelligence technology.

WeChat team led by Mr. Zhou Hao, General Manager of WeChat Technology Architecture Department, attended the event. WeChat team said that WeChat currently has 650 million monthly active users and 10 million official accounts, and has become an indispensable chat software and social platform for daily life. The WeChat team regards artificial intelligence technology and data mining as the focus of the future and research in this field needs the support of the world’s top researching forces. This cooperation reflects WeChat team’s consistent support for collegiate innovation, and provides an opportunity for combination of theory and practice for WeChat team and HKUST. The outstanding talents of both sides will work together to carry out research and anticipate to achieve the desired cooperation results and strive to realize the vision of creating a smart human life.

WeChat team continued that WeChat is committed to creating a rich Internet ecosystem. This investment in the field of artificial intelligence technology also demonstrates WeChat’s vision and determination based on the future.

Professor Chen Fanchang, President of HKUST, said, “as a research university, HKUST is committed to the development of cutting-edge research. Big data is one of the strategic development directions. WeChat is one of the most important network platforms in the world. The Joint Lab combines the advantages of both sides and this cooperation is of great significance.” President Chen continued that Asia has a large number of online users and is an ideal place for artificial intelligence technology and big data research.

Professor Yang Qiang, director of the Joint Lab, said, “WeChat is one of the most important social platforms in the world. The Joint Lab on Artificial Intelligence Technology not only enhances WeChat’s capability of intelligent service, but also enables HKUST to maintain its leading position in the research and application of artificial intelligence technology.” Professor Yang’s main research areas include machine learning, data mining and artificial intelligence etc. He is an IEEE fellow and the first AAAI fellow. In 2012, he was invited by Huawei to participate in the establishment of Noah’s Ark Research Office, which is engaged in artificial intelligence technology and big data research. Professor Yang is the editorial board member of several international periodicals, including the founding editor of the IEEE Big Data Journal. He has organized several international conferences on artificial intelligence technology and data mining.