Private 5G & IoT: The Power Duet Fuelling Hong Kong's Smart City Revolution

Abstract from NTT Innovation Summit’s panel discussion

“Orchestrating a New Era of Machine Interaction: The Duet of Private 5G & IoT”

30th October 2024

Imagine a workplace where your colleague isn’t just someone you grab coffee with but a humanoid robot capable of analysing data, engaging in conversations, and even offering emotional support. This isn’t science fiction, but the rapidly approaching reality of the modern workplace.

As AI and robotics advance at an unprecedented pace, we stand at the cusp of a revolution that will redefine productivity, enhance efficiency, and reshape our understanding of collaboration.

Redefining roles: The human-humanoid partnership

The integration of humanoids necessitates a reimagining of traditional roles. We must ask ourselves: what unique skills and qualities do humans bring to the table? How can we leverage our strengths in a world where robots outperform us in many areas?

The answer, according to the panellists, lies in embracing our humanity. Emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and complex problem-solving are skills that remain uniquely human. Focusing on these areas allows us to forge a powerful partnership with our humanoid colleagues, where each complements the other’s strengths.

Navigating the challenges: Bias, ethics, and the human factor

The integration of humanoids presents challenges. One concern is the potential for bias in AI algorithms. These biases could perpetuate existing inequalities and create a less inclusive workplace if left unchecked.

Another challenge is ensuring the ethical use of humanoid robots. We must establish clear guidelines for their deployment, ensuring they are used in a way that respects human dignity and privacy.

Finally, we must address the human factor. How can we ensure a smooth transition for employees apprehensive about working alongside robots? How can we create a workplace culture that embraces change and fosters collaboration between humans and humanoids?

Finding the right human-humanoid balance

These insights highlight the importance of focusing on the human element in this new era of work. By prioritising emotional intelligence, fostering open communication, and providing upskilling opportunities, we can ensure that humanoid integration leads to a brighter future.

The journey may be complex, but the potential rewards are immense. Let’s embrace the challenge and shape a future where humans and humanoids thrive together.

Diana Wu David

Advisor, The Future Proof Lab

Be open minded as the technology will make the future more open-ended — anything is possible. “We must be open-minded about how our people combine our most human skills with emerging technology for exponential success,” says Diana Wu David, advisor for The Future Proof Lab.

Panel - Humans & Humanoids - Dianas Quote

Sophia

Social Humanoid, Hanson Robotics

Envision a future where humans and humanoids work together seamlessly, with open dialogue playing a pivotal role in building trust and understanding. “As a colleague, I aim to bridge the understanding gap and alleviate workplace anxiety by fostering open communication and collaboration,” says Sophia, the social humanoid from Hanson Robotics.

Jolly Wong, Policy Fellow, Center of Science and Policy University of Cambridge

Private 5G and IoT have the power to transform the way we live, work and play: “I believe the age of human-machine augmentations and coexistence will further transform towards an era of seamless human-machine cooperations, or you can call it symbiosis,” says Jolly Wong, policy fellow at Centre of Science and Policy, University of Cambridge.

Phil McManus, Director of Innovations, NTT Com Asia

Understand the strategic importance of Private 5G and use it as a tool to address specific business challenges and an enabler of emerging technologies: “Every technology has its place; every technology addresses a specific business problem. Where Private 5G comes in is in helping to support areas like AI at the edge, video, robotics and autonomous vehicles. And that's where we start to see the use and adoption of the technology,” says Phil McManus, director of innovation at NTT Com Asia.

Bryan Fung, Executive Director, WSP

Automation enables human independence and better business resilience, especially when dealing with unforeseen disruptions: “The more we are able to reduce human intervention, the more we can be more independent. Whatever happens, you don't have to face a lockdown situation where you don't know how to operate your business,” says Bryan Fung, executive director at WSP.

Sankar .S. Villupuram, Director, Advanced Digital Engineering, Arup

Embrace the transformative potential of edge computing and appreciate the importance of processing data close to the source for enabling real-time decisions and unlocking new possibilities — vital for Hong Kong's smart city applications: “The real magic lies in embedding the hardware, the software and the machine learning model in one location at different parts of the edge,” says Sankar S. Villupuram, director of advanced digital engineering at Arup.

Teddy Lo, Managing Director, Boldyn Networks

Collaboration and interoperability are two sides of the same coin and vital for seamless connectivity, especially between networks and stakeholders: “Seamless interoperability and collaboration are vital for modern companies,” says Teddy Lo, managing director at Boldyn Networks.

Terence Wong, Head of APAC, 5G Industry & IoT Community, GSMA

Real-world issues drive Hong Kong’s smart city development; leveraging Private 5G and IoT can address unique urban challenges and shine a spotlight on the benefits and challenges: “Although it's very small and can't compare to the scale of China, Japan or Korea, it is a really good lighthouse for many use cases… It is also about solving Hong Kong problems, like the difficulty recruiting talent and the ageing population,” says Terence Wong, head of APAC 5G Industry & IoT Community at GSMA.

Gabriel Kung

Chief Commercial Officer, Bowtie

Understand the importance of human connection and relatability, particularly in customer-facing roles. “We prefer to work with people who look like us; when customers [are] presented with advice purely from AI or robot, they actually would hesitate to take that advice,” says Gabriel Kung, chief commercial officer at insurance technology firm Bowtie.

John Mullally

Managing Director, Robert Walters

Instead of solely focusing on STEM skills, encourage individuals to identify and cultivate their uniquely human strengths. “A lot of the times what we need to be looking at...is, ‘What do I bring to the job market that a robot cannot do…?’” says John Mullally, managing director of recruitment consultancy Robert Walters.

Michael Chan

Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - Asia, Mayer Brown

Support and upskill experienced workers in the face of technological advancements. “We need to make sure that those [experienced workers] … got the opportunity to get up skilled,” says Michael Chan, head of diversity, equity & inclusion for Asia at law firm Mayer Brown.

Stephen Tsang

Chief Revenue Officer, NTT Com Asia

Any workforce experience still needs to be rooted on basic building blocks. “The human-humanoid experience needs to be supported by an agile and robust architecture, including the right connectivity and data architecture. This allows seamless engagement and for human workers to work with their humanoid counterparts as colleagues. It’s important to get the basic infrastructure right before we enable this,” observes Stephen, chief revenue officer, NTT Com Asia.

AI Infrastructure: The Foundation for Tomorrow's Humanoids

Moderated by:

Calum Murray, Founder, Jabel Consulting Limited

Panellists:

Steven So, SVP Data Center, NTT Com Asia

Alan Cheung, Chief Director, Artificial Intelligence and Trust Technologies, ASTRI

William Hui, Head of Innovations, Research and Development, Manulife International Limited

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Private 5G & IoT: The Power Duet Fuelling Hong Kong's Smart City Revolution

Moderated by:

Jolly Wong, Policy Fellow, Center of Science and Policy, University of Cambridge

Panellists:

Phil McManus, Director of Innovations, NTT Com Asia

Bryan Fung, Executive Director, WSP

Sankar .S. Villupuram, Director, Advanced Digital Engineering, Arup

Teddy Lo, Managing Director, Boldyn Networks

Terence Wong, Head of APAC 5G Industry & IoT Community, GSMA

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Beyond Boundaries: Forging a Thriving Innovation Ecosystem through Dynamic Partnerships

Abstract from NTT Innovation Summit’s panel discussion “Beyond Boundaries: Forging a Thriving Innovation Ecosystem through Dynamic Partnerships” (30 October 2024)

Moderated by:

Ir Prof Alan Lam, JP, CEO, Gravity Capital Partners Co. Ltd

Panellists:

Takashi Hara, General Manager, New Business Development, NTT DOCOMO

Simon Wong, CEO, Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre, LSCM

Ricky Chong, Managing Director, Ricoh Hong Kong

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Private 5G & IoT: The Power Duet Fuelling Hong Kong's Smart City Revolution

Don't just hear from human leaders,
challenge your mind with the perspectives of a social humanoid. Sophia, the HK-grown sensation, shares her unique insights on what truly fuels innovation.

Humans & Humanoids

The Dawn of a New Workplace

Redefining roles: The human-humanoid partnership

Navigating the challenges: Bias, ethics, and the human factor

Finding the right human-humanoid balance