Propelling AI in Australia

The federal government’s A$ 124 million commitment to AI initiatives as part of the Digital Economy Strategy is aimed at improving the lives and experiences of all Australians, according to Minister for Services and the Digital Economy Senator.

During an address to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia, the Minister said AI has the potential to improve government services by enhancing evidence-based decision-making, leading to better outcomes for citizens.

She noted that AI has the capacity to improve the lives and experiences of all Australians across the board. And while society will benefit from AI, the private sector will profit from AI and academia will advance new technologies and use cases, the Government has a significant responsibility too.

The federal government’s AI Action Plan will focus on four pillars, including lifting the development and adoption of AI to create jobs and improve productivity. The plan will also aim to grow and attract world-class AI talent, harness AI capabilities to solve national challenges, and ensure AI technologies are responsible, inclusive and reflect Australian values.

The aim is to connect researchers with industry and talent to increase business adoption of AI technologies — achieving increased productivity and revenue gains. This is why the government is investing A$ 53.8 million to create a National AI Centre and four Digital Capability Centres.

The action plan also includes A$ 24.7 million allocated for co-funding the Next Generation of AI Graduates Program, A$ 33.7 million for AI-based solutions to solve national challenges and A$ 12 million to create AI solutions to solve challenges specific to regional Australia.

To ensure AI is ethical, responsive and inclusive, the action plan also seeks to implement the eight Australian AI Ethics Principles. This will seek to ensure AI systems respect human rights including privacy and autonomy, that AI is used transparently, and that there is human oversight behind AI-driven decisions, Hume said.

According to the Minister, the A$ 124 million commitment will bring the total amount the federal government will have invested in AI since 2018 to nearly half a billion dollars.

The Digital Economy Strategy sets out how Australia will secure its future as a modern and leading digital economy and society by 2030. It builds on the Australian Government’s existing digital and data initiatives, sets out further actions the Government is taking through the 2021–22 Budget and defines future pathways to 2030.

The Strategy recognises that the Government plays an enabling role – Australian businesses and individuals will ultimately determine our success. The Strategy is built around three pillars:

Building the foundations to grow the digital economy– The first role of government is to create the policy settings for the digital economy to flourish. This includes investing in digital infrastructure, a skilled workforce, digital inclusion, digital trade agreements, cybersecurity and safety, and world-class systems and regulation that encourage the adoption and creation of trusted digital technology.
Building capability in emerging technologies– The Government recognises the important role of emerging technologies in driving future productivity and prosperity. It is developing its understanding of these technologies so it can build capability and keep pace with changes in technology to position Australia at the forefront of technology development and use.
Setting Digital Growth Priorities to lift ambition– The Government has identified four strategic priorities across the economy where it can partner with the private sector to drive digital growth, jobs and capability. These priorities include lifting the digital capability of small to medium enterprises (SMEs); supporting modern and globally competitive industry sectors in areas like manufacturing, agriculture, mining and construction; building a dynamic and emerging technology sector; and delivering simple and secure digital government services.

The 2021–22 Budget supports the Digital Economy Strategy through $1.2 billion in strategic investments to unlock the value of data, drive investment and uptake of emerging technologies, build the skills required for a modern economy, and enhance government service delivery. This builds on the $800 million Digital Business Plan, the $1.67 billion Cyber Security Strategy 2020, the $1 billion JobTrainer fund and the $4.5 billion upgrade plan for the NBN. These investments will drive greater productivity, high-quality jobs, and income growth across the economy.

Singapore Launches Defense Emergency Video System

Like in business and other aspects, the future of crime fighting will be heavily influenced by technological advancements. Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), automation, augmented reality, big data, and all the other most significant trends observed in other industries are equally impacting policing.

In Singapore, an Emergency Video System uses technology that is already on mobile phones. This lets people who call ‘999’ or ‘995’ tell the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) Operations Centres where the incident is happening and what it looks like.

This ability will make it much easier for SPF and SCDF Operations Centres, as well as first responders, to assess the situation and make decisions. With these technologies, police officers and intelligence agencies have more tools than ever before to stop crime and keep citizens safe. As criminals become more inventive in their own use of technology and data, SPF and SCDF also help combat the emergence of new types of crime.

The Police Operations Command Centre (POCC) and the SCDF Operations Centre will both be able to use the Emergency Video System. Hence, officers at the POCC and SCDF Operations Centre may encounter difficulties understanding the incident situation during emergency calls, particularly in complex and dynamic situations where the caller may be incapable to convey the extent of the situation.

The Emergency Video System supplemented the Home Team’s emergency call response by allowing SPF and SCDF officers at the respective Operations Centres to start live video streaming from the caller’s mobile phone to assist in decision-making and situational assessment.

Callers would also be able to share their real-time location with SPF and SCDF officers via the system, which would aid in the subsequent emergency response. Collaborations have emerged with other institutions to develop this new capability.

Additionally, where a live stream would be beneficial for a ‘999’ or ‘995’ incident, the Operations Centre will activate the Emergency Video System. The caller will give the operator permission to activate the live video stream from a safe location.

An SMS with a link will then be sent to the caller. By tapping on the hyperlink, the caller’s mobile phone’s web browser will be used to stream live footage of the incident, without the need to install any new applications. At the same time, the system will transmit the caller’s location to the Operations Centre, facilitating front-line emergency response.

During the live video streaming, the caller should stay on the ‘999’ or ‘995’ line while officers in the Operations Centre can talk to the caller over the phone while keeping an eye on the video feed.

Before responding officers arrive at the incident site, the Emergency Video System will provide SCDF and SPF with an additional means of triaging and sense-making. This will also help responding forces prepare for the incident while they are on their way to the scene. When both the SPF and the SCDF are responding to a major emergency, such as a major fire, they may use the same live stream.

By allowing organisations to respond to criminal activity in real-time, new digital technologies are transforming the way police protect and serve the public. It is crucial to stay up-to-date on technological advancements that can assist law enforcement on a global scale and to implement these advancements as they see fit in any given environment.

Vietnam Protecting Online Consumer Rights

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been focusing on protecting consumer rights online amid the boom of e-commerce and the digital economy since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry launched Consumer Rights Day on World Consumer Rights Day, which is marked every year on 15 March.

The Ministry has stressed the importance of consumer protection in building a healthy environment and promoting socioeconomic development. This year’s event highlighted information transparency and safe consumption.

Despite the implementation of the Law on Consumer Rights Protection on 1 July 2011, there has been a persistent prevalence of consumer rights violations across multiple levels, with a growing level of complexity. Entering the post-COVID-19 period, e-commerce, especially borderless trade, has made consumer rights protection a new focus as there were several risks consumers face online. These risks include the sale of counterfeit and substandard products, as well as the misuse of personal information for fraudulent purposes.

The Vietnam Competition and Consumer Authority is preparing to revise the Law on Protection of Consumer Rights to ensure that the legislation stays up-to-date with the evolving landscape. The proposed amendments to the law are expected to be presented for approval at the National Assembly’s meeting in May.

Tran Huu Linh, General Director of the Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance, noted that apart from the online shopping trend, there has been an increase in trade fraud and risks to consumers, including fake and poor-quality products. According to statistics from the Ministry, over 1,660 online kiosks offering more than 6,400 products were taken down, and five e-commerce websites accused of selling counterfeit and/or uncertified products were blocked last year.

Linh emphasised that safeguarding consumer rights in the online realm was a priority for the market watch, particularly considering Vietnam’s ambition to become a frontrunner in digital economy development within the region. The government has set a goal for the digital economy to contribute 20% to the country’s GDP by 2025.

Owners of many online stores are prioritising consumer protection as one of their key business strategies. The official urged consumers to make orders from licensed platforms or official stores to ensure their rights are protected. The Deputy Director of the Vietnam Competition and Consumer Authority, Nguyen Quynh Anh, explained that consumer protection needs to have stronger and more substantive changes, which requires the active participation of businesses.

“We used to think that consumer protection was the matter of the State management agency and the consumers. Now, enterprises will be a more important subject in the consumer protection process,” Anh said. It is crucial for enterprises to recognise their responsibility in safeguarding consumer rights and ensuring that consumers have access to reasonably priced and safe products and services.

In 2020, Vietnam approved a National Digital Transformation Programme by 2025, with an orientation toward 2030. The strategy helps accelerate digital transformation through changes in awareness, enterprise strategies, and incentives toward the digitalisation of businesses, administration, and production activities.

The programme targets businesses, cooperatives, and business households that want to adopt digital transformation to improve their production, business efficiency, and competitiveness. The plan aims to have 80% of public services at level 4 online. Over 90% of work records at ministerial and provincial levels will be online while 80% of work records at the district level and 60% of work records at the commune level will be processed online.

Indian Research Institute Establishes Experiential Technology Innovation Centre

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) announced plans to develop an Extended Reality (XR) Centre for the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), the country’s largest steel-making public sector undertaking.

The Experiential Technology Innovation Centre (XTIC) will showcase the latest innovations in augmented reality/virtual reality/mixed reality (AR/VR/MR) and haptic technologies. According to a statement by IIT-Madras, SAIL will use the advanced technologies created at the centre to promote research and development in the domain of XR. The centre will come up at the Management Training Institute (MTI), a SAIL unit located at Ranchi.

SAIL-MTI and IIT-Madras have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate on the applications of XR and other technologies in steel manufacturing. SAIL-MTI has asked IIT-Madras to function as a knowledge partner in the design, development, and deployment of short-term and long-term new-age training modules and a lab for training purposes.

Principle Investigator, XTIC-IIT Madras, M. Manivannan, explained that XR technologies have the potential to add value in many aspects of steel making, and by that extension, the entire lifecycle of steel. This XTIC is India’s first research and product innovation centre for XR and haptics technology It is a transdisciplinary centre that includes engineering, medicine, psychology, and arts. As XR is highly interdisciplinary, innovations in this field need a confluence of minds from different fields, the statement said.

SAIL and IIT-Madras will work to develop various advanced technologies for the design and development of innovative training programmes that incorporate AI, machine learning (ML), extended reality, drones, 3D printing, robotics, and haptics. The XTIC will develop XR technologies for SAIL-MTI as well as train SAIL employees in the technology and help them with future virtual reality systems.

The centre has also established CAVE, a consortium of start-ups and industries in the field of XR and haptics in the country. The ecosystem led by XTIC will help design future Digital Twins for SAIL-MTI.

While most of the research labs around the world are focusing on either software or hardware components of XR, the centre in IIT-Madras is focusing on the fundamentals of XR-human factors, particularly perception and illusion, pioneering a new field of perceptual engineering, and perceptual algebra.

Countries around the world are investing in XR for several applications across domains. In January, researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) created the HaptGlove, a lightweight, untethered haptic glove for virtual environments. It aims to provide a more realistic and authentic sense of touch and movement when interacting with virtual objects, enhancing the overall immersive experience in virtual reality.

HaptGlove uses proprietary software developed by the NUS research team to achieve a visual-haptic delay of fewer than 20 milliseconds. As OpenGov Asia reported, this is faster than conventional haptic gloves and provides a near-real-time user experience. The latest prototype is also more comfortable to wear, weighing only 250 grams, much lighter than commercially available haptic gloves that weigh over 450 grams.

Apart from gaming, the HaptGlove could be used in applications in the fields of medicine and education, such as assisting surgeons to better prepare for an operation by simulating a hyper-realistic environment or giving students a hands-on learning experience by simulating palpation on different body parts.

AI Could Contribute US$15.7 Trillion to Global Economy by 2030

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), Girish Chandra Murmu, stated that by 2030, artificial intelligence (AI) could add US$ 15.7 trillion to the global economy. However, he has also expressed concerns about maintaining ethical standards in audits and safeguarding privacy in relation to the use of AI.

At a recent event, he explained that democratising AI technology is inevitable and has the potential to lead to socioeconomic growth, and it could be used to benefit citizens and the country through targeted and timely intervention. The CAG added that AI has the potential to solve issues in areas like healthcare, retail, finance, agriculture, food, water resources, environment and pollution, education, special needs, transportation, energy, public safety, disaster, management, and judiciary.

He also addressed concerns related to transparency and fairness. According to the official, these issues include the impact of AI on privacy, bias, and discrimination in AI systems, and an inadequate understanding of AI algorithms by the public. He highlighted the need for responsible AI.

While recognising the importance of sustainability, growth, and the role of emerging technologies, Murmu stated that responsible AI and the blue economy represent new-age opportunities and concerns. He explained the importance of prioritising the blue economy, which is an economic system that includes various policies and operational dimensions focused on conserving marine and freshwater environments while promoting their sustainable use. The blue economy aims to produce food and energy, support livelihoods, and act as a driver for economic advancement and welfare.

With the rapid growth of AI and machine learning (ML), experts predict that most businesses will shift to AI-powered systems, apps, security systems, data analysis, and other applications in the future. AI is expected to add US$ 967 billion to India’s economy by 2035 and US$ 450–500 billion to India’s GDP by 2025, accounting for 10% of the country’s US $5 trillion GDP target.

In December, OpenGov Asia reported that India ranked 32^nd among 181 nations in the AI Readiness Index 2022. The government claimed that the world is beginning to see the impact of India’s National AI Strategy, published in 2018. The quality of India’s IT talent pool is a contributing factor.

The country has developed several initiatives aimed at embedding AI use throughout all levels of government and society, as well as ensuring that technological developments reinforce India’s place in the international realm. For example, its draft National Data Governance Framework aims to transform and modernise the government’s data collection and management processes and systems. The government has also set a target to train three million government officials in AI and other emerging technologies.

Recently, the National Institute of Transforming India’s (NITI Aayog) Atal Innovation Mission decided to upskill the education sector by adding IT skills to the formal curriculum. The larger aim is to align the National Education Policy 2020’s (NEP 2020) guidance to increase the pace of tech integration for youth, bridge the future skills gap in the country, and optimise the current infrastructure (including Atal Tinkering Labs) towards making India AI-ready.

The new methodology will enable the shift in teaching pedagogies from traditional to digital with several additional benefits and increased efficiency. Integrating AI with lesson plans and making them part of everyday teaching-learning activities can help enable the students to imbibe the digital-first mindset.

Vietnam Ramps up Mobile Communication Safety

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) is cracking down on telecom carriers that do not stop junk SIM cards in the market. Mobile network operators have been instructed by the Authority of Telecommunications (AOT) to ensure that all the necessary authentication information of the subscriber is provided when registering.

Telecom carriers need to update procedures and regulations on registering subscribers’ information following Decree 49/2017. In addition, mobile network operators are required to uphold their commitments with MIC and comply with the requests outlined in the legal documents issued by AOT. The agency intends to collaborate with local information and communications departments to oversee and inspect enterprises’ implementation process.

Enterprises that engage in serious violations, such as providing services to new subscribers with insufficient or inaccurate information or selling pre-entered SIM cards with activated mobile services, will be forced to halt the registration of new subscribers, the government has said.

MIC is considering strict punishment like suspending the right to register new subscribers for 3-6 months if telcos are found committing violations of regulations on mobile subscriber management. This is the first time that MIC has put in place heavy sanctions on mobile network operators.

Experts have noted that despite measures to punish violators, junk SIM cards still exist because the regulations are not respected. Despite making repeated promises to prevent the circulation of junk SIM cards, telecom carriers have failed to effectively address the issue and junk SIM cards are still in circulation.

According to MIC, Vietnam has 126 million mobile subscribers, and the market has become saturated. Annually, telecom carriers vie for 800,000 new subscribers, but they cannot alter their market share by simply competing for new subscribers. Hence, it is imperative to strengthen the registration process for new subscribers.

In Ho Chi Minh City, it is not hard to buy a pre-activated SIM card from popular carriers like state-run Viettel for only US$ 3-8.5 without the need to produce identification documents. It can be used instantly when inserted into a mobile phone. The price of a junk SIM card depends on the specific number and current promotion programmes of mobile service providers. For instance, at present, the price for a card from Viettel is US$ 6.8.

By combining junk SIM cards with popular communication apps, criminals can spread fake news or images, building their credibility and gaining the trust of their victims for future scams. The use of virtual phone numbers that are not tied to any specific location or physical device makes managing them extremely challenging. Criminals are exploiting this to activate Over-the-Top (OTT) applications with ease, which can be used for illegal activities.

After 31 March, a large number of mobile subscribers without standardised information will be deactivated. The Deputy Head of the Vietnam Telecommunications Authority explained that it is not feasible to prohibit individuals from owning multiple SIM cards as they may require them for business purposes. However, to limit the use of SIM cards for malicious activities, when an individual wants to own more than three SIM cards, they must sign a contract with the mobile carrier.

The official also highlighted that one of the key priorities of the telecoms industry for 2023 is to fully resolve the problem of SIM cards with incorrect or missing identity information of their owners. Additionally, efforts will be made to raise public awareness about the risks of using junk SIM cards.

Goa, India Unveils AI-Based Traffic Management System

An artificial intelligence (AI)-powered traffic management system has been launched in Goa at Merces junction. The system will assist state authorities with security, signal management, and issuing fines and tickets (challan). The technology automatically detects violations and dispatches an e-challan to the violator’s address, as per a government report.

According to the state’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, this is the first signal in Goa that incorporates AI technology. He said that the system will benefit traffic police by enabling them to monitor traffic and enhance security more efficiently.

There will be 16 smart signals aimed at managing traffic in Goa. The technology aims to bring down major accidents in the city. The system can “keep track of the movement of anti-social elements,” the report said. The Chief Minister stated that AI might also be used to make any arrests in the future.

The system has been developed and implemented by a private AI company and deployed at the Merces junction. Goa will expand the scope of implementation on a PPP basis by collaborating with private investment. The signals have been installed at no cost to the state government.

The government does not want people to break rules or take the law into their own hands. The Transport Minister, Mauvin Godingo, noted that although the implementation of the system has begun, the process of issue challenge will be completed by 15 April.

The AI system will reduce human errors and corruption. There will be real-time photographs if someone violates the traffic rules. An official claimed that within the next 15 years, the government will install AI at more locations to monitor roads under the PPP model.

In 2021, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) implemented AI-based technologies to limit road accidents and improve passenger safety in buses. The corporation floated a tender for the implementation of an AI-powered Collision Warning System (CWS) and Driver Drowsiness System (DDS) for 1,044 buses.

In April 2022, under the second phase of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)’s Intelligent Transportation System Endeavor for Indian Cities initiative, an indigenous onboard driver assistance and warning system (ODAWS), a bus signal priority system, and a Common Smart IoT Connectiv (CoSMiC) software were launched.

A few months later, the Bengaluru traffic police rolled out an Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS). Similar to the recently-launched system in Goa, AI-enabled cameras detect traffic violations. The ITMS issues fines through text messages on offenders’ phones.

AI and machine learning (ML) technology are used in the ITMS to identify traffic violations automatically, as OpenGov Asia reported. The ITMS has been installed at 30 traffic junctions across the city. The cameras can detect speed limit violations and red light and stop lane breaches, and offences like helmet-less travel, driving without a seatbelt, triple-riding, and the use of mobile phones while driving.

The system has an AI-enabled solution with 250 automatic number plate recognition cameras and 80 red light violation detection cameras installed at 50 junctions. These cameras, which are active round-the-clock, have saved a lot of manpower, which is redeployed for traffic management and regulation. The data collected is stored on a server owned by traffic police. In the future, the police force plans to track vehicles without number plates and stolen vehicles.

Vietnam’s Fixed Internet Speeds Improve

The quality of Internet service has improved following directives issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC). Globally, Vietnam ranks 39^th in terms of fixed Internet.

According to an industry report, the country ranks 52^nd globally in mobile Internet speed, a fall of nine places as compared to the month before. The broadband download in February was 42.67 Mbps, while the upload speed was 18.27 Mbps. As for fixed broadband Internet, Vietnam jumped six places to rank 39th, despite issues with submarine fibre optic cables.

It was reported that the average download speed of fixed broadband in Vietnam was 91.6 Mbps, while the upload speed was 93.38 Mbps. The system measuring the Internet access speed in Vietnam (i-SPEED) of the Vietnam Internet Centre (VIC) under MIC has also reported similar results, with average fixed download broadband speed up and mobile broadband down.

The average broadband download speed in Vietnam in February was 89,73 Mpps, up 4.6% over January. Among the centrally run cities, Ho Chi Minh City had the highest fixed broadband download speed (96.55Mbps). The average fixed broadband upload speed of the whole country was 88.71 Mbps (up 4.7%).

As per data from VIC, in terms of mobile Internet, the average download speed of the whole country in February was 36.45 Mbps (down 10.7% over January), while the average upload was 16.19 Mbps (down 6.7%).

The figures from both domestic and international sources indicated that there has been a significant improvement in Vietnam’s fixed Internet speed in February, a considerable achievement considering the several incidents surrounding the submarine fibre optic cables since late 2022. As a solution, MIC has directed telecom carriers to promptly apply measures to fix the problems to ensure smooth international Internet connection.

Under the instructions of the Authority of Telecommunications (AOT), mobile network operators have negotiated to buy more mainland optical fibre capacity and share capacity with each other to overcome the crisis.

MIC has also requested telcos to develop more submarine fibre optic cables to better satisfy users’ demands. Vietnam is using five international submarine fibre optic cables. The government expects the total number of cable routes used in Vietnam to double by 2025. Telcos have noted that the increase in the capacity of international connection on the mainland has helped improve the Internet service quality and the complaints about service quality have decreased.

As a result of better and more easily available Internet connectivity, Vietnam’s digital economy has grown rapidly. Data from MIC showed that the ICT economy’s revenue reached an estimated US$ 148 billion in 2022, representing a year-on-year increase of 8.7%. The contribution of the digital economy to the national GDP in 2022 accounted for about 14.26% of the total, with 7.18% contributed by the ICT digital economy.

As OpenGov Asia reported earlier, IT services have contributed the most to the digital economy, accounting for about 30% of the total value, followed by e-commerce (14.3%) and hardware production (12.83%). The digital content field recorded the strongest growth, up nearly 104% compared to the first quarter of 2022.

MIC developed a strategy for digital technology industry development to 2025 with a vision for 2030. Last year, the ministry announced 35 national digital platforms serving digital transformation and the development of digital government, economy, and society, including 21 developed by domestic digital technology enterprises. These have contributed to facilitating state management and public services.

March 28, 2023

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Propelling AI in Australia

Singapore Launches Defense Emergency Video System

Vietnam Protecting Online Consumer Rights

Indian Research Institute Establishes Experiential Technology Innovation Centre

AI Could Contribute US$15.7 Trillion to Global Economy by 2030

Vietnam Ramps up Mobile Communication Safety

Goa, India Unveils AI-Based Traffic Management System

Vietnam’s Fixed Internet Speeds Improve

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