SenseTime, a global AI software company, has partnered with the Faculty of Law at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance the intersection of technology and law. The collaboration seeks to improve access to legal information and promote the public good through inclusive technology.
According to a statement from SenseTime last Thursday, the partnership will focus on developing an AI model to enhance access to legal information, leveraging SenseTime’s large Cantonese model, Sensechat.
This AI-driven initiative will support the digital transformation of legal information provision and benefit the broader legal industry in Hong Kong.
The AI model will also be publicly available in Hong Kong, ensuring broader and easier access to legal information to improve daily life.
Leveraging SenseTime’s large Cantonese model, the AI system aims to provide accessible, 24/7 legal information services, addressing common legal questions and informational needs.
Developed through a joint initiative between SenseTime and the University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the AI model builds on SenseChat’s advanced capabilities to enhance access to legal information.
The model is designed with a deep understanding of the legal system, its traditions, and sociocultural contexts, offering professional yet accessible legal information.
This platform provides the public with convenient access to legal information tailored to their everyday needs and situations.
“This collaboration on the AI model allows both parties to harness our respective strengths fully and to help the general public break down the barriers to legal information,
“As part of this effort, talent development is a cornerstone of our long-term strategy to drive sustainable innovation and create greater social value,” said Lin Dahua, Co-Founder and Chief Scientist for AI Infrastructure and Large Model of SenseTime.
“Through this partnership, we hope to provide opportunities and real-world experience for students from CUHK’s Faculty of Law to gain practical exposure that integrates their legal expertise with AI technology,” he added.
Professor Chao Xi, Dean of the Faculty of Law at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), said that easy access to legal information is one of the most direct ways the public connects with and understands the legal system.
“Hong Kong is unique in China for practicing common law and using a bilingual legal system,” he said. “Given the city’s rich legal and cultural background, CUHK Law sees the importance of using technology to make legal knowledge more accessible.”
He highlighted the partnership with SenseTime, which combines CUHK’s legal expertise with SenseTime’s AI technology to improve access to legal services in Cantonese and better serve the community. He also thanked SenseTime for supporting the development of future legal professionals.
A SenseTime spokesperson added that, as a Hong Kong-based AI company, they believe technology should serve the community. The company plans to continue working with universities and partners to promote innovation, fulfill social responsibilities, and use AI for good to help grow Hong Kong’s tech ecosystem.
Since 2020, CUHK’s Faculty of Law has offered elective courses on law and technology. It has recently expanded its programs to include new courses on digital technology and AI, and its Center for Legal Innovation and Digital Society has helped drive research and knowledge sharing in legal technology.
