Hong Kong Hosts AI Cybersecurity Challenge as AI-Driven Attacks Rise

Hong Kong has stepped up efforts to strengthen AI-powered cybersecurity as 40 teams from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and overseas regions competed in a new artificial intelligence-driven cyber attack-and-defence challenge. The AI x Cybersecurity Challenge, jointly organised by Hong Kong Government's Digital Policy Office, the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies, the Hong Kong Cybersecurity Professional Association and China Mobile Hong Kong, held its finals on Sunday.

The competition followed a 12-hour online qualifying round that produced 40 finalists, comprising 20 teams from mainland China, 18 from Hong Kong and two from overseas.

Teams of up to three members competed for HK$180,000 in prize money using an AI-Driven Dual competition format designed to test autonomous cyber defence and automated vulnerability discovery.

The challenge brought together representatives from government, industry, academia and research institutions to explore how artificial intelligence can be used to counter increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

Hong Kong adopts ‘AI versus AI’ strategy

Hong Kong Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Professor Sun Dong said artificial intelligence was rapidly reshaping society while creating new cybersecurity risks.

He said the same technology that could be used to develop new cyber threats could also strengthen defensive capabilities.

The Government was therefore promoting an “AI versus AI” cybersecurity strategy, using artificial intelligence to build stronger defences against AI-enabled attacks. Sun said authorities were also strengthening cybersecurity policies, guidelines and ethical frameworks while conducting regular cyber attack-and-defence exercises to improve the city's preparedness.

AI lowers barriers to cyberattacks

The organisers said rapid advances in AI were changing the global cybersecurity landscape.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly capable of supporting vulnerability discovery, automated penetration testing and the construction of attack chains, potentially lowering the technical expertise required to conduct sophisticated cyberattacks.

Emerging threats include AI model security risks, data poisoning, model theft, phishing, supply-chain vulnerabilities and automated exploitation. The organisers said this growing threat landscape has increased demand for cybersecurity professionals with expertise spanning both artificial intelligence and information security.

AI-driven attack and defence

Unlike conventional Capture the Flag cybersecurity competitions, the Hong Kong challenge uses an AI-driven format in which teams deploy automated systems to analyse competition environments, identify vulnerabilities and submit flags. The competition includes vulnerabilities based on real-world scenarios alongside simulated zero-day vulnerabilities.

Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies Director-General Wang Jiang said AI was transforming cyber defence from reactive responses towards more proactive and intelligent protection.

“Using technology to counter technology has become an inevitable trend,” Wang said.

China Mobile Hong Kong CEO Shi Xiaoping said the company had invested heavily in developing the AI attack-and-defence platform as part of efforts to support Hong Kong's cybersecurity ecosystem.

Hong Kong Cybersecurity Professional Association President Dr Rocky Cheng said developing professionals with expertise in AI system design, cybersecurity and practical attack-and-defence capabilities would be critical to strengthening the city's cyber resilience. The AI x Cybersecurity Challenge awards ceremony is scheduled for late September during China Cybersecurity Week. Organisers are also encouraging companies to strengthen cybersecurity governance, regularly assess information-system risks, improve data protection and develop stronger cyber incident response capabilities.

AI-powered cybersecurity