Harnessing AI for public good
IN SINGAPORE, where human capital is highly valued, artificial intelligence (AI) could be the force multiplier that powers our next wave of economic transformation. It is why we set out a vision to harness AI for the public good, for Singapore and the world.
Singapore has an ageing population with considerable healthcare needs, and our densely populated urban environment necessitates energy efficiency. AI can enable personalised healthcare solutions and optimise energy use for sustainability. We also want to uplift the potential of our people and businesses and equip them to be confident in an AI-enabled future.
Recognising AI’s potential, Singapore was among the first countries to articulate a National AI Strategy in 2019. We have invested over S$500 million in AI R&D over the last five years. Our researchers are well-regarded internationally, particularly in natural language processing and computer vision.
We are also home to globally competitive industries in domains such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, legal, aviation and maritime. This is invaluable as breakthroughs in AI increasingly occur at intersections – where tech and domain experts apply specialised knowledge and partner each other to tackle the challenges of the day.
Most importantly, Singaporeans are becoming confident users of digital technologies, and trust the government to ensure that technologies are developed responsibly. This helps Singapore stay ahead of the curve as we enter an AI-enabled future.
The government sees itself as a steward, investing in new capabilities to enable the next generation to lead better lives. We are enhancing our infrastructure to meet the demands of widespread AI adoption, and deepening our understanding of sound AI governance.
AI activities are energy-intensive. We will invest in more sustainable solutions, such as green data centres as outlined in our Digital Connectivity Blueprint, and green compute.
We will need AI capabilities across all sectors of the economy. To boost proficiencies, Singapore became one of the first in the world to obtain secure access to the large language models underlying ChatGPT. Two out of three public servants in Singapore can use generative AI tools to enhance their productivity.
We will also crowd in talents, who we believe are most attracted by the prospect of tackling grand challenges. Singapore can be a place which focuses less on hype, and more on practical use cases; for instance, in precision medicine or energy management.
A related issue is around access to relevant data. We often say, “where there is no good data, there is no good AI”. We have invested in getting businesses to use and share data in a trusted manner, and are now considering ways to ensure that more projects that serve AI for the public good can tap on relevant government data.
In AI governance, Singapore aims to uphold its reputation for trustworthy AI development and deployment. We have introduced practical initiatives such as AI Verify, a testing framework and software toolkit for developers and owners of AI systems to demonstrate their responsible use. We will focus on pragmatically assessing the evolving risks and addressing them – whether it is around bias and cybersecurity, or possible disruptions to our workforce.
In addressing the considerable opportunities and challenges of AI, we will forge new partnerships. We are working closely with other countries to shape “rules-of-the-road” and invest in cutting-edge research.
A good example is the joint mapping of our AI Verify with the AI Risk Management Framework developed by the United States’ National Institute of Standards and Technology. The result is enhanced interoperability which benefits our businesses operating in both the US and Singapore.
With industry, we aim to entrench the spirit of innovation and experimentation. This spirit was evident in the Trailblazers initiative, our partnership with Google Cloud to identify and incubate 100 generative AI use cases across the government and industry in 100 days.
In pursuit of a positive AI agenda, Singapore invites our friends and colleagues to join us to harness AI for the public good.
Through the years, many businessmen and philanthropists have left an indelible legacy on Singaporeans’ lives. Tan Kah Kee devoted his family fortune to establish a network of schools across Singapore. The Aljunied family supported the diverse social needs of Muslim, Christian and Chinese communities. Similarly for AI, we hope to partner with private capital to pursue meaningful projects together, such as in curating and investing in meaningful use cases that serve the public good.
We hope that Singapore is always regarded as a country with strong fundamentals – one that is forward-learning and globally oriented, yet never forgets to look inwards to support its most vulnerable communities.
Together, we hope to make progress, leveraging AI to achieve excellence and empowerment for our citizens, and shape a brighter future for generations to come.
The writer is Singapore’s Minister for Communications and Information. This is an abridged version of her opening address at the Business and Philanthropy Forum on Nov 9.
