Mr Laurence Liew, Director for AI Innovation, AI Singapore
Mr Loh Chee Kin, Deputy Chief Executive (IT), Chief Data Officer, Centre for Strategic Infocomm Technologies, Centre for Strategic Infocomm Technologies
Ms Koh Kwei Foong, Head, Public Sector and Education, Google Cloud
Students, educators, ladies and gentlemen
1. It is a delight to be here with you today. And certainly I am very proud to be able to join you for the launch of the AI Student Outreach Programme.
Prevalence of Artificial Intelligence
2. Artificial intelligence (AI) is fast becoming an integral part of our lives. Just yesterday I was at the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) contact centre – it is a customer service centre, where our frontliners, through phone calls and emails, respond to queries and feedback. And in their briefing to me, they told me how they had already used AI to support their work, to help increase the quality of service to their customers, and also to improve the productivity of the customer service officers. They also use AI for training, so it is quite remarkable how AI is already part of our daily work.
3. Yesterday afternoon, as I was responding to some emails, I came across this initiative of some companies using AI to identify skill gaps of their employees, and to look at global, regional, and local trends on what type of skills people elsewhere in the same job roles, are acquiring. So companies that are progressive in this area are using AI to better upskill their employees.
4. Of course, in the household, we know robot cleaners save households so much time and elbow grease in cleaning. Digital assistants can do everything from checking our schedules to operating our lights and air-conditioning at home. At the Ministry of Education, we are exploring how artificial intelligence can enhance student learning.
- For example, we are using text-to-speech and speech evaluation engines to help children with mother tongue language learning. We are using a learning feedback assistant that can provide feedback for students with their English writing. In Mathematics, learning systems powered by AI can create learning paths customised to each student's abilities. It is really exciting how the mode of learning has transformed over the years.
5. But AI will play a crucial role in reshaping the way societies interact and operate. Thankfully, Singapore is well positioned to seize opportunities in AI: we have a National AI strategy in place; our digital infrastructure is well-developed; our industry partners are eager to tap on AI to create new growth areas; our scientists and researchers are curious about the affordances of AI. Very often when I meet trade associations and chambers of businesspeople, they tell me how important it is for Singapore to develop our local talent in IT, AI, and in the digital world.
6. Against this backdrop, our young generation of Singaporeans will grow up to live, play, and work, and indeed, shape our digital future. As educators and stewards of our children's future, it is our responsibility to equip them with the skills to harness digital technology safely, teach them how to use AI for good, and empower them to navigate a digital world with confidence.
Partnerships Key to Prepare Students for Ai Future
7. Partnership between different players is key to exposing our students to the AI field, deepening their skills, and matching their personal interest and strengths to industry needs.
8. I was glad to learn that we are connecting the dots between Institutes of Higher Learning, research centres and industry partners through AI Singapore's student outreach programme.
- The programme is tiered in order to help students pace their acquisition and development of AI skills. The beginner level exposes students to the basics of AI; the intermediate level develops skills in programming and coding; and the advanced level leads to a Google professional certificate in machine learning.
- And it doesn't stop there: I am sure our ITE, polytechnic and university students will be especially excited at the prospect of a paid internship with AI Singapore, to work alongside professional AI engineers on real-world industry projects.
9. More than 720 students have already on boarded the AI student outreach programme since its soft launch in April. I hope such efforts will gather speed and ignite interest among even more students to pursue STEM and AI-related careers. I hope that in time to come, Singaporeans will stand among the world's first in AI-related discoveries and innovations that can benefit the whole of mankind.
- The Ministry of Education has put in $1.8 million to fund this AI student outreach programme as a form of support. We will continue to work with and encourage meaningful efforts to equip the young to be AI-ready.
10. I thank AI Singapore and industry partners for your efforts to mould the future of our nation, and I look forward to seeing this outreach programme bear fruit in years to come.
11. Thank you.