The local regulatory authority has launched the GenA.I. sandbox ++ to promote AI innovation in the financial services sector

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Securities and Futures Commission, the Insurance Authority, and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority, together with Cyberport, announced the launch of the Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenA.I.) Sandbox ++, covering multiple financial sectors, including banking, securities and capital markets, asset and wealth management, insurance, mandatory provident funds, and stored value payment tools.

The plan will continue to focus on three major areas: risk management, anti-fraud, and customer experience. Participating financial institutions will have access to targeted regulatory guidance, technical support, and free use of Cyberport's AI supercomputing center's image processing computing resources, allowing them to develop, test, and optimize their use cases in a controlled risk environment, thereby promoting the responsible adoption of AI in Hong Kong's financial ecosystem.

The plan encourages participating institutions to explore industry-specific and cross-sector AI application scenarios, including using AI for insurance underwriting and claims processes, assessing the suitability of investment product distribution regulations, AI-driven tools for handling mandatory provident funds, as well as common application scenarios in the financial industry, such as intelligent customer chatbots and advanced fraud detection systems.

The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Richard Yu, stated that the plan aims to bring together regulatory bodies, financial institutions, and the technology community to fully unleash the potential of artificial intelligence, promoting the development, efficiency, and customer-centric spirit of the financial services sector, further consolidating Hong Kong's competitiveness as a leading international financial center. The Chief Executive of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority, Joseph Tsai, mentioned that the Authority encourages mandatory provident fund trustees and intermediaries to actively explore and adopt advanced fintech solutions. By utilizing artificial intelligence, trustees and intermediaries can enhance operational efficiency and improve service quality, bringing more value to mandatory provident fund scheme members and benefiting them.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Securities and Futures Commission, Ashley Alder, stated that expanding the GenA.I. Sandbox to a broader range of capital market participants fully demonstrates the financial regulatory body's firm commitment to promoting responsible market innovation and creating a technology-driven, future-oriented financial market. The SFC encourages licensed corporations to actively participate in the sandbox program to develop the limitless potential of artificial intelligence, enhance operational efficiency, strengthen resilience, and unleash growth momentum