Faculty News

The Faculty of Social Sciences (FOSS) at the University of Hong Kong is proud to announce the launch of the “HKU FOSS Lifelong Learning Series”, a dynamic initiative designed to equip social sciences alumni with cutting-edge insights to address global challenges while fostering collaboration with leading thinkers and practitioners. The inaugural session, held successfully on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the Renaissance Harbour View Hotel Hong Kong. Esteemed speaker Mr. George Chen, Partner and Co-Chair of Digital Practice at The Asia Group and Board Member of The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, delivered a compelling keynote titled “Navigating Trump 2.0: Tariffs, Technology, and Transactions.” His presentation provided critical updates on the evolving landscape of US-China strategic competition, economic resilience, and the competitive dynamics driven by technological rivalry. Following the keynote, a panel discussion moderated by Professor Nicole Wu, Assistant Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration, deepened the dialogue. The session engaged attendees in thought-provoking exchanges on the implications of global policy shifts and emerging opportunities in the digital era. FOSS extends its gratitude to all participants for contributing to the resounding success of this event. The series marks a significant step in strengthening alumni engagement and cultivating a forward-thinking, knowledge-driven community. The Faculty looks forward to building on this momentum through future sessions, continuing to empower alumni with actionable insights and fostering meaningful connections across disciplines. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events in the HKU FOSS Lifelong Learning Series.

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