Wan Pei, Lin/ Taichung
In the context of the global drive towards digital transformation, Taichung City Deputy Mayor Huang Kuo-jung led a delegation to visit Microsoft’s global headquarters in Washington State on the afternoon of July 23rd, U.S. time. The Deputy Mayor highlighted that Microsoft, a global leader in AI, has developed a comprehensive AI service ecosystem in collaboration with OpenAI and other esteemed global partners. He expressed hope that the visit would facilitate an understanding of the potential of related technologies in municipal promotion and provide valuable experience and inspiration for Taichung’s digital transformation.
The visit to Microsoft’s headquarters was hosted by Kirk Arthur, General Manager of the Government Solutions Business Unit of Microsoft’s Global Public Affairs Group, and Kai Hua, Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft Taiwan. During the visit, the two representatives provided a comprehensive overview of the successful applications of Microsoft’s AI services in the global public sector. This included an in-depth discussion of the Copilot AI assistant, the Azure OpenAI generative AI development platform, and the Azure cloud computing services.
Taichung City’s Digital Affairs Bureau identifies “digitalization” and “net-zero” as its developmental objectives. Since its establishment, the bureau has achieved notable success in promoting smart cities, integrating municipal services, and developing digital citizenship. The digital citizenship platform, Taichung Tong, has received international recognition, having won awards such as the 2023 WITSA ICT Award, ASOCIO ICT Award, and the 2024 GO SMART Award.
The capacity to harness digital power is a key determinant of a city’s competitive advantage. Deputy Mayor Huang stated that the municipal government is dedicated to advancing the development of smart cities. This will be achieved by fostering collaboration between industry, government, academia, and research institutions with leading technology companies. The city government has maintained a long-standing and reliable partnership with Microsoft. It has leveraged Microsoft’s cloud computing support for a range of pivotal systems and services, including the Taichung Pass mobile application and the vaccine reservation system of the Taichung City Government. This has established a robust foundation for the application of AI in enhancing municipal services in Taichung.
“As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly sophisticated, numerous small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and public departments in Taichung have related requirements, and they anticipate Microsoft’s technical support services to enhance their operational efficiency,” Microsoft Taiwan’s Chief Technology Officer, Mr. Kai Hua, stated. In this regard, Deputy Mayor Huang also anticipates that the municipal government will persist in its collaboration with Microsoft to expedite the implementation of AI technology in municipal services, enhance governmental efficacy, and advance the well-being of citizens.
In light of the potential for adverse weather conditions associated with a typhoon, Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen returned to Taiwan in the early morning of the 23rd. Deputy Mayor Huang accompanied the delegation to facilitate the continuation of Mayor Lu’s visit to the United States. This entourage included representatives from the Education Bureau, the Digital Bureau, the Information Bureau, the Secretary General’s Office, and other significant bureaus, as well as directors of the Taichung City Government.
