Hong Kong bets on 36-fold surge in computing power to win global AI hub race

Hong Kong is betting on a 36-fold increase in supercomputing power to get an edge on rivals London and New York in the race for global artificial intelligence (AI) supremacy, the city leader has said.

In his keynote address at the opening of the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit in Hong Kong on Monday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the city’s infrastructure road map was a cornerstone of its bid to become a leading international innovation and technology (I&T) hub.

“We are formulating a comprehensive strategy that combines world-class infrastructure, cutting-edge research and development, and a culture of responsible innovation,” he said. “Boosting our computing power, a key driver of AI development, is a top priority.”

Lee noted that although the city currently operated at 5,000 petaflops of computing power following the launch of Cyberport’s AI Supercomputing Centre in late 2024, the government was already setting its sights on a far greater horizon, centred on a new data facility cluster in Sandy Ridge within the Northern Metropolis megaproject.

“By 2032, this cluster alone will provide 180,000 petaflops,” he told the more than 1,000 delegates gathered at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. “That is 36 times Hong Kong’s current computing power.”

Hong Kong ranked third behind New York and London in the latest Global AI Competitiveness Index published by the Deep Knowledge Group.