Family-oriented “AI Creativity Competition: Prompt Your Future Career”– Manulife Hong Kong & Macau and Preface join forces to spark students’ imagination

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Parents play a pivotal role in shaping their children’s holistic development – from academic choices to career aspirations. Andy Bruce, Chief Information Officer of Manulife Hong Kong and Macau, recalls being deeply involved when his twentysomething son considered a career path that diverged from his university studies. “He was unsure about what to do,” Bruce shares. “And we talked a lot.”

As AI continues to rapidly transform the world around us, cross-generational futureproofing has become essential for families. To inspire forward-thinking among students in Hong Kong, Macau, and the wider Greater Bay Area – and to foster collaborative learning between parents and children – Manulife and Preface have partnered to launch the inaugural “AI Creativity Competition: Prompt Your Future Career.”

“The idea originated from our Future-Ready Experience activation, which aims to provide families with all-round support to navigate the ever-changing world,” says Celia Ling, Chief Marketing Officer of Manulife Hong Kong and Macau. “As part of the activation, we launched the Future-Ready AI workshops, where we observed meaningful interactions between parents and their kids. They co-created visions of the future. It wasn’t just about the technical knowledge or the final outcomes – the journey itself was equally important.”

Through this AI Creativity Competition, Preface – a tech education and upskilling specialist – aims to bridge the growing gap in AI fluency. “We’ve observed a lack of awareness, and even denial, about the disruptive changes AI is bringing to the city,” says Tommie Lo, Founder and CEO of Preface.

The competition’s ultimate goal is to spark a mindset shift. “Any new development in AI may become obsolete in two quarters,” Lo adds. “We’re teaching people to feel comfortable with change.”

Open to primary and secondary students across Hong Kong, Macau, and the other cities in Greater Bay Area, the competition invites participants to use AI to reimagine traditional professions or invent entirely new ones. Each submission will include an AI-generated image, a short story, and a one-minute presentation video or animation. The judging panel will feature tech specialists from Manulife, Preface and other leaders in business and tech education.

To support a well-rounded evaluation, Manulife’s proprietary “AI Judge*” will make its debut – providing AI-generated feedback to complement the expert panel’s assessments. “The AI Judge will act as an assistant, supporting evaluations based on pre-defined criteria,” Ling notes. “It reflects our internal commitment to using AI as a tool to help us work smarter.”

To further ignite creativity and enhance AI skills, the first 100 registrants will receive complimentary access to exclusive AI training workshops^.

Empowering families through futureproofing

According to the World Economic Forum³, an estimated 170 million new roles will be created globally by 2030. For parents raising young children, the future can feel uncertain as many existing professions face obsolescence. “To drive real change, we start with families because that’s where authenticity and strength lie,” Lo notes.

Manulife views learning as a shared journey between parents and children. “Through our ‘Future-Ready Experience’ activation, we make AI and emerging technologies more accessible and engaging for families,” Ling says. “By promoting lifelong learning and tech proficiency across generations, we foster purpose-led engagement that resonates with our customers and reinforces our role in supporting families through meaningful, future-focused initiatives.”

Cross-generational futureproofing is about empowerment. Bruce believes this competition reflects Manulife’s broader commitment to equipping people with the tools they need – through technology and financial literacy. “Manulife is in the business of protecting lives and helping clients live healthier lives. That includes protecting families and empowering the next generation. This initiative connects all those elements.”

“As tech professionals at Manulife, we face the challenges of the fast-evolving AI landscape daily,” Bruce continues. “We aim to use that experience to guide younger people and families in building essential future-ready skills.” He highlights the role of Manulife’s team members as “AI Mentors” in the workshops and the debut of the “AI Judge” as part of the company’s support for the competition.

Manulife is also committed to integrating Gen AI into its core operations to enhance efficiency, clarity, and effectiveness. “We’re now looking to bring it into our core processes,” Bruce adds.

The company’s efforts have earned recognition, including top honours in relevant categories at the Hong Kong Insurance Awards 2025 and the Hong Kong Business Technology Excellence Awards 2025.

Narrowing the gap

One of the competition’s key objectives is to address the gap in classroom education by offering hands-on experiences that immerse young minds in AI learning beyond traditional boundaries.

“We’re empowering the younger generation with tools that allow them to ask and answer their own questions,” Bruce says. He emphasises the importance of a supportive and imaginative environment where youth can explore their interests, experiment with technology, and discover how AI can be a tool for self-expression and future readiness. This kind of experiential learning fosters confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong innovative mindset.

By encouraging students to envision future careers through the lens of AI and creativity, the competition inspires them to think beyond conventional paths and imagine how emerging technologies could shape their personal journeys.
These experiences also expose students to essential skills and mindsets – such as problem-solving, innovation, and digital fluency – that are increasingly vital in today’s world. They complement classroom learning and help bridge the gap between academic theory and practical application.

Driving public AI fluency

The competition reflects Preface’s ongoing commitment to advancing public AI literacy. Its momentum is growing through citywide initiatives like “Just Start” – Hong Kong’s first AI-Quotient Test, supported by over 30 global and local organisations – and the “AI 5000” campaign, which engages CEOs in transferring AI skills to 5,000 secondary students.

According to the World Economic Forum ², agentic AI platforms – where autonomous agents make decisions, take actions, and complete complex tasks with minimal human input – will soon take over repetitive duties. “In the pyramid of an organisational structure five years from now, people, who know how to use AI, will remain at the top and middle levels,” Lo notes. “At the bottom, across all industries, repetitive and junior tasks will be replaced by AI agents. That’s the agentic workflow.”

As AI reshapes both business and daily life, Preface is committed to inspiring the tech sector to take an active role in promoting AI awareness and literacy in Hong Kong. While millions of jobs may be affected, Lo sees this as a major transformation opportunity. “Amid this global trend, tech companies can help organisations of all sizes – and schools – drive change. It’s a huge opportunity.”

¹ Source: McCrindle: Understanding Generation Alpha Report
² Source: World Economic Forum: Agentic AI will revolutionize business in the cognitive era
³ Source: World Economic Forum: The Future of Jobs Report 2025
* AI-generated feedback is for reference only and does not determine final results.
^ The AI training workshops are provided by third-party companies independent of Manulife, and entitlement is subject to the terms and conditions of the service providers. Manulife and its intermediaries do not have the relevant license and/ or qualification. Manulife shall not be responsible or liable for any service and/or product provided by the third-party companies, which is not sold or marketed by Manulife.

# This competition is subject to Terms & Conditions and Official Competition Rules, which include eligibility criteria, submission requirements, and the selection process.