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You ask your smartphone virtual assistant to make an appointment for you. You receive a message alert from your bank enquiring if you made a certain transaction. You receive recommendations for music or movies or online purchases based on your past behaviour. These are all examples of Artificial Intelligence (AI) entering your daily life.
Making sense of the terminology
What is AI?
There is no widely accepted definition of AI or what constitutes AI. Definitions are usually based on some variation of computerized systems or computers exhibiting behaviour or thought that is normally demonstrated by humans or requires intelligence (which itself is hard to define). It could involve rationally solving complex problems or taking appropriate actions to achieve objectives in real world circumstances.
There is a distinction to be made between Narrow AI, focused on specific, narrowly defined tasks, such as autonomous vehicles and image recognition and Strong AI, which refers to general intelligence and is closer to what most people would imagine when they think of AI. It is close to the sentient AI of science fiction. Strong AI appears to be some way off, but the narrow verson is already here.
Many instances of AI could just as easily be interpreted as applications of Big Data analytics. A problem is considered as requiring AI before it has been solved, but once a solution is well known it is considered routine data processing and predictive or prescriptive analytics. The final product could be viewed as part of the exploding Internet-of-Things (IoT) network or it could feed into Smart cities and Industry 4.0 by combining automation and prediction with human expertise.
AI, Machine learning and deep learning
When talking of AI, there are frequent mentions of machine learning and deep learning. Machine learning is one of the technical approaches to AI development and deep learning is one of its subsets. It is the driver of many recent advances and applications. Machine learning is reliant on data. It starts with a body of data and then tries to derive rules to explain the data or predict future data. A definition by Tom M. Mitchell says, “"A computer program is said to learn from experience E with respect to some class of tasks T and performance measure P if its performance at tasks in T, as measured by P, improves with experience E." It is no longer a question of whether the computer can think, but if it can act, as if it is thinking.
Then there is ‘supervised’ and ‘unsupervised’ learning. Unsupervised learning is open-ended. It presents a learning algorithm with an unlabelled set of data and asks it find structure in the data. There are no right or wrong answers. Supervised learning uses a labelled data set to train a model, which can then be used to classify or sort a new set of data.
Deep learning uses structures inspired by the human brain, to do machine learning. It uses a set of units or “neurons”. Each unit combines a set of input values to produce an output value, which in turn is passed on to other neurons downstream. Layers are frequently in excess of 100 and often consist of a large number of units at each layer, to enable the recognition of extremely complex, precise patterns in data.
What does it mean for governments?
Availability of unprecedented amounts of data, further augmented by the data deluge from IoT sensors, relatively inexpensive massively parallel computational capabilities and improved learning techniques, have led to significant leaps in AI capabilities and will only continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
The pace is accelerating. And governments need to figure out how to deal with it. If they do it right, harnessing the opportunities and mitigating the threats, then AI could help us overcome many of the world’s biggest challenges and improve people’s lives. Using technology to save the world might have become an utopian cliché. But AI with its vast range of potential applications could be truly transformative, if used and regulated with thoughtful foresight.
Since October, the White House has released three papers* providing in-depth analysis of the implications of AI, the outline of a government strategy and its potential impact on economy and how to deal with it. In October, a committee of MPs in the UK, the Commons science and technology committee called upon the government to establish a commission on artificial intelligence to provide global leadership on the social, legal and ethical implications of AI. We looked at all these papers and more and our interactions with governments in the Asia-Pacific region for the following.
Direct applications for government
AI can improve the design and delivery of essential government services, in areas such as health, social care, emergency services by
- Enhancing efficiency by predicting demand and tailoring services to requirement, making it easier for officials to make informed-decisions and creating responsive services (Example– In August, the Land Transport Authority in Singapore launched Autonomous Mobility-On-Demand Trials, for complementing existing public transport by a system of shared mobility-on-demand services powered by fleets of self-driving vehicles.)
- Automating interaction where possible to make responses faster, as close as real-time as possible and providing more intuitive interfaces (Example– In November 2016, at the World Cities Summit, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister-In-Charge of the Smart Nation Initiative, talked about developing a conversational computing platform using intelligent software programmes known as chatbots. It will be rolled out in three stages. Chatbots will draw on a stored database to answer simple factual questions from users, whether spoken or via text input, about selected public services in the first phase. In phase two, the bots will be able to help the public complete simple tasks and transactions within selected government websites. In the final phase, chatbots are expected to respond to even more personalised queries from users.)
AI will also play an essential role in security in three ways:
- Autonomous offence and defence- Some degree of autonomy has been present in weapon systems since a long time, such as precision-guided munitions. In recent years, Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), more commonly known as drones, have been a centrepiece of the American war on terror. They have AI based autopilots. Further automation of weapon systems, which appears inevitable, raises legal and ethical issues. International standards need to be arrived at by consensus for such weapons.
AI can also play a role in defence. At the Defence Technology Prizes for 2016 in Singapore, two of the winning projects involved collation of information from multiple sources, real-time processing and seamless dissemination, facilitating decision-making.
- Local law enforcement- Local law enforcement can use pattern detection to detect anomalous behaviour in individual actors, or to predict dangerous crowd behaviour. Intelligent perception systems can protect critical infrastructure, such as airports and power plant. In the US, the criminal justice is already using data-based decision-making through projects such as Data Driven Justice and the Police Data Initiative.
- Cybersecurity- AI could anticipate cyberattacks by generating dynamic threat models from available voluminous, ever-changing data from multiple sources. It could help in understanding the behaviour of users and help deal with insider threats. Advanced AI systems could detect, evaluate, and patch software vulnerabilities before adversaries have a chance to exploit them.
Understanding diverse applications- promoting innovation and regulating
AI has the potential to improve social well-being by transforming a number of areas. A few examples could be:
- Education- Cognitive, virtual tutors can provide customised learning experience for students, depending on their objectives and requirements. It can enable lifelong learning, by thoroughly understanding a person’s learning process and facilitating acquisition of new skills.
- Medicine- AI can help identify genetic risks based on large-scale genomic studies. It can help in diagnostics and prescribe personalised treatments. It can predict the safety and efficacy of new pharmaceuticals. Earlier this year, Dr. Tan Tin Wee spoke to us about his vision of a seamless bench-to-bedside flow, creating personalised medical treatments dynamically and with great precision in the not too distant future.
- Finance- AI can enable early detection of unusual financial risk and automation in financial systems can reduces opportunities for malicious behaviour, such as market manipulation, fraud, and anomalous trading. They can increase efficiency and reduce volatility and trading costs, all while preventing systemic failures such as pricing bubbles and undervaluing of credit risk.
Teaming together humans and machines can be more effective, than either one alone and can lead to reduction in error rates. In a recent study (Deep Learning for Identifying Metastatic Breast Cancer), given images of lymph node cells, and asked to determine whether or not the cells contained cancer, an AI-based approach had a 7.5 percent error rate, where a human pathologist had a 3.5 percent error rate; a combined approach, using both AI and human input, lowered the error rate to 0.5 percent, representing an 85 percent reduction in error.
AI’s potential is limited only by our imagination. The University of Southern California launched the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society, an institute dedicated to solving socially relevant problems in areas such as climate change, security, health and homelessness using computational game theory, machine learning, automated planning and multi-agent reasoning techniques. The Sustainability and Artificial Intelligence Lab at Stanford University combines machine learning with high-resolution satellite imagery to provide new data on socioeconomic indicators of poverty and wealth.
Impact on the economy and jobs
Increasing penetration of AI would almost definitely lead to overall productivity gains for the global and national economies. A 2015 study based on data from industries in 17 countries from 1993-2007 found a 0.37% increase in countries’ average growth rates. However, concerns have been raised regarding the distribution of the benefits and the effects on the job market.
During the past 250 years, since the onset of the industrial revolutions, there have been anxieties that technology would render jobs obsolete. But repeatedly, the productivity improvements have resulted in average wage increases for the ov
erall economy. Some jobs disappear and better, higher paying new jobs are created. Workers have been able to devote more time to leisure and are able to afford to consume more goods and services.
Will history repeat itself this time or will it be different? Predictions can only go so far. But as a UN report discusses, it is about substitution and complementarity and susceptibility to automation. Routine tasks, which can be easily broken down into detailed steps can be codified and automated. But jobs involving involving judgement, creativity and persuasion or requiring adaptability and in-person interaction are much less vulnerable, at least for the time being. In the latter, AI can complement humans, resulting in improved outcomes. In fact, it can free up workers, so that they can focus on more critical tasks.
Some governments are beginning to look into the implications and planning for the future. If they do not do so fast enough, it can have serious repercussions for the stability of political, economic and social systems.
So, what is the government’s role in this?*
- Investing in and promotion of research and development- At the moment, most of AI research is driven by private sector and academia (the former is snapping up a lot of the talent from the latter). For the Manhattan project and the Apollo program in the US, peak year funding reached 0.4% of GDP. Here too, governments which are able to, can invest into AI research, in partnership with the private sector, in areas of strategic national interest or direct effects on public good. They can set ambitious but achievable goals, encourage and incentivise investments in the sector. Also, smaller companies might not be in a position to invest into AI research because they would have to wait too long to draw returns. But some of the best, innovative ideas might come from there. Public platforms can facilitate participation of SMEs.
- Building and driving partnerships- In continuation of the previous point, governments might be in the best position to build the requisite coalitions, bringing together industry and academia and direct applications in the right direction. International collaboration is also essential to reach the full potential of AI, for which governments have to start taking initiative.
- Early adoption of AI technologies and their applications and initiating pilots for public use- Governments can integrate AI into delivery of services, as mentioned previously to improve the lives of citizens. However, for this all agencies might not have the budget to invest in R&D but might benefit greatly from AI applications. Therefore, systems have to be established for knowledge exchange and sharing of best practices across government. Centralised platforms (like the ones adopted by the UK government) can play an important role once the technology reaches a higher maturity level.
- Ensuring data availability- Greater the volume and better the quality of data available, the stronger the AI. Public sector agencies often hold some of the best, most valuable data. Governments should galvanise the agencies to release the data, without compromising on privacy and security. Open data standards have to be set, if it hasn’t been done yet and platforms provided for releasing the data. The private sector can also be encouraged to share data for faster AI research.
- Funding rigorous evaluations of AI applications to measure their impact and cost-effectiveness- One of the biggest challenges in AI is to transition safely from the “closed world” of the laboratory into the outside “open world”, with unpredictable conditions. A 2016 study talks about 5 problem: having the wrong objective function ("avoiding side effects" and "avoiding reward hacking"), an objective function that is too expensive to evaluate frequently ("scalable supervision"), or undesirable behaviour during the learning process ("safe exploration" and "distributional shift" or operating in an environment different from its training environment ). The private sector might hurry to the market, without adequate testing, driven by competition (an issue also seen in cybersecurity). Governments can play a crucial role there.They can also drive the inclusion of ethics in training and education programs, so that practitioners understand their responsibilities to all stakeholders. Some of the ethical issues on hand can be seen in this article at IMDA Singapore.
- Creating a policy, legal, and regulatory environment that achieves the right balance: Drafting regulation is a tricky issue, as it must nit stifle innovation, when a technology is still evolving and is yet to achieve widespread adoption but it must also avoid negative impact on society. Effective regulation would require staff knowledgeable about the existing regulatory framework and regulatory practices generally, and technical experts with knowledge of AI. Necessary technical talent must be recruited or identified in existing agency staff, and they must be involved regulatory policy discussions. New regulations should be created only when required. For instance, for autonomous vehicles, current regulation can provide the structure and only necessary additions should be made.
- Ensuring education and training for jobs of the future: Governments have to invest heavily in high quality education and lay stress on STEM areas (Science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and familiarity with computers and computer science. There will be some element of computer science in many more areas going forward. And the process has to be started from an early age, from primary school education. Universities can modify courses or introduce new ones to meet the market demands and make their students employable. Governments also have to assume the responsibility of re-training workers, so that they can find a place in the brave new world. (Governments in Singapore and Australia are already planning for this future.)
*References:
Preparing For The Future Of Artificial Intelligence, Executive Office Of The President, National Science And Technology Council, USA
The National Artificial Intelligence Research And Development Strategic Plan Executive Office Of The President, National Science And Technology Council, USA
Artificial Intelligence, Automation, And The Economy, Executive Office Of The President, USA
Automation and artificial intelligence – what could it mean for sustainable development?, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Artificial intelligence: opportunities and implications for the future of decision making, Government Office for Science, UK
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In a remarkable leap forward in the field of neuroscience, researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) have introduced a groundbreaking algorithm known as the Unique Brain Network Identification Number (UBNIN). This innovative algorithm is poised to revolutionise the analysis of brain connectivity patterns, offering profound insights into both healthy brain function and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD).
The human brain, with its intricate network of neural connections, is a marvel of complexity. Each individual possesses a unique pattern of brain connectivity, akin to a fingerprint of the mind. Recognising the significance of these individualised brain networks, the researchers at IIT Guwahati set out to develop a method capable of decoding and quantifying these intricate patterns.
The UBNIN algorithm represents a paradigm shift in how we understand and analyse brain connectivity. Drawing upon data from structural MRI scans, the algorithm constructs a network model of the brain, with each region of the brain represented as a node. These nodes are interconnected by edges, reflecting the strength of connectivity between different brain regions.
What sets UBNIN apart is its ability to distil this complex network into a single numerical identifier. This unique identifier, akin to a digital signature for the brain, encapsulates the individualised connectivity patterns of each person. By quantifying these patterns into numerical values, UBNIN offers a powerful tool for understanding the structural organisation of the brain.
The implications of UBNIN are far-reaching. One potential application lies in the realm of brainprinting, where individual brain signatures could be used for identification purposes. Much like a fingerprint uniquely identifies an individual, UBNIN could serve as a digital identifier for the brain, with applications in personalised medicine, biometrics, and cognitive neuroscience.
Moreover, UBNIN holds promise as a biomarker for neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain. Early detection of Parkinson’s is crucial for initiating timely interventions and improving patient outcomes. By analysing changes in UBNIN values over time, researchers may be able to identify subtle alterations in brain connectivity associated with the onset and progression of Parkinson’s disease.
To validate the utility of UBNIN as a biomarker for Parkinson’s disease, researchers conducted a comprehensive study involving structural MRI scans from both PD patients and healthy individuals. The results were promising, with UBNIN values exhibiting distinct patterns in PD patients compared to healthy controls. This suggests that UBNIN has the potential to serve as a sensitive and specific biomarker for Parkinson’s disease, offering new avenues for early diagnosis and disease monitoring.
Furthermore, the researchers explored the impact of age on brain connectivity patterns. Aging is associated with changes in brain structure and function, which may contribute to the development of neurological disorders. By analysing structural MRI data from individuals across different age groups, the researchers found that brain connectivity patterns indeed change with age. Specifically, they observed a decrease in the clustering coefficient—a measure of network connectivity—with increasing age. These findings provide valuable insights into the dynamic nature of brain plasticity and aging.
Dr. Cota Navin Gupta, Assistant Professor at the Neural Engineering Lab, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Guwahati, commented on the significance of these findings. “UBNIN offers a unique window into the structural organisation of the brain,” he remarked. “By quantifying individualised brain connectivity patterns, UBNIN has the potential to transform our understanding of brain function and dysfunction.”
Looking ahead, the researchers envision further applications of UBNIN in diverse fields, ranging from personalised medicine to cognitive neuroscience. By harnessing the power of UBNIN, researchers may unlock the mysteries of the human brain, paving the way for new insights into neurological disorders and brain health.
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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called upon the youth to take the lead in propelling Vietnam’s digital transformation, emphasising their crucial role in shaping the nation’s future amidst the burgeoning digital economy. The Prime Minister made these remarks during a dialogue held in Hanoi on March 26, where he engaged with 300 outstanding young individuals from various regions of the country.
With the digital economy projected to contribute 30% to the gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, PM Chinh underscored the urgency for Vietnam to embrace digitalisation as an indispensable global trend. He highlighted digital transformation as a cornerstone alongside the green economy, circular economy, sharing economy, and intellectual economy, essential for realising the nation’s development objectives of transitioning into a modern, upper-middle-income country by 2030 and achieving developed, high-income status by 2045.
In his address, PM Chinh urged the youth to champion digitalisation by raising public awareness, advocating for policy reforms, driving administrative modernisation through digital technologies, and advancing research and development efforts in the digital domain. Emphasising their role as pioneers, he expressed confidence in the youth’s ability to contribute, innovate, integrate into society, and pursue personal growth.
Moreover, PM Chinh called upon the youth to collaborate with the government in establishing a digital government, digital economy, digital society, and nurturing digital citisenship. This collaborative approach is deemed essential for harnessing the full potential of digital technologies to address societal challenges and drive inclusive growth.
Responding to the Prime Minister’s call, the youth presented recommendations to the government, emphasising the need to refine the legal framework governing digital platforms and establish effective communication channels to engage citisens in the digital transformation process. They stressed the importance of inclusivity and transparency in policymaking to ensure the successful implementation of digital initiatives.
During the dialogue, PM Chinh addressed queries from the youth regarding data protection, cybersecurity measures, integration of public services with the national population database, and strategies to preserve cultural identity in the digital age. Acknowledging these concerns, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding data privacy, enhancing cybersecurity, and promoting cultural heritage preservation in the digital era.
Furthermore, PM Chinh instructed relevant ministries, authorities, and localities to expedite the implementation of the National Digital Transformation Programme, refine existing mechanisms and policies, and create an enabling environment for youth-led initiatives. This concerted effort aims to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital literacy among the younger generation, thereby ensuring their active participation in shaping Vietnam’s digital future.
The dialogue served as a platform for meaningful exchanges between the government and the youth, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts in driving Vietnam’s digital transformation agenda. With the youth at the forefront, Vietnam is poised to harness the opportunities offered by digital technologies to achieve sustainable development and prosperity for all.
As reported by openGov Asia, Vietnam is undergoing a digital revolution, characterised by concerted endeavours to advance the country’s digital transformation. With aspirations to attain high-income status by 2045, Vietnam’s digital technology sector focuses on mastering technology, fostering innovation, and developing domestic manufacturing capacities.
In this context, inclusivity and collaboration are essential, serving as key drivers to unleash the transformative power of technology and foster economic expansion, ensuring broad societal participation and contribution to the nation’s advancement.
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Bushfires represent one of the most formidable challenges faced by firefighters worldwide. With their unpredictable behaviour and rapid spread, combating these blazes demands innovative solutions to ensure the safety of both responders and communities at risk. In a groundbreaking initiative, researchers are harnessing the power of robotics to revolutionise bushfire response, paving the way for more effective firefighting strategies and enhanced situational awareness.
At the heart of this endeavour lies the Silvanus Project, an ambitious international collaboration aimed at developing ground robots capable of navigating fire fronts and gathering crucial data in real-time. Led by researchers from Data61’s Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies, this project represents a pioneering effort to address the inherent dangers associated with traditional firefighting methods.
Bushfires, fueled by factors such as vegetation density and weather conditions, can escalate rapidly, outpacing conventional firefighting techniques. To stay ahead of the inferno, firefighters require accurate information about fire location, direction of spread, and potential hazards. However, obtaining such data often entails placing personnel in hazardous environments, risking their safety in the process.
Drones have emerged as a promising tool for aerial reconnaissance, offering valuable insights into fire behaviour from above. However, their effectiveness is limited by factors such as smoke interference, high winds, and restricted flight times. Recognising these limitations, researchers turned their focus to ground-based solutions, envisioning robots capable of operating in the most challenging of conditions.
The ground robots developed as part of the Silvanus Project are equipped with advanced sensors and navigation systems, allowing them to traverse rugged terrain and navigate through smoke and debris. Some robots are designed to move on legs, mimicking the mobility of insects, while others utilise tracks for increased stability and manoeuvrability. These robots venture into the heart of the fire, gathering critical data such as fire intensity, fuel availability, and environmental conditions.
During a demonstration conducted for fire service representatives and researchers, the capabilities of these ground robots were showcased, highlighting their potential to transform firefighting operations. With the ability to transmit data in real-time to a cloud-based platform, these robots provide firefighters with unprecedented situational awareness, enabling more informed decision-making and proactive firefighting strategies.
Senior experimental scientist Tom Lowe emphasises the significance of these ground robots in enhancing firefighter safety and operational effectiveness. By deploying robots into areas deemed too hazardous for human intervention, firefighters can access vital information without exposing themselves to unnecessary risks. Furthermore, the integration of remote sensing technologies allows robots to assess vegetation density and predict fuel availability, further aiding in fire suppression efforts.
While the technology is still in the developmental stage, researchers are optimistic about its potential impact on future firefighting practices. Navinda Kottege, Cyber-Physical Systems Research Director, underscores the life-saving potential of ground robots, particularly in high-risk firefighting scenarios where human intervention may be impractical or unsafe.
The Silvanus Project represents a collaborative effort involving researchers from across Europe, Australia, Indonesia, and Brazil, united in their mission to develop innovative solutions for forest management and fire prevention. By harnessing the power of robotics and cutting-edge technologies, this initiative aims to bolster preparedness and response capabilities, ultimately saving lives and protecting communities from the devastating impact of bushfires.
As ground robots continue to evolve and mature, fueled by ongoing research and international collaboration, the vision of leveraging technology to mitigate the impact of bushfires grows ever closer to reality. With each technological advancement, firefighters gain new tools and capabilities to confront one of nature’s most formidable adversaries, ensuring a safer and more resilient future for all.
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront of technological innovation, promising transformative solutions to complex challenges across various domains. Recognising its potential to revolutionise industries and improve societal well-being, the National University of Singapore (NUS) has inaugurated the NUS AI Institute (NAII). Led by Professor Mohan Kankanhalli, NAII aims to accelerate AI research and its practical applications, fostering collaboration, innovation, and societal impact.
In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, AI has emerged as a powerful tool with the capacity to reshape diverse sectors, ranging from healthcare to finance, education, logistics, and beyond. The establishment of NAII underscores NUS’s commitment to harnessing AI for the greater good, addressing critical issues facing Singapore and the global community.
At the core of NAII’s mission is the advancement of fundamental AI research, aimed at pushing the boundaries of AI capabilities and exploring novel applications across various domains. Through foundational research initiatives, scientists at NAII will tackle complex AI problems, spanning hardware and software systems, AI theory, responsible AI, reasoning AI, and resource-efficient AI. By delving into these areas, the institute seeks to develop cutting-edge AI technologies that address real-world challenges and drive innovation.
Moreover, NAII will prioritise research into the ethical and societal implications of AI, aiming to develop robust governance frameworks that ensure responsible AI development and deployment. This includes examining issues related to transparency, accountability, and ethical decision-making in AI systems. By fostering dialogue and research on AI ethics and governance, NAII aims to guide the responsible use of AI technology and mitigate potential risks.
In addition to foundational research, NAII will spearhead applied research initiatives, focusing on developing AI-driven solutions for specific application domains. Collaborating with experts from diverse fields, including healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, finance, urban sustainability, and education, the institute will tackle pressing challenges and explore opportunities for AI-driven innovation. From optimising supply chains to improving healthcare outcomes and enhancing urban infrastructure, NAII’s applied research efforts aim to deliver tangible benefits to society.
Furthermore, NAII will serve as a hub for AI talent development, providing comprehensive education and training programs for students, professionals, and policymakers. By offering hands-on learning experiences and internships, the institute seeks to nurture the next generation of AI leaders and entrepreneurs, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to drive innovation in AI.
To support its research and educational endeavours, NUS has allocated significant resources to NAII, including external research grants and institutional funding. Moreover, the institute will collaborate closely with government agencies and industry partners to amplify its impact and drive innovation. Strategic partnerships with leading companies such as IBM and Google Cloud will enable NAII to leverage industry expertise and resources, accelerating the translation of research outcomes into real-world applications.
In alignment with Singapore’s Research, Innovation, and Enterprise (RIE) strategy, NAII aims to contribute to the nation’s AI ecosystem by fostering collaboration, innovation, and talent development. By positioning NUS as a global leader in AI research and application, the institute seeks to drive positive societal change and economic growth.
The establishment of NAII represents a significant milestone in NUS’s journey towards harnessing the power of AI for societal benefit. Through cutting-edge research, education, and collaboration, the institute aims to unlock the full potential of AI and pave the way for a more innovative, sustainable, and inclusive future. With its interdisciplinary approach and commitment to excellence, NAII is poised to make a lasting impact on Singapore and the global AI landscape.
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The Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) has reached a significant milestone with its artificial intelligence (AI) platform, VNPT eKYC, logging over 1 billion user authentication requests. This accomplishment solidifies VNPT’s position as a pioneer in electronic identification and verification solutions within Vietnam.
Since its inception, VNPT eKYC has been at the forefront of electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) services for over five years, serving a diverse range of clients including banks, financial institutions, telecommunications companies, and e-commerce entities. With over 100 organisations utilising its services, VNPT eKYC has facilitated electronic identification for more than 40 million individuals across the country.
On average, the VNPT eKYC system processes an impressive 600,000 requests daily, with peak days witnessing over a million requests being handled seamlessly. This demonstrates the platform’s robustness and reliability in managing high volumes of authentication transactions efficiently.
The significance of VNPT eKYC extends beyond its technological capabilities, particularly in the context of evolving regulatory requirements. The State Bank of Vietnam’s decision mandating biometric authentication for transactions exceeding 10 million VND (approximately 416 USD) and other significant transactions from July 1, 2024, underscores the critical role of advanced authentication solutions like VNPT eKYC in ensuring compliance and security in financial transactions.
Moreover, the platform’s success highlights the increasing importance of domestically developed solutions in the banking and financial sector. Domestic solutions such as VNPT eKYC offer several advantages, including rapid implementation, cost-effectiveness, adherence to global technology standards, scalability, and high readiness to meet evolving regulatory requirements.
Central to the effectiveness of VNPT eKYC is its advanced AI models, which enable the verification of facial biometric data with an impressive accuracy rate of up to 99.99%. This high level of accuracy not only enhances the security of authentication processes but also contributes to building trust and confidence among users and regulatory authorities.
As Vietnam’s digital economy continues to grow and evolve, the role of advanced authentication and verification solutions like VNPT eKYC becomes increasingly indispensable. Beyond facilitating seamless and secure electronic transactions, these solutions contribute to enhancing the overall digital infrastructure and ecosystem of the country, paving the way for further innovation and economic growth.
Looking ahead, VNPT remains committed to advancing its AI platform and expanding its capabilities to meet the evolving needs of its clients and the regulatory landscape. With a strong focus on innovation, reliability, and security, VNPT eKYC is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of electronic identification and verification in Vietnam’s dynamic digital economy.
VNPT’s achievement of logging over 1 billion authentication requests with its AI platform, VNPT eKYC, marks a significant milestone in Vietnam’s journey towards digital transformation.
Amid a swiftly changing global landscape, Vietnam emerges as a frontrunner in a digital revolution, strategically positioned to harness technology’s transformative power for economic progress and societal development.
It is embracing its digital transformation journey, highlighting collaborative efforts to drive the nation’s digital transformation. The nation’s digital technology industry aims to propel Vietnam towards high-income status by 2045 through technology mastery, innovation, and indigenous manufacturing capabilities.
Moreover, the nation is working to harmonise its regulations, streamline laws, and promote consistency in its legal framework to foster a more favourable and appealing cyber environment.
As the country continues to embrace technology-driven solutions to address emerging challenges, VNPT eKYC stands as a testament to the potential of domestic innovation in driving progress and excellence in the digital era.
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In a significant scientific breakthrough in a space sector, Dr Sarah Kessans has developed hardware designed to operate autonomously in orbit, transforming the study of protein crystallisation in microgravity. This technology provides scientists on Earth with unprecedented insights into protein behaviour, with far-reaching implications for developing more effective medicines and vaccines, among other applications.
Minister for Space Dr Megan Collins lauds Dr Kessans’ research as an inspiring example of how space technology can drive innovation on Earth. This achievement follows the recent successful launch of MethaneSAT, a satellite designed to track and monitor global emissions from space, highlighting the significant potential of space technology in addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges while bolstering our globally competitive space sector.
The MethaneSAT satellite will be equipped with a highly sensitive spectrometre that can detect concentrations as low as two parts per billion, and it will have high-spatial resolution coupled with a broad, 200-kilometre view path, allowing it to quantify even small emission sources over large areas.
Dr Kessans’ research culminated in successfully launching her hardware on a rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral, USA. This mission also included protein experiments from leading New Zealand universities, including Canterbury, Otago, Victoria, and Waikato, showcasing the collaborative efforts of the country’s academic institutions in advancing space science and technology.
The launch of Dr Kessans’ project results from a strategic agreement between the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the US commercial space company Axiom Space. This partnership aims to facilitate New Zealand researchers’ advancement in space science and technology, fostering innovation and driving collaboration between academia, government, and private enterprise.
Dr Kessans’ project has also received government funding for further development through the MBIE-administered Endeavour Fund, highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting cutting-edge research and innovation in the space sector. This collaborative effort between academia, government, and private enterprise is a testament to New Zealand’s growing presence in the global space economy, positioning the country as a key player in space research and technology development.
Previously, New Zealand had collaborated with several countries, including Australia, to advance space research, as reported by OpenGov. The collaboration between SmartSat and the New Zealand Space Agency (NZSA) is an important development. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two entities aims to accelerate the growth and technological advancement of the Australian and New Zealand space industries, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of space exploration and innovation in the Australasian region.
This partnership is underpinned by a shared commitment to fostering innovation, driving research and development (R&D), and nurturing a skilled workforce capable of propelling technological breakthroughs in the space sector. The MoU, ceremoniously signed at the NZSA headquarters in Wellington, signifies a strategic alignment between SmartSat and NZSA to leverage their combined resources and expertise.
At the core of this collaboration, it is designated to support joint research initiatives in three key technological domains: Earth Observation, Space Situational Awareness, and Optical Communications. These areas represent the forefront of space exploration, offering immense potential to revolutionise humanity’s perception and interaction with the cosmos.
Minister Judith Collins, New Zealand’s Minister for Space, praised the new agreement as a testament to the enduring collaboration between Australia and New Zealand in space exploration. In a statement on her official website, she reiterated her commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration, recognising the transformative potential of space technology in addressing global challenges.
Minister Collins reaffirmed the government’s dedication to developing the country’s space sector, promoting innovation, and strengthening partnerships with the New Zealand research community, international space agencies, and commercial collaborators. These collaborative approaches underscore New Zealand’s commitment to advancing space science and technology to benefit society and the economy, paving the way for future breakthroughs in the field.
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In a significant stride towards bolstering research efforts in offshore wind power technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Yangjiang Offshore Wind Energy Laboratory have inked a collaborative agreement to establish the PolyU-Yangjiang Laboratory Joint Research Centre for Offshore Wind Power (JRC).
The joint initiative, officially announced through a signing ceremony held at PolyU’s campus, marks a pivotal moment in the burgeoning partnership between the two entities. With the JRC set to be jointly operated and managed by the PolyU Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) and the Laboratory, the collaboration signifies a concerted effort to deepen research collaboration and foster innovation in offshore wind power technology.
Under the ambit of this new partnership, researchers from PolyU and Yangjiang will synergise their expertise, resources, and laboratory facilities to undertake pioneering research projects. These projects will focus on developing novel technologies and materials tailored for offshore wind power applications, with a paramount aim to translate research outcomes into tangible solutions for industry implementation.
The signing ceremony, attended by a delegation from Yangjiang in Guangdong province alongside PolyU representatives, saw the presence of Prof. Christopher Chao, PolyU Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Mr. Liu Dewei, Vice Mayor of Yangjiang Municipal People’s Government. Their attendance underscored the significance of this collaborative endeavour in driving forward advancements in renewable energy technology.
In his welcoming address, Prof. Christopher Chao highlighted the pivotal role of wind power in the global transition towards carbon neutrality. He emphasised that the collaboration between PolyU and the Yangjiang Offshore Wind Energy Laboratory not only serves to advance offshore wind power expertise but also fosters a robust platform for mutual engagement in research, talent development, and knowledge exchange.
Prof. Chao expressed optimism that the JRC would harness the collective research capabilities of both organisations to tackle pressing scientific challenges and overcome technical barriers in the energy sector, ultimately contributing to the establishment of a world-class research and innovation hub for wind power and clean energy.
The partnership between PolyU and the Laboratory holds particular significance for Hong Kong’s energy landscape. With the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department of the HKSAR Government estimating that wind power could potentially satisfy a significant portion of the city’s electricity demand, the collaboration is poised to address critical engineering challenges in the construction of offshore wind farms. By facilitating interdisciplinary research and engineering solutions, the collaboration aims to benefit not only Hong Kong but also the wider region and beyond.
The Yangjiang Offshore Wind Energy Laboratory, comprising leading experts from esteemed mainland universities, is dedicated to advancing fundamental science and technology in the offshore wind power sector. Leveraging the collective expertise of institutions such as Zhejiang University, Sun Yat-sen University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, among others, the Laboratory is at the forefront of research in this domain.
Established in 2021, PolyU’s Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) has been actively engaged in interdisciplinary research undertakings, with offshore wind power emerging as a focal area of interest. A delegation from RILS visited wind energy-related facilities in Yangjiang in November 2023, laying the groundwork for potential collaboration opportunities with the Yangjiang Offshore Wind Energy Laboratory.
As the PolyU-Yangjiang Laboratory Joint Research Centre for Offshore Wind Power takes shape, it symbolizes a collaborative initiative aimed at driving innovation and addressing the energy challenges of tomorrow. Through concerted research efforts and knowledge exchange, the partnership between PolyU and the Laboratory is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing offshore wind power technology, thereby contributing to a sustainable energy future.