Faculty News

As AI chatbots and virtual agents become part of everyday life - from customer service to personal companionship - research at HKU’s Department of Psychology examines how these AI interactions influence our social and emotional experiences. Professor Benjamin Becker explains that our brains are naturally wired for social connection. Because of this, we often respond to AI as if it were a real social being, attributing feelings and intentions to it. As AI becomes smarter and more personalised, these interactions may engage our brain’s social systems more deeply and could even change how we relate to other people. This brings both opportunities and risks: Opportunities: • Reducing Loneliness • Improving Learning and Therapy Risks: • Altering Human Sociality • Amplifying Bias and Misinformation • Exploiting Social Bonds These effects are especially significant for young people, whose social skills and identities are still developing. Professor Becker calls on researchers, developers, and society to carefully guide the growth of AI to ensure it benefits us ethically and safely. Understanding how our social brain interacts with AI will be essential to making sure these technologies support us, not harm us. This research was recently published in the journal Neuron in an article titled “Will our social brain inherently shape and be shaped by interactions with AI?”. Link to the paper: here Press Release: here

The Faculty of Social Sciences is excited to announce the proposed launch of the HKU-PKU Dual Degree Programme in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE), scheduled for the 2025/26 academic year. This ground-breaking initiative is a collaborative effort between the HKU Faculty of Social Sciences and Yuanpei College at Peking University, offering outstanding students an extraordinary opportunity to pursue their studies across two world-renowned institutions. The programme’s interdisciplinary curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, leadership, and global awareness, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to address global challenges. Students will spend their first two years at Peking University, followed by two years at HKU. This structure provides a unique bi-city learning experience, fostering cross-cultural understanding and global perspectives.   An information session was held on June 16, 2025, where representatives from both institutions shared details about the programme’s curriculum, unique opportunities, and application procedures. Prospective students gained valuable insights into the interdisciplinary nature and global scope of this programme. We look forward to welcoming talented students to this pioneering initiative. Stay tuned for further updates and application details by leaving your contact information here.