TLDR: A Hong Kong secondary school student’s AI-powered medical app, MediSafe, has ignited a significant controversy over academic integrity and socio-economic disparities. Accusations have surfaced that the app’s development was outsourced to a US firm, contradicting claims of the teen’s independent creation, prompting official investigations and widespread debate.
A major controversy has erupted in Hong Kong surrounding an award-winning artificial intelligence (AI) powered medical application, MediSafe, developed by a local secondary school student. The dispute has sparked a broader debate concerning academic integrity, fair competition, data privacy, and socio-economic inequalities within the city’s competitive STEM education landscape.
MediSafe is an AI-driven medication management system designed to prevent prescription errors. It functions by verifying patient information, including allergy histories, long-term medication records, and clinical conditions such as liver and kidney function, to automatically cross-check doctors’ prescriptions and enhance medication safety.
The app has garnered significant accolades, securing four awards at the 2024 Hong Kong Information and Communication Technology Awards, notably the prestigious Student Innovation Grand Award. It also earned a silver medal at the 50th Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions in 2025, where the student represented Hong Kong, and was the second runner-up in the Asia-Pacific ICT Alliance Awards 2024 held in Brunei.
However, the authenticity of the student’s independent development has been called into question by online critics, most prominently City University student Hailey Cheng. Cheng raised concerns on social media platform Threads, alleging that the sophisticated technology behind MediSafe was outsourced to a US company. Evidence cited by critics included the project’s website reportedly redirecting to a US firm specializing in AI development projects.
Further investigation revealed that the student, surnamed Poon from St Paul’s Co-educational College, is the daughter of Ronnie Poon Tung-ping, a doctor who co-owns a specialist clinic in Central. This clinic had commissioned a US-based artificial intelligence software development agency to create the MediSafe app in 2022, which was subsequently deployed for use.
In response to the mounting allegations, the Digital Policy Office, which oversees the Hong Kong ICT Awards, and the Education Bureau have launched comprehensive investigations. The Digital Policy Office stated it is taking the controversy ‘very seriously’ and has requested the organizing body, Hong Kong Education City, to work with its Standards Assurance Subcommittee to conduct a thorough inquiry. While initial findings suggest the app is the teen’s original concept, the debate over its true origins and the implications for academic honesty persist.
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The incident has brought to light broader societal issues, including the pressure on students in STEM fields, the fairness of competitions when external professional help might be involved, and the potential for socio-economic disparities to influence academic achievements. Hailey Cheng, who initially exposed the concerns, has reportedly faced escalating harassment, both personally and professionally, for her efforts to bring transparency to the matter.
