Authorities in Macau want to avoid “excessive regulation” of artificial intelligence (AI) that could hinder its development, Secretary for Administration and Justice Wong Siu Chak said today.
Speaking during a session of the Legislative Assembly, Wong argued that “the world is still in a trial-and-error phase” when it comes to legal and regulatory issues surrounding AI and expressed opposition to stricter rules in the field.
“Strict regulation may not necessarily be beneficial for AI development. In fact, it could even hinder its progress. It is not appropriate to impose overly rigid controls,” he said.
Last month, China’s Justice Minister He Rong indicated that the country will accelerate efforts to draft AI-related laws, aiming to balance development and security. However, Macau authorities have not yet introduced specific legislation for AI.
Read more about this topic: Macau: Technology and AI lead foreign investment
Wong’s comments came in response to lawmaker Chou Ka Chon, who asked about safety and regulatory measures following a recent incident involving an elderly resident who required hospital treatment after an encounter with a humanoid robot.
During the session, the Macau government revealed it is already using AI across all departments and public services.
“By the end of February 2026, the government’s internal AI platform included 28 public services and around 5,000 registered users,” Wong said.
He noted that the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau has implemented large-scale AI models, including reasoning, multimodal, and language systems. The platform supports data analysis, document drafting, image recognition, content generation, and voice transcription.
Read more: Macau Chief Executive explores economic synergies with Hainan at Boao Forum
AI is also being used in public services, including a hotline system that helps provide information to residents.
Meanwhile, the Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) confirmed that AI is being applied in Macau’s exhibitions and conference sector, helping match projects with businesses through automated systems.
The Tourism Office has also launched the “Macau Tourism Smart Service,” an AI-powered tool that assists both visitors and residents with tourism-related information.
