Singapore is making big plans for implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to boost the economy and enhance citizen wellbeing.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat made the announcement of five national AI-centred projects during the last day of the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) x the Singapore Week of Innovation and TeCHnology (SWITCH) Conference, on November 13.
These 5 national projects are housed under Singapore’s new “National AI Strategy”. The strategy will be focused on employing AI technologies such as machine learning and computer vision.
By 2030, Singapore will be a leader in developing and deploying scalable impactful AI solutions in key sectors of high value and relevance to our citizens and businesses.
New National Strategy Document
The AI strategy will cover the following areas:
- Transport and logistics
- Smart cities and estates
- Healthcare
- Education
- Safety and security
This AI strategy, as addressed by the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO), is focused on using the technology to overcome the nation’s critical challenges and to bring upon influential social and economic benefits to the people.
Its three main objectives include Singapore becoming the centre point for developing, test-bedding, deploying and scaling AI solutions and for also understanding how AI technology should be regulated and managed.
While economic and social benefits will be brought about by the government and businesses, citizens should be made aware of what AI technology consists of.
They should have knowledge of the benefits, challenges and threats of using AI technology. They should also understand how AI technology will affect them and the nation.
Smart cities and estate
AI technology will be used here to allow for more smooth and quick services across various aspects of this area.
AI-driven chatbots are some of the proposed technologies. Sensors and AI algorithms are also to be potentially used for predicting maintenance requirements of public housing by 2025.
Education
A pilot program for AI-enabled automated marking system for the English language is set to be launched in 2022.
The technology will have capabilities such as assessing open-ended student responses and giving fast feedback.
An AI-enabled adaptive learning system is also to be implemented to allow for a more personalised education of Math. Machine learning will be used to analyse the individual responses of students to the lessons and activities that have been prepared, following which it will create a sequenced process for learning for each child.
This pilot programme will be conducted via the online learning portal, Student Learning Space (SLS).
These AI-driven learning platforms are set to grow in 2030.
Healthcare
AI technology will also be used for defending and addressing chronic diseases such as eye diseases. The Singapore Eye LEsioN Analyser (SELENA+) is one such technology that studies retinal photographs for identifying severe eye diseases.
This technology will soon be used for diabetic retinopathy screening, potentially by 2022.
Further development of this project will see it also existing as a predictive risk assessment model for cardiovascular diseases. This is set for 2025.
AI can also be used to study clinical and genomic data, medical images and health behaviours to have a better understanding of the health hazards of each patient. This will allow for more prepared preventive measures to be taken.
Border security
By 2025, Singapore would have adopted a fully automated immigration clearance system for all travellers, including first-time social visitors.
This includes using AI for retinal and face-recognition procedures which could potentially remove the need for passports.
Transport and logistics
Intelligent freight planning is an innovation under this area which will also see the construction of a common and safe data exchange platform. It is aimed to be set in place by 2022.
There are also other plans such as the new establishment of an AI makerspace which will be a national initiative for assisting start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises to kickstart their AI journey with pre-built AI solutions.
These initiatives will come under and be driven by a new National AI office, under the SNDGO and which was established on Oct 1.
The government is also providing funding-support of more than S$500 million to drive AI initiatives under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020 (RIE2020) plan.
OpenGov Academy
In line with Singapore’s smart nation efforts of encouraging AI technology adoption, OpenGov has launched its OpenGov Academy, in collaboration with AlphaZetta.
The OpenGov Academy facilitates and promotes AI masterclasses, workshops and customised courses that are conducted by AlphaZetta and supported by OpenGov.
This academy will feature masterclasses across various levels: C-suite, management, business, and, expert.
The classes have been created to impart understanding – taught in an intuitive, accessible way, keeping formulae and mathematics to a bare minimum and taking an innate, visual approach.
Data literacy, AI and data science, and strategic decision making with data are some of the classes offered by the academy.
For more information, visit: OpenGov Academy
