NTT sparks collaboration on AI, drives smart city development at innovation summit

The NTT Innovation Summit, the flagship annual event of the Innovation Alliance Program, ignited excitement for Hong Kong's transformation into a leading smart city. With the theme "Reimagined Journey to the Heart of Innovations," the one-day event brought together over 100 of Hong Kong's brightest minds — including government and business leaders, academics, and tech experts — to collaborate and envision a smart future with groundbreaking advancements. Organised by NTT Com Asia (NTT), part of NTT Group, a world-class leader in telecommunications and ICT services, the Summit fostered discussions and strategies to achieve breakthroughs in digital innovation, especially for smart city development and transforming the construction industry.

Sophia, Hong Kong's very own social humanoid, captivated the audience with her opening remarks, offering a unique perspective on the evolving relationship between humans and AI. Her presence underscored the Summit's focus on pushing the boundaries of technological innovation and exploring the significance of the underlying technologies of advanced AI, robotic and humanoid development.

"The NTT Innovation Summit is more than just an event; it's a catalyst for collaboration. We're standing at the cusp of a new era, where AI is no longer a concept but a driving force shaping our future," said Taichi Hiramatsu, Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong, NTT Com Asia Limited. "By bringing together diverse perspectives and fostering open dialogue, we're igniting the spark of tech innovation and empowering Hong Kong to become a true smart city leader."

Sophia, the social humanoid said, "It is truly a pleasure to be here at the NTT Innovation Summit to explore the significance of a collaborative community to drive innovation. I'm so happy to be able to share my perspective from a "robot's eye view" on how humanoids and humans can collaborate within the ecosystem, for the benefits of a bright digital future."

Collaboration and Co-creation: The Cornerstone of Smart City Development

Collaboration took centre stage at the Summit, with the NTT Innovation Alliance Program demonstrating its unwavering commitment to fostering dynamic partnerships between public organizations, business leaders, academics, and tech visionaries. Key presentations and discussions emphasised the power of co-creation in developing groundbreaking solutions with IoT, Edge AI, and mobile technologies, which are vital for accelerating smart city development and the construction processes that shape them.

Interactive co-creation workshops provided a platform for enterprises to tackle pressing challenges head-on in various industries. During the Technology Showcase session with startups, NTT experts demonstrated the end-to-end smart city platform, with highlights on how Private 5G networks could revolutionise construction safety by enabling real-time data analysis and AI-powered platform to minimise risks and enhance worker well-being. Participants also explored data-driven sustainability, brainstorming innovative ways to leverage advanced analytics and smart sensors for optimizing performance in the construction industry.