He spoke to Young Post about all things STEM, education and learning.

STEM for Hong Kong students

Wong recognised the speed at which new discoveries, tools and inventions emerged in the 21st century. But for students and schools, he said, there was no need to stress about keeping up with these changes. Instead, they should focus on the basics.

“Physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics … personally, I still believe these are the most important basics,” he said.

Once you have mastered these foundational subjects, you could begin to specialise in a STEM field. Wong advised students to choose an area of study that aligned with their interests.

He added that even secondary students were perhaps too young to “determine what [their] career would be”. For example, while robotics and artificial intelligence are on the rise now, “the future has not happened yet”.

A driverless car by Apollo Go, Baidu’s robotaxi service, drives on a road in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. Photo: Reuters

Wong emphasised that while reading journals and studies was not necessary for every individual, it was essential to “keep your eyes open” and stay updated on developments in STEM. He encouraged students who were not as inclined to study STEM subjects to still learn what they could in school.

“Technology is pervasive,” he said. Lawyers would need to be aware of AI, and those in marketing may use the technology, he added.

“You don’t need to be a technologist, you don’t need to know how to code, you don’t need to know how to do biomedical research, but you have to know what is going on, because the future will be all about technologies.”

A Chinese start-up based in Shenzhen announced it had developed a new humanoid robot that can change its own batteries – allowing it, in theory, to work nonstop for 24 hours a day. Photo: Weibo

Time as a SOTY judge

Wong has been a judge at the annual Student of the Year (SOTY) Awards eight times.

The SOTY Awards are a competition organised by the South China Morning Post and solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Wong said he kept in touch with all the winners. As a judge, he said he looked at two things among the candidates: “One is how do you help others instead of just being a good student yourself? Two is … the aspiration.”

Wong explained that many SOTY Award recipients had a very “focused target” for their career or life goals. He described one such winner as a young man with an “entrepreneurial mind”. The student was a good coder and eventually worked at Google.

Luo Junhong, the 2021 Student of the Year’s scientist and mathematician award winner, receives the prize from Albert Wong, CEO of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation. Photo: SCMP

Another winner graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the world – and now worked in the financial industry.

“I cannot imagine myself doing that at that age,” said Wong, who was born and educated in Hong Kong.

But while he said these bright, top students deserved such opportunities, Wong stressed another focus. What was most important, he said, was not just helping the topmost student but also the ones in the middle.

“That is how we build a base [in Hong Kong],” he said.

Looking ahead

When asked about the future of STEM development in Hong Kong and globally, Wong highlighted artificial intelligence as a significant influence across various industries. But exactly how AI would affect humans and the economy was still to be determined, he said.

“It will definitely happen, but will be a different form that we do not visualise today,” he said. “[We are] still at the beginning.”

Wong also believed that, over the next three to four years, AI would take on a different form. Developers may start putting AI agents – a system that autonomously performs tasks using available tools – in everything, he said. That would include finding the right doctor or searching for groceries.

“I think teachers and students should learn more about the trend,” he said.

Albert Wong thinks all students, regardless of their grades or inclination for STEM, should stay updated on new tech and innovations. Photo: May Tse

Wong said he hoped Hong Kong would jump on these innovations.

“I don’t think we have done [them] justice in Hong Kong,” he said. “There weren’t opportunities because we focus on finance and tourism … [because it’s] quick money.”

This, he said, was the reason he worked outside Hong Kong for much of his career – because the opportunities in the city were so limited. Wong said he hoped that in the future, there would be more emphasis on technology, innovation and science.

“We owe it to the future generation to create … opportunities, internships, development [prospects], not just for the brightest students, but everyone,” he said.

Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™.

It’s easy to assume that just because you can use AI for something that you should use AI for everything. People are already using it to create websites, images, and videos. These uses of AI do not carry a lot of penalties if something is wrong (depending on what you are building). However, an area in which people are increasingly using AI and should be cautious is the legal system — navigating legal issues, creating legal documents, or doing legal research.

Ever since the release of ChatGPT over 2 years ago, we have seen people rush to bring AI to the world of professional services. Founders and investors alike have increasingly seen opportunity in leveraging AI to help in-house attorneys become more effective, and the everyday citizen has been looking to use AI instead of paying the cost of employing an attorney. 

Legal tech companies have made it their mission to reinvent legal professions and workflows from the ground up, using AI to automate the mundane tasks they do so they are able to focus on higher-value tasks. The economic potential of this has caused the investment in AI-focused legal tech companies to grow in recent years. Crunchbase reported that 79% of legal startup investments since 2024 — around $2.2 billion — have a focus on AI.

Given how often venture capital firms and owners of companies have to work with their legal counterparts, it makes sense that we see venture dollars going into a profession that people have familiarity with. And considering the amount of investment, there are a lot of players looking to create more AI-enabled attorneys, but there are some companies that have risen to the top.

Harvey was founded in 2022 by Winston Weinberg, who was a former antitrust and securities litigator, and Gabriel Pereyra, who previously worked in AI at Google, Deepmind, and Meta. While most of the venture capital attention goes towards automation, Harvey’s founders decided to focus on augmentation and being an assistant to lawyers and attorneys instead of a replacement for them. Harvey helps firms with everything from contract analysis to litigation assistance and regulatory compliance, and the company primarily focuses on the Fortune 500 or Big Law firms. As reported by TechCrunch, it recently raised $300 million in a Series E funding round and is valued at $5 billion. While Harvey has claimed headlines here in the U.S., there is a firm based in the United Kingdom that is grabbing headlines across the pond. 

The Solicitors Regulation Authority, an independent body that aims to keep high professional and ethical standards in the United Kingdom’s legal profession, reported that it has authorized Garfield.Law ltd as the first purely AI-based firm to operate in England and Wales. Garfield’s focus is to enable small and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises to  recover unpaid debts in small claims court in the English and Welsh system. This is a case where AI works well because in those systems, small claims have to go through specific, mundane steps, and those types of systems are always ripe for automation. What we are seeing is that augmenting workers and automating workflows has a place for AI as it grows in the legal profession. However, companies aren’t the only ones looking to see how they can leverage AI. People are trying to use it to navigate legal scenarios in their daily lives as well. 

Fox 5 Atlanta reported that Georgia’s court of appeals has fined an Atlanta-based attorney for citing cases that did not exist in their motion for a client’s divorce case. It was also found that there were references made that did not exist. The attorney was fined $2,500, and the case has been sent back down to the lower court to be reconsidered. A real risk of using AI in legal matters is that it can have a tendency to make things up, which is what AI researchers call “hallucinations.” These hallucinations can put people in hot water if they are used to justify positions or make decisions that have legal implications attached to them. Situations like these make it so I would not recommend that people use AI, unless they are legally trained themselves to navigate legal situations. I understand the incentive to save money by not contacting an attorney and turning to AI, but that can cause more costly issues down the road if people are not careful. 

I believe that AI will continue to be leveraged in legal offices and law firms around the world to give attorneys their time back in ways that will be beneficial to their clients and their case load. But I am wary of the average person believing that they can represent themselves because ChatGPT told them they could. Often, people believe that what is most cost effective is the most effective, and that is not always the case. 

New Delhi, July 26th, 2025: Skechers, the Comfort Technology Company®, unveiled its newly revamped New Delhi store at Pacific Mall Tagore Garden. The latest update among Skechers’ 52 retail stores across the city, the 2,472-square-foot destination showcases the brand’s lifestyle and performance footwear and apparel collections as well as dedicated specialty sports zones, ensuring patrons can find a diverse assortment of comfortable lifestyle and technical performance product under one roof. 

The brand celebrated the store re-opening by hosting its ninth Skechers Community Goal Challenge. The high-octane event, which took place today, July 25th, was headlined by the versatile actress and fitness enthusiast, Bhumi Pednekar. She joined forces with the participants in a collective mission to complete a 1,000-kilometer run on treadmills at the new store. The challenge, a continuation of Skechers’ CSR-led store launch initiatives, successfully fostered community spirit and inspired attendees to push their fitness boundaries. 

Upon reaching the 1,000-kilometer goal, Skechers donated 100 pairs of children’s footwear to The Kutumb Foundation, an NGO dedicated to empowering children and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds through education, sports and social development. This donation reflects Skechers’ ongoing commitment to nurturing the well-being of future generations and promoting grassroots sports development as a vital part of youth empowerment.

Talking about the store and event, Rahul Vira, CEO, Skechers South Asia Pvt. Ltd., said, “New Delhi is a pivotal market for us, and this launch represents our commitment to providing a world-class shopping experience to its dynamic and fitness-conscious population. This store is designed to be a one-stop destination for sports lovers, with dedicated areas for our specialty sports category. The Community Goal Challenge embodies our core values of promoting fitness while giving back to the society. Partnering with The Kutumb Foundation allows us to make a meaningful impact and support the incredible work they do for children in the city.”

Actress Bhumi Pednekar, added, “It was truly wonderful to be part of an event that combines fitness with a powerful cause. The energy and determination of everyone who participated in the Skechers Community Goal Challenge was overwhelming. For me, wellness is about uplifting community and supporting one another, and it was a privilege to connect with the people of New Delhi today. Platforms like this allow us to come together to create positive change through shared passion and efforts.”

From lifestyle products to performance shoes for sport enthusiasts, Skechers’ offering is enhanced with the Company’s signature comfort innovations—including its Skechers Hands Free Slip-ins® Technology, Skechers Arch Fit® Technology, Skechers Max Cushioning® Technology, Skechers Hyper Burst® Technology, Skechers Air-Cooled Memory Foam®, Skechers Relaxed Fit® Technology and Skechers Stretch Fit® Technology. 

Skechers maintains an extensive and robust network of 435 retail stores throughout India, offering wide accessibility to its customers. Consumers can also shop at skechers.in and leading retailers across the country.

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Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman

“We are very proud of this landmark settlement which will transform the lives of college athletes and bring them tens of billions of dollars in damages and future benefits,” Jeffrey Kessler, co-executive chairman of Winston & Strawn, said of the antitrust class-action settlement providing $2.576 billion in compensation to college athletes for their name, image and likeness and nearly $500 million in fee awards to class counsel.

Microsoft layoffs: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella spoke about the recent round of layoffs affecting more than 15,000 workers in 2025 as one of the toughest leadership decisions. In spite of the sweeping cuts, Nadella underscored that the company is resounding, fueled by strategic shifts in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and enterprise technology. In an emotional letter to staff, Nadella wrote, “Before anything else, I want to address what’s been on my mind, and what I know many of you are wondering about: the recent job eliminations. These are some of the toughest decisions we have to make.”

Microsoft has undergone at least four major rounds of workforce reduction this year, cutting approximately 15,000 roles across several divisions. In early July alone, 9,000 jobs were eliminated, affecting Xbox sales and regional offices, including about 850 jobs in Washington state. These cuts notwithstanding, the company’s worldwide headcount is effectively stable, as Microsoft continues to hire in key fields, specifically around AI and cloud infrastructure.

‘The Enigma of Success’: Microsoft’s Balancing Act

Describing the paradox of cutting jobs while achieving record market performance, Nadella referred to the situation as an “enigma of success.” He emphasized that technology companies must constantly evolve to stay relevant and competitive in today’s dynamic environment. “We are no longer just a software factory. We’re becoming an intelligence engine, empowering every individual and organization to build whatever they need to achieve using AI,” he said.

Following its shift to AI-driven services, Microsoft has now made AI use a part of formal employee performance reviews. Julia Liuson, President of Microsoft’s Developer Division, notified employees that employing AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot is “no longer optional — it’s core to every role and every level.” Internal talks are said to be ongoing to add AI usage metrics to employee reviews next year as the company encourages wider use of its AI platforms. Microsoft’s most recent round of layoffs hit particularly at traditional sales jobs, which the company intends to discontinue in favor of more technical “solutions engineers.” The new positions are meant to showcase AI-powered tools directly to customers, consistent with Microsoft’s goal of “a Copilot on every device and across every role,” according to Sales Chief Judson Althoff.

ALSO READ: Microsoft Closes Pakistan Office, Big Embarrassment As Global Firms Lose Confidence In Local Market: Reports

JD Vance Criticizes Microsoft’s Hiring Practices

In contrast, US Vice President JD Vance has publicly chastised Microsoft for the mass layoffs of American employees while persistently applying for H1-B work visas. “I don’t want to see companies lay off 9,000 American workers and then tell me that they can’t find talent here. That’s a bulls**t story,” Vance declared, urging a re-examination of tech industry hiring practices. To get its workers ready for this changing world, Microsoft is encouraging its remaining staff to “invest in your own AI skilling.” The company is providing internal training and resources to assist employees in moving into more AI-driven positions.

ALSO READ: 61,000 Tech Jobs Lost In 2025: Big Tech Like Microsoft, Google And Amazon Lead Layoff Wave, Is AI To Blame?

Microsoft has spent about USD 80 billion on AI infrastructure in FY25 as it looks to become “the Frontier AI firm.” Microsoft is intent on infusing AI throughout its product stack, from Azure to Office to Windows. While the magnitude of the job cuts has caused anxiety, Microsoft’s management is adamant that the changes form part of an inevitable transformation to succeed in the AI-first world. As AI becomes the core of all jobs and performance indicators, Microsoft’s latest actions portend an even deeper restructuring of the contemporary workforce.