Google DeepMind Director Returns to Hong Kong

Cao Liangliang, director at Google DeepMind and IEEE Fellow, has returned to Hong Kong after a twenty-year absence. This is a significant boost for the city’s artificial intelligence community.

As an undergraduate student in China, Cao began exploring AI and working under renowned experts in computer vision and machine learning at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC).

After graduating from USTC, Cao met Tang Xiao’ou, who was recruiting students for his lab. Many graduates from this lab have gone on to become prominent figures in China’s AI industry.

Cao earned a master’s degree from MMLab in 2005 and worked there as a research assistant until 2006. He then moved to the United States to pursue his PhD at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign under Thomas S. Huang, known for his work on Chinese computer vision.

Today Cao is recognized globally for leading roles that shaped Silicon Valley’s most advanced AI systems - including Gemini and Apple Intelligence. His work has made a significant impact on machine learning and its applications in real-world scenarios.

The director considers Hong Kong as home, having announced on his personal website: ‘This is a full-circle moment for me.’ Now he brings the expertise gained from Google DeepMind and other Silicon Valley companies back to his hometown. Cao’s experience with AI assistants will be valuable to local institutions that are looking to integrate these technologies into their academic programs.

Cao’s return could be just what Hong Kong’s academic ecosystem needs right now, especially PolyU where he has taken up a new role. His presence is expected to have a positive impact on the local industry and help foster collaboration between researchers and students.