SMEs get subsidised rates for Microsoft AI tool under MOU with EnterpriseSG, IMDA

SINGAPORE’S small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can get subsidised rates for Microsoft’s artificial intelligence (AI) tool Copilot, under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on Tuesday (May 21) between the tech giant, Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) and research institute AI Singapore.

EnterpriseSG will defray 50 per cent of Copilot licensing costs for a 12-month usage period, with each SME eligible to purchase up to 50 user licences at the subsidised rate. Such support will be available to more than 1,000 SMEs.

With tools such as Copilot, AI becomes accessible not just to tech giants, but also all roles and employees within SMEs and multinationals alike, said Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, who witnessed the MOU signing.

“To help enterprises embrace AI, it is important that we recognise varying needs across different digital maturity levels – most companies will require solutions which are easy to deploy and use,” said Gan, who is also the deputy prime minister.

Copilot is an AI tool embedded in Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams. It can answer queries, summarise data and create content.

Under the partnership, Microsoft will also provide capability building support for SMEs, such as industry-specific and job role-specific training workshops, and hold events related to AI adoption.

Separately, SMEs that need more customised AI solutions can be connected with institutes of higher learning under a new Applied AI programme announced by EnterpriseSG.

From June, SMEs can work with Nanyang Polytechnic and Singapore Polytechnic to identify specific pain-points and build customised AI solutions.

EnterpriseSG will defray 50 per cent of the costs incurred under the Applied AI programme.

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More educational institutes are expected to join the programme, which aims to support more than 100 SMEs over the next few years.

Integrating generative AI

On Tuesday, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) signed a separate MOU with Microsoft, for both parties to support tech vendors in integrating generative AI and Copilot into their digital solutions.

With this, IMDA’s SMEs Go Digital programme will give access to more generative AI solutions. Presently, 20 per cent of the digital solutions under the programme have AI-enabled features, with more than 3,000 SMEs having adopted them.

IMDA intends to grow that figure to some 15,000 SMEs in the next two years.

Many SMEs are “very interested to know how to use AI – especially generative AI – but don’t know where to start”, noted Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Tan Kiat How.

“(By) working together with technology industry leaders like Microsoft, you’re making it easier for SMEs,” Tan said.

The collaboration with Microsoft will also help larger and more “digitally mature” companies deepen their in-house capabilities, with funding support provided by IMDA.

Together with IMDA, Microsoft will conduct workshops to help these companies identify use cases for generative AI. These will be conducted over the next two years, with more than 200 companies expected to participate.

One such company is bak kwa maker Bee Cheng Hiang, which wants to use AI to create a “more personalised user experience” for customers.

This could mean using AI to gain insights into a customer’s shopping preferences, and tailoring the sale process accordingly, said chief technology officer Paul Wong.

Media production studio Mocha Chai Laboratories is also keen to further incorporate AI tools in its workflow, said founder Chai Yee Wei.

“Media is the biggest impacted industry within the AI space, I think,” said Chai. “For us, it’s either we jump in (and) embrace it, or get left behind.”

The company is already using AI tools in sound production. AI can accomplish some functions – such as isolating and editing background noise – in as little as 10 per cent of the usual time taken, Chai noted. His company is therefore keen to explore other areas where AI can help improve productivity.