The Hong Kong government is launching a new initiative titled 'AI+' as a central pillar of its economic strategy for the next five years. According to the government’s First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development (2026-2030), the city intends to commit billions in funding to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence. The program focuses on embedding AI technologies into various sectors, including public services, healthcare, finance, and scientific research.

Proponents of the plan argue that AI has evolved from a niche emerging technology into a critical component of the city's future economic competitiveness. By integrating these tools into public infrastructure and private industry, officials aim to modernize the city's economic framework. While the government has framed this as a necessary step for transformation, the specific breakdown of how these billions will be allocated across different industries remains broad. The initiative is designed to position Hong Kong as a regional leader in AI-powered solutions, though the long-term impact on the labor market and data privacy regulations has not been detailed in the initial rollout of the plan.