Innovating for Humanity: Bridging Barriers, Fighting Digital Crime and Building a Better Future

Innovation has always been the engine of humanity’s greatest advances. In our era – marked by rapid technological transformation, mounting social challenges and global interconnectedness – innovation is more urgent and meaningful than ever.

Today, it is not just about inventing new tools, but about reshaping society for justice, accessibility and resilience. Across universities, research centres and the digital frontier, pioneering minds are harnessing technology and collaborating to solve some of humanity’s most pressing challenges. From fighting crypto crime to shielding society from digital scams and championing the power of open source, these innovators share the common purpose of using ingenuity as a force for good, to empower people and for building bridges towards a brighter future.

To this end, at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), a group of dedicated professors are tackling society’s issues head-on. Utilising the latest in cutting-edge research and technology, they have been working hard to pave the way for a future that is more secured, just and equitable.

Outpacing the Dark Side: Innovating to Combat Crimes
While technology can empower our legal systems, it can also be exploited by criminal minds. Nowhere is this more evident than in the world of digital crime. Cryptocurrencies, with decentralised, borderless transactions, have brought financial innovation – but also new forms of criminal activity that challenge traditional policing.

“As such, prevention is the best cure,” asserts Assistant Professor Eray Arda AKARTUNA from the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences (SS). The stakes are high: as digital assets proliferate, so do scams, fraud and sophisticated criminal networks.

Professor Matthew MANNING, Head of SS, outlines the challenge: “Cryptoassets operate on decentralised blockchains, making it incredibly difficult to trace ownership or link transactions to specific individuals.”

In this high-stakes arena, artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful ally. “We can train neural networks to identify suspicious transaction patterns,” Akartuna reveals. Advanced AI systems can now detect intricate criminal schemes in real time, flagging potential fraud – such as romance scams – before it is too late.

Blockchain analytics platforms are also transforming investigations. Companies like Elliptic have developed sophisticated tools to cluster wallet addresses, track transaction histories and link pseudonymous accounts to real-world entities. With these innovations, law enforcement agencies have unprecedented capabilities to combat crime across borders. However, technology is only part of the picture.

As Manning notes, “Many crypto-related crimes rely on exploiting individuals’ lack of knowledge.”

Comprehensive education programmes now arm the public with crucial digital safety skills. From secure wallet storage and two-factor authentication to recognising scams and the importance of regulated exchanges, these initiatives help people protect themselves.

Solving crypto crime requires more than national action. “Law enforcement agencies must develop unified frameworks for investigating these crimes,” Manning stresses. International data-sharing, trusted communication and standardised procedures now help authorities respond rapidly and effectively, wherever crimes occur.

“Developing standardised investigation techniques ensures that different jurisdictions can work together more effectively,” Manning explains. It is no wonder now that police forces are investing in digital literacy and advanced training, from blockchain basics to digital forensics – equipping officers to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated criminals.

Regulation is evolving, too. Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) promise safer, more transparent alternatives to private cryptocurrencies. “We need to understand these risks during the development phase,” Akartuna points out. Meanwhile, the research community is embracing open source collaboration, sharing datasets and tools to accelerate the fight against digital crime.

“By combining technological innovation, public education, international cooperation and adaptive regulatory frameworks, we can make crypto crimes increasingly difficult and less rewarding for potential criminals,” Manning asserts. Looking forward, the message from these digital guardians is clear: innovation – rooted in collaboration and education – is our most powerful weapon in safeguarding the digital world.

Indeed, Manning and Akartuna are not alone in their mission. Others are working hard to fight digital crime, too.

As the digital revolution opens new frontiers, scams today cost the global economy an estimated 1 per cent of GDP each year, with both financial and social tolls, explains Professor Xiaofan LIU from the Department of Media and Communication (COM). As this threat grows, he is excited by the fact the researchers are more resolved to find solutions. At CityUHK, Liu is now at the forefront with his project, “Pioneering Technology, Linking the World.” The initiative uses advanced AI and large language models to analyse and disrupt telecom scams.

“Scams have become a pressing and pervasive threat to society,” Liu acknowledges, emphasising the urgent need for collective action. By collecting and analysing user discussions on social media – not just in Hong Kong, but expanding to Southeast Asia and beyond – Liu’s team identifies new scam types and issues early alerts.

“Large language models suddenly became able to understand almost everything,” Liu notes, highlighting how fast AI is transforming the fight against scams.

What sets Liu’s project apart is its holistic strategy. It is about building communities of resistance. Daily intelligence reports go to police and financial institutions, while forums and media outreach engage the public. “We want to see a coordinated effort from society to tackle the scam problem,” Liu emphasises.

Going further, the project which is a collaboration with and sponsored by China Unicom, is exploring AI that proactively engages both potential victims and scammers, offering new channels for prevention.

“We plan to use large language models not only to passively analyse collected data but also to proactively reach out,” Liu reveals. The vision is bold: to transform the challenge of scams into an opportunity for innovation, collaboration and social impact. “This topic will be my focus for at least the next five years,” Liu says, underscoring his commitment to building a safer digital world.

By acting as a bridge between technology, law enforcement, financial institutions and the community, Liu and his team show how innovation can serve humanity, turning adversity into progress.

The Open Source Revolution
While proprietary technology has powered much of the digital age, a new paradigm is also gaining ground—one that champions openness, collaboration and the collective good. Open source models like DeepSeek and open source AI are at the forefront, offering new ways to tackle society’s biggest challenges.

Professor Yanto CHANDRA, Associate Professor in the Department of Public and International Affairs (PIA), explains the unique power of these platforms: “What they do is very clever,” he says, noting how companies like DeepSeek balance proprietary and open source models. “They can sell to corporate paying users while keeping some parts open for public benefit.” Historically, open source principles have driven progress.

“The beauty of the open source model is that the person who invents something will not keep the economic benefits to oneself,” Chandra points out. “The aim is to benefit society at large, making innovations accessible to everybody.”

Especially exciting are next-generation AI models like Llama 3, which move beyond generating text to taking action on behalf of users. “It can engage in action,” Chandra explains. “For example, it might shortlist interview contacts, send emails or even make phone calls on your behalf, knowing your preferences.”

For social enterprises and NGOs, these technologies offer game-changing opportunities.

“AI can help these sectors by providing new ideas, speeding up information synthesis and designing interventions for disadvantaged groups,” Chandra notes.

Yet there are obstacles. Expertise and financial sustainability are significant concerns, especially when innovation is given away for free. “You need somebody who can work with and fine-tune these models,” Chandra acknowledges. “There’s also the question of how to sustain financially when you’re giving innovations away for free.” And with great power comes great responsibility. “Technology can be an enabler, but it can also be a boomerang for humanity,” Chandra warns. “That’s where governance and guardrails become crucial.”

As platforms like DeepSeek and open source AI evolve, they are redefining what it means to innovate in the public interest. By embracing transparency, shared knowledge, and collective problem-solving, open source technology is paving the way for a more equitable, resilient and advanced future. The message is clear: innovation, when guided by openness and social responsibility, has the power to transform our world.

Innovation as Our Shared Human Project
From the frontlines of digital crime fighting, AI-powered scam detection to the open source revolution, one thread unites these stories: innovation as a force to advance humanity and our common future.

True innovation is not just about harnessing technology for its own sake. It is about breaking down barriers, empowering individuals, and forging connections across disciplines and borders. It is about using our collective ingenuity to create a world that is not only smarter and more efficient, but also more just, inclusive and humane.

As Professor Liu emphasises, there is a collective responsibility in this endeavour, urging, “We want to see a coordinated effort from society to tackle the scam problem.” Meanwhile, Professor Akartuna asserts, “Prevention is the best cure,” highlighting the proactive measures necessary to safeguard society against emerging threats.

These insights underscore that creating a brighter and more equitable future is a shared responsibility. By harnessing innovation and fostering collaboration across various sectors, the future belongs to those who innovate not just for profit, but for people. Educators, technologists, policymakers, and citizens can work together to ensure that innovation continues to serve as the engine of progress, equity, and hope for generations to come.