【FDS Teacher Grace】Leading the forefront of AI security and privacy protection in the intersection of Chinese and Western cultures


Cultivate composite high-end professional talents in the era of big data 

Under the technological innovation driven by big data, the Faculty of Data Science at City University of Macau has emerged in response to the booming development of big data. For new directions and opportunities in fields such as data science, smart living, smart cities, and smart society, the college offers courses in artificial intelligence, information security, and data science, covering both undergraduate and graduate studies. Benchmarking international frontiers, focusing on innovative development, fully leveraging disciplinary advantages, and serving the development policies of the Macao Special Administrative Region, we are committed to promoting the development of intelligent industries in Macao and the Greater Bay Area, striving to achieve a three in one teaching model of "talent cultivation, innovative research and development, and project practice", strengthening the accumulation of Macao's scientific and technological strength, and contributing to the diversification of Macao's industries. 

Professor

 

Professor Tianqing Zhu 

  • Vice Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Data Science 

  • Doctoral supervisor/Master's supervisor 

Exploring the forefront of technology, journey, academic passion, illuminating the path of scientific research 

Professor Tianqing Zhu is deeply rooted in the fields of artificial intelligence security and privacy protection. His profound academic accumulation and relentless research pursuit are aimed at solving urgent problems for the industrial and academic communities. 

Tianqing Zhu: My research focuses on information security and artificial intelligence, especially their inherent security issues. The core driving force that drives me to delve into these fields is to solve some urgent problems for the industrial and academic communities. Looking back at the beginning of 2000, when I was studying for a master's degree, the rapid rise of the Internet in China brought challenges to network security, which also became the starting point of my research. Entering 2018, with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, I realized the importance of its inherent security issues and shifted my research focus to this emerging field. Nowadays, artificial intelligence technology is advancing rapidly, not only bringing unprecedented innovation, but also making its security issues more complex and severe. I insist on deepening my cultivation in this direction, constantly updating research methods and solution strategies to ensure the safety and reliability of the technology. 

Future AI Outlook: Challenges and Trends in Security and Privacy Protection 

In depth exploration of the rapid development of artificial intelligence and its accompanying security and privacy issues, Professor Tianqing Zhu analyzed the dual challenges faced by this field in terms of practical implementation and value creation, which lie in how to transform it from theoretical research to practical applications, benefit the general public, and create practical value for society. 

 

Tianqing Zhu: The biggest challenge in the field of artificial intelligence is how to implement it, how to serve more people, and how to create value. For information security and privacy protection, they are closely linked and interdependent with the development of artificial intelligence. With the widespread application of AI technology, the dependence on data is deepening, and the diversity and complexity of data are also increasing, which poses more stringent requirements for data security and privacy protection. The public's growing concerns about data security and privacy breaches have made the challenges in this field even more daunting. 

The future development trend of artificial intelligence and its security and privacy protection fields will inevitably be guided by practical applications and centered on creating value. This also requires us researchers to continuously promote the innovation and application of AI technology while ensuring that data security and privacy are fully protected, in order to achieve a harmonious coexistence between technology and social development. 

Artificial intelligence tools create a new chapter for future navigation 

Why have these two generative artificial intelligence products, ChatGPT and Sora, attracted widespread attention in a short period of time? Professor Tianqing Zhu put forward his own insights and deeply analyzed its potential and significance. 

 

Tianqing Zhu: Sora and ChatGPT are milestone products. They mark the arrival of a new era. The reason why they are called epoch-making is because they are closely linked to the fundamental goal of artificial intelligence - to land technology and create value for humanity. This concept caused a huge sensation when ChatGPT was launched in November 2022, witnessing the historic moment of artificial intelligence moving from theory to practice and from concept to service. The launch of Sora has the same significance, as it opens up innovative scenarios for the transformation from text to images, showcasing new possibilities for artificial intelligence in visual expression. This is not only a technological breakthrough but also heralds the infinite potential for value creation in the future. 

 

Although generative artificial intelligence tools still have a way to go in truly serving the general public, their world-class level and talent gathering capabilities undoubtedly set a new benchmark for global AI development. This is not only a pursuit of cutting-edge technology, but also a reference and inspiration for education and scientific research. Our college, City University of Macau, and even Macau should all take this as our goal, keep up with the forefront of world technology, strive to cultivate and attract outstanding talents from around the world, jointly promote the development of artificial intelligence technology, and bring broader benefits to human society. 

Expand teaching horizons, inherit knowledge, and innovate 

Professor Tianqing Zhu skillfully integrates cutting-edge scientific research achievements into his daily teaching courses, injecting new vitality into traditional teaching models and expanding students' academic horizons. 

 

Tianqing Zhu : In teaching practice, I will integrate the latest scientific research achievements into the curriculum to stimulate students' academic enthusiasm and innovative thinking. For example, a course I teach at City University is called Parallel Computing, which is a traditional course with a 30-year history. By combining with the parallel computing methods of GPUs in the field of artificial intelligence, not only has the teaching content been updated, but it has also opened a window to the forefront of academia for students, broadening their horizons. 

 

In course assessments, I tend to introduce cutting-edge content and encourage students to actively explore and share the latest academic achievements. This interactive learning method not only deepens students' understanding and mastery of knowledge but also enhances their interest and participation in the course. Through this approach, students inspire and grow together through sharing and listening, which has become a commonly used teaching strategy in my classroom and a core manifestation of my teaching philosophy. 

The sea of learning has no boundaries and interest is the boat. 

In the fields of data science and artificial intelligence, the speed of knowledge updates is astonishing, and technological iterations are fast, often leading to earth shattering changes within six months. Based on his teaching experience at City University of Macau, Professor Tianqing Zhu shared his educational methods and concepts in talent cultivation. Provided valuable advice for students who are interested in pursuing a career in this field. 

 

Tianqing Zhu: My teaching philosophy mainly revolves around two cores: one is to stimulate students' interest, and the other is to help them continuously achieve success. I firmly believe that interest is the best teacher. When students are truly interested in a certain field or topic, in most cases, you don't need too much supervision, and they will spontaneously and actively engage in learning. Stimulating interest is crucial in the teaching process. Secondly, I focus on enabling students to continuously make progress in the process of learning and research. Every progress can build their confidence, and this confidence will further urge them to bravely engage in more challenging tasks. 

 

My expectation and suggestion for students who aspire to enter the fields of data science and artificial intelligence is that they must learn to continue learning and keep up with the forefront of technology. Only by constantly absorbing new knowledge and mastering new skills can we keep up with the times and not be eliminated. This is a characteristic of the field and a basic requirement for students. 

The combination of East and West, the unique charm of City University of Macau 

 

Professor Tianqing Zhu has rich teaching experience in higher education institutions both overseas and in mainland China. Now, she has come to City University of Macau to share her unique experience in teaching and research work here. She deeply felt the close connection between City University of Macau and Macau's characteristics. Macau, as a place where Chinese and Western cultures intersect, has endowed City University of Macau with unique charm. The characteristic of cultural integration also allows her to constantly feel a rigorous and inspiring atmosphere in her teaching. 

 

Tianqing Zhu : At the City University of Macau, I deeply experienced the unique cultural exchange between the East and the West in this institution and Macau. The perfect integration of Eastern rigor and Western heuristic thinking has formed the unique teaching and research advantages of City University of Macau. This cultural intersection not only enriches my teaching content, but also stimulates students' innovative thinking, which I greatly appreciate and enjoy. 

 

Before joining the City University of Macau, I went from doctoral studies to becoming a professor in Australia, with over a decade of experience. I have personally experienced the influence of pure Western cultural education in Australia and have taught at Deakin University and the University of Technology Sydney. However, my inner yearning for the rigor of Eastern culture prompted me to cross the ocean and come to the City University of Macau, an academic fertile ground where Chinese and Western cultures blend together. Here, I see the organic combination of two cultural advantages, which not only enriches and diversifies teaching, but also creates an excellent environment for cultivating talents with an international perspective. 


Macau City University students say this 

Laiqiao Qin, a second year PhD student in Data Science

My study and life at City University of Macau 

The learning experience at City University of Macau is profound and positive. The university provides us with abundant teaching resources and often invites experts from various industries both on and off campus to give lectures, which inspires us and triggers our deep thinking. The City University of Macau gathers numerous knowledgeable and excellent teachers, with whom we often discuss various issues. Overall, studying at the City University of Macau has benefited me greatly. 

 

Teacher Tianqing Zhu in my eyes 

Teacher Zhu's professional rigor and approachability have left a deep impression on us. In class and daily guidance, she encourages senior colleagues from different research directions, both inside and outside the group, to share their research results, which not only enriches our knowledge structure but also inspires our academic research enthusiasm. After class, we have frequent interactions and communication with Teacher Zhu. In addition to regular group meetings, we also report our research progress to her through WeChat, email, and other means. In this process, I have improved my confidence, academic research ability, and the breadth and depth of my thinking. 

 

Future career prospects 

My research direction is in the field of artificial intelligence security, and I hope to work as a machine engineer or algorithm engineer. Currently, artificial intelligence has rich applications in various industries, and challenges and opportunities coexist. I need to constantly strive to improve myself, continue to learn, and update my knowledge system. I hope to use what I have learned to make some contributions to the industry. 

Linlin Wang, a second year PhD student in Data Science 

My study and life at City University of Macau 

Studying at City University of Macau is a challenging and growth promoting process. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to come to this institution with abundant academic resources and strong faculty. Adapting to new academic requirements is a major challenge for me. I hope to achieve my ultimate learning goals and make more progress and growth through my unremitting efforts. 

 

Teacher Tianqing Zhu in my eyes 

Teacher Zhu is very good at heuristic teaching, guiding us to discuss together, stimulating our self-thinking and exploration, thereby enhancing our learning interest and academic ability. On the other hand, she also places great emphasis on caring for and guiding students. Whether in class or in daily life, she will do her best to answer our questions and clarify our doubts. She has rich experience and insights in academia. We can gain valuable knowledge and experience from her. 

 

Future career prospects 

Regarding my future career plan, I would like to continue researching data privacy protection. The development of artificial intelligence has brought us more employment opportunities and development space. I hope to become an excellent scholar like Teacher Zhu in the future and apply the knowledge I have learned to practice.