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Amid Singapore’s vibrant and ever-evolving landscape, where tradition and modernity converge, the National Library Board (NLB) has introduced a groundbreaking innovation to transform how people connect with their heritage. Enter ChatBook, a cutting-edge technology that turns traditional books into dynamic, interactive experiences.
Imagine a world where conversing with a book is no longer a fantasy but a vivid reality. This is the essence of ChatBook – a Generative AI-powered innovation designed to revolutionise engagement with history and culture.
NLB was recently conferred OpenGov Asia’s Recognition of Excellence 2024 award for the ChatBook initiative. This award highlights ChatBook’s pivotal role in advancing technology, bridging the gap between past and present, tradition and innovation, and its transformative impact on digital literacy and cultural engagement.
At the core of this technological advancement lies a mission beyond simple digitisation. NLB’s ChatBook is not just focused on preserving Singapore’s rich cultural heritage; it aims to bring that heritage to life engagingly and interactively.
To delve deeper into this transformative journey, OpenGov Asia had the privilege of interviewing Ms Liau Yi Chin, Deputy Director of the Technology Services Group at NLB. As one of the key project leaders in the development of ChatBook, Ms Liau’s insights offer a fascinating glimpse into the project’s evolution, which aims to transform how Singaporeans discover and connect with their shared experience.
Ms Liau said that ChatBook was conceived to create a more immersive experience for engaging with historical content. The team aimed to go beyond conventional storytelling, envisioning a platform that allows users to converse with history actively, making learning more engaging and personal.
“At NLB, we are continuously innovating and pushing boundaries, while leveraging cutting-edge technologies, to transform the learning, reading, and discovery experience of Singaporeans,” explained Ms Liau.
This initiative is part of NLB’s efforts under its LAB25 (Libraries and Archives Blueprint 2025) goal of building a vibrant Learning Marketplace. The goal is to constantly explore ways to use Gen AI to power its tech prototypes and enhance how Singaporeans discover, learn, and experience.
ChatBook’s debut prototype, Seven Hundred Years: A History of Singapore, marked a significant breakthrough in interactive learning. The prototype was met with enthusiastic feedback from hundreds of users who valued the convenience and educational benefits of engaging with historical content via an AI-powered platform.
Building on this success, NLB launched the ChatBook Featuring S. Rajaratnam, which further enriches the user experience with enhanced interactive features and expanded content.
“Visitors can converse with the ChatBook Featuring S. Rajaratnam through text and speech, and discover more with the Gen AI-powered responses that draw on content from oral history interviews, speeches, and photographs from the National Archives of Singapore (NAS), curated NLB resources, and the authorised biography on Mr Rajaratnam by Ms Irene Ng. There are also Singapore Stories to explore through materials from NLB’s collections, such as 10 Years that Shaped a Nation and Infopedia articles,” Ms Liau elaborated.
“Since its launch at the National Library Building on 23 July, it is heartening to see patrons of all ages conversing with the ChatBook and exploring the rest of the showcase, which includes replicas of the archival records, digital resources and physical books, to discover more about Mr Rajaratnam and our shared history,” Ms Liau added.
A key aspect of ChatBook is its dedication to accuracy and ethical standards. Ms Liau said that the dataset that is used for the ChatBook Featuring S. Rajaratnam is made up of materials carefully selected by NLB and NAS from its collection for all to learn more about Mr Rajaratnam’s life and contributions.
“The chosen materials encompass diverse formats and perspectives, offering a holistic view of his influence on Singapore’s history and development,” Ms Liau said. “Additionally, NLB has only used content which we own the copyright to, or have the appropriate licenses for, or are no longer covered under Singapore’s prevailing copyright laws.”
The success of ChatBook is a testament to the collaborative efforts of various teams within NLB. Ms Liau highlighted the project’s interdisciplinary nature, noting staff contributions from NAS, NLB’s Planning & Development Division, Technology Services Group, and the Innovation Office in the Strategy Division. This collective effort has been instrumental in bringing ChatBook to fruition and realising its potential as a transformative educational tool.
Looking ahead, NLB will continue to explore, in collaboration with tech organisations and partners, new offerings along with expansion of current and past ones based on public feedback.
As NLB continues to explore new technologies and partnerships, the future of ChatBook and similar projects promises to be even more exciting. The commitment to innovation and responsiveness to public feedback ensures that ChatBook will evolve and expand, offering enriched experiences and contributing to Singapore’s vibrant cultural and educational landscape.
“NLB is committed to providing a diverse and vibrant range of initiatives and services for our patrons,” said Ms Liau. “Together with our partners and the community, we will continue to experiment new prototypes, and explore enhancements of current and past offerings, such as ChatBook, to reshape the future of learning and discovery.”
To experience NLB’s ChatBook Featuring S. Rajaratnam firsthand, visit the showcase at the National Library Building (100 Victoria Street, Singapore 188064, lobby on Level 1) from now till 21 October 2024.
