30
December
2019
|
23:16
Asia/Singapore

Driving Singapore’s excellence in AI

AI Singapore, based in NUS’ i4.0 building (pictured), was a key factor in propelling Singapore into being named a centre of excellence in artificial intelligence (AI) in the latest edition of the AI Index Report

Singapore has been highlighted as a centre of excellence in artificial intelligence (AI) with the NUS-based AI Singapore playing a key role in the Republic’s strong standing in a recent industry report.

“AI Singapore is the national program established in May 2017 to harness AI throughout the country,” noted the AI Index Report by Stanford University’s Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Institute. “Today, AI Singapore is Singapore’s premier national research and innovation programme in AI.”

The report is published annually and consolidates data relating to AI across the world.

It aims to provide accessible, unbiased and comprehensive data for policymakers, researchers, journalists, executives, and the general public to develop a deeper understanding of the complex field of AI.

The report covers nine different aspects — Research and Development; Conferences; Technical Performance; the Economy; Education; Autonomous Systems; Public Perception; Societal Considerations; National Strategies and Global AI Vibrancy.

The report highlighted the increasing emergence of local centres of AI excellence, identifying Singapore as one with its well-organised government support for AI. Singapore was also featured for its relatively high number of Deep Learning papers published per capita, and was one of the countries with the fastest growth in AI hiring from 2015 to 2019.

In terms of AI vibrancy, Singapore showed high achievement in AI research outputs, private funding for AI startups, AI skills, and AI hiring.

Singapore was also recognised as one of the most competitive countries in AI proficiency. This is one of AI Singapore’s core activities — equipping leaders, industry, and future workforce with the necessary AI competencies to enable them to be effective decision makers, adopters and smart end users of AI technologies — through the AI Apprenticeship, AI for Industry and AI for Everyone programmes.

AI Singapore’s Executive Chairman is NUS Senior Deputy President and Provost Professor Ho Teck Hua.  It was launched in May 2017 by the Singapore government with $150 million in funding to catalyse, synergise and boost Singapore’s AI capabilities.