SINGAPORE: The countrywide online method is being refreshed under Singapore’s Smart Nation 2.0 program to keep up with changing requires in an ever-evolving environment.
Strategies include a new firm on virtual harms, a S$ 120 million ( US$ 90 million ) funding in artificial intelligence for knowledge, and fellowships for instructors to teach AI much in schools.
Digital Development and Information Minister Josephine Teo sits down with CNA’s Glenda Chong in a wide-ranging discussion on the country’s modern change.
Q. Why the need to update Singapore’s Smart Nation eyesight then?
It has been 10 years since we started the smart society excursion, and from a systems point, the landscape is certainly quite different.
On a day-to-day base, modern technologies have permeated our life. For instance, e-payments were not a rule but today, they are readily available also at stalls centres.
Thus, we are considering the future environment, and if we play our cards correctly, there are many possibilities. There are times when tech fails and disappoints us, just as much of our lives are carried out with the aid of technology.
The question is: what can we do about that? In light of these factors, we felt it was appropriate to update the Smart Nation plan and determine some of the crucial areas that we should be focusing on.
Q. How does Singaporeans be enthralled by the modern transformation?
We observe that when people are given the chance to work in electronic skills, they are typically responsive.
Take our Elders Get Digital program, for instance. One senior woman I spoke with told me that she uses an application to determine the temperature before bringing the laundry in. Another said she uses an software to guide hospital visits. Another claimed that he checks online to see if his brother has given him his quarterly allowance.
Therefore, when technology is used in a way that people feel it improves their level of convenience, next … they are not being forced to learn to use electronic resources… more, technology ( has been useful ) for them.
Instead of just adopting technology or using a digital tool just for the sake of it, we normally try to follow that path.
Q. How does the state safeguard Singaporeans from harm done online?
We have a law that deals with fake information and misinformation, a law against unfriendly information activities that could be carried out against Singapore, a legislation that deals with damages such as online legal activities, etc.
( There are plans to do more. ) For a start, we’re looking at cyber bullying and intimate image abuse. Users ‘ feedback indicates that these two types of harms are the most prevalent. There is room for us to look at other kinds of harm once we establish the agency and are able to effectively enforce these kinds of harms. But this process, this building up of capabilities, is something that will take time.
Q. Tell us about the S$ 120 million investment in AI for Science initiative.
There have been a lot of enthusiastic users of AI to improve company processes since we released the National AI Strategy 2.0. This gives the impression that the AI ecosystem is doing quite well.
We believe that the research community has a chance to take advantage of advances in AI. If researchers could use AI tools, their quality of research and the rate with which they could potentially uncover new, crucial knowledge that would be useful to humanity would greatly improve. We want to give AI tools to the research community.
Q. How will this position Singapore globally?
When I travel internationally, I am very pleasantly surprised at the high regard colleagues around the world have for Singapore. They believe that we have made excellent use of technology to boost the competitiveness of our industries and to enhance the quality of life for our citizens.
It would be a real shame if we do not build on it fully to allow us to advance, but I would say we have very solid foundations. From that perspective, the Smart Nation 2.0 plan gives us a chance to position Singapore more strongly for the future.
Q. What is Singapore’s competitive advantage in the AI for Science initiative?
For scientific research, there is always the competitive as well as the collaborative dimension. Being able to use AI for scientific research, including collaboration with researchers from other countries, is a valuable contribution to this process.
In Singapore, I think we have the ability to get ourselves better organised. For example, in terms of making compute resources available to researchers, that is a bottleneck many countries are trying to break. We ought to be able to accomplish that more effectively.
The ability to access reliable data is just as crucial. Because of the availability of high-quality data, we hope to continue to grow in strength and enable our researchers to do more.
Q. Tell us about the Smart Nation Educator Fellowship, which will influence the curriculum of the country.
We identified that our teachers are at the heart of the educational system in order to prepare the next generation of Singaporeans for this digital future, especially one in which AI-enabled tools will be so heavily integrated into their daily lives.
The goal is to develop a course that will allow teachers to immerse themselves in an environment where they can observe how technology is transforming. Teachers will be able to speak at international conferences, speak with ( industry experts ), and have much better understanding of what needs to be done during the students ‘ education process so that they can be best prepared when they graduate and enter the workforce. Then these educators can design the ( curriculum ) to meet the challenges of the future.
The idea is to train the trainers. Once a group of teachers has this experience, they can make arrangements to share it with their coworkers. In this process, every teacher potentially could be enabled.