Kaohsiung Mayoral Candidates Clash Over Rival AI Blueprints for Smart City Future

Kaohsiung mayoral candidates Lai Riley and Ku Chih-en presented their respective visions for the city’s artificial intelligence (AI) development roadmap during a session of the Kaohsiung City Council today. This discussion comes as Taiwan prepares for its sixth local elections, with Kaohsiung actively working to transition from its historically industrial-based economy toward a smart city and innovation-driven tech sector. Both candidates emphasized that AI has become a critical indicator of global competitiveness and that establishing a complete industrial chain in Kaohsiung could bring a new wave of economic growth and job opportunities to the city.

In his remarks, Lai Riley first outlined three key advantages for Kaohsiung’s AI development. First, the city possesses a robust high-speed rail and port logistics network, enabling the rapid transportation of semiconductors and AI hardware. Second, Kaohsiung is home to several national universities and research institutions, providing a rich talent pool. Third, the government has recently launched the "Kaohsiung Smart City" initiative, offering both policy and fiscal support. Building on these conditions, Lai proposed using the "Asia New Bay Area" as a platform to create a cross-sectoral AI industrial cluster. He suggested inviting domestic and international startups, venture capital firms, and industry-academia-research partners to form a complete pipeline from research and development to commercialization. Lai stressed that this move would not only enhance Kaohsiung’s technological visibility on the international stage but also create thousands of high-salary jobs locally.

Ku Chih-en, on the other hand, focused on "building a complete industrial ecosystem," arguing that AI should not be limited to industrial applications but must permeate daily life, allowing technology to truly integrate into citizens' routines. He noted that Kaohsiung’s vast urban space and diverse population make it an ideal environment for smart city experiments and demonstrations in areas such as smart transportation, smart energy, and smart healthcare. Ku called for collaboration between the government and private enterprises to establish an "AI Service Platform," enabling residents to easily access personalized information and services via mobile phones or smart devices, thereby improving urban governance efficiency and the quality of life for citizens.

If implemented, the proposals from these two candidates could have a profound impact on the AI industries in Kaohsiung and across Taiwan. While Taiwan currently holds a leading global position in semiconductor manufacturing, it remains relatively weak in AI software and applications. If Kaohsiung can combine its hardware strengths with innovative talent to form a complete AI ecosystem, it will have the opportunity to secure a prominent place in the global AI race. More importantly, the development of AI will drive related industries such as big data, cloud computing, and machine learning, further expanding Kaohsiung’s industrial scale and employment opportunities.

However, realizing these visions faces multiple challenges. First, talent cultivation and retention are critical; Kaohsiung needs to strengthen cooperation with the academic community and provide internship and research platforms. Second, capital investment and risk-taking cannot be overlooked; the government and the private sector must jointly design investment mechanisms to lower the barriers to entrepreneurship. Finally, the alignment of policies and regulations is crucial, particularly regarding data privacy and ethical issues, which require clear guidelines. If breakthroughs can be achieved in these areas, Kaohsiung’s competitiveness in the AI field will significantly increase, further consolidating Taiwan’s position in the global technological landscape.

(Source: Central News Agency)