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☆ Singapore to triple AI talent to 15,000 experts, deputy PM says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AI (Artificial Intelligence) letters are placed on computer motherboard in this illustration taken, June 23, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE Dec 4 - Singapore plans to triple its pool of artificial intelligence experts, including machine-learning scientists and engineers, to 15,000, as part of its national AI strategy, deputy prime minister Lawrence Wong said on Monday. Singapore also pledged under its AI strategy to increase government incentives for the sector, including by backing accelerator programs for AI startups and encouraging companies to set up AI "centres of excellence." Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) announced on Monday a $52.3 million ($70 million SGD) initiative to develop Southeast Asia's first large language model, catering to the region's languages. Reporting by Fanny Potkin in Singapore; Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Lawrence Wong, Singapore's, Fanny Potkin, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, SINGAPORE, Microsoft, Nvidia, U.S Securities and Exchange Commission, Media Development Authority, Thomson Locations: Singapore, U.S, China, Taiwan

☆ Singapore's river-cleaning robots are producing 80% less carbon emissions than the human-powered boats they replaced
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Sarah Sloat | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

There are barista robots, construction robots, surgeon robots, and eldercare robots. And now another group of robots using 5G technology has entered the scene: river-cleaning robots. Weston Robot, a Singaporean company that develops robotic solutions, designed and produced the robots. The 5G cleaning robots replaced gas-powered boatsBefore the robots, people operating gas-fueled boats cleaned the waterways around Marina Bay. The IMDA said the robots, which run on a battery charge, can reduce carbon emissions by about 80% compared to the boats.

Persons: —, they're, Singapore's, Yanliang Zhang, Weston Robot, Zhang, IMDA Organizations: Service, Weston Robot, Infocomm Media Development Authority, Singapore's Ministry of Communications, Information, Weston, National University of Singapore, LTE Locations: Singapore, Marina Bay, Marina

☆ Singapore's digital economy – from e-commerce to social media – nearly doubled in five years
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The study, published Friday, revealed that the economic contribution of the digital economy to Singapore's GDP nearly doubled to 106 billion Singapore dollars ($77.5 billion) in 2022, up from SG$58 billion in 2017, according to CNBC's calculations. The digital economy is divided into two parts: the information and communications sector; and digitalization in the rest of the economy. One-third of the digital economy was driven by the information and communications sector and two-thirds by digitalization in the rest of the economy. "The expansion of the digital economy has come on the back of increasing adoption of digital technologies by enterprises, which in turn contributed to the robust growth of tech manpower," IMDA said in the report. Comparatively, Singapore's digital economy performed better, contributing to 16.7% of its GDP in 2020.

Persons: Joseph Nair, IMDA Organizations: Central Business District, Getty Images, Media Development Authority, Singapore, digitalization Locations: Marina, Singapore, SINGAPORE, Estonia, Sweden, United Kingdom

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Israel-Hamas war will have a limited effect on markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Yeo Boon Ping | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Markets shook off fearsU.S. stocks rose Monday despite a 4% spike in oil prices caused by the Israel-Hamas war. Booming digital economySingapore's digital economy contributed 106 billion Singapore dollars ($77.5 billion) to the economy last year, comprising more than 17% of gross domestic product. "Despite the recent tech sector lay-offs, the demand for tech jobs is likely to remain resilient," said the country's Infocomm Media Development Authority.

Persons: Russell, Goldman Sachs, Goldman Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, CNBC, Japan's Nikkei, Palestinian, Hamas, United Nations, Hong Kong, Singapore, Media Development Authority Locations: New York City, Israel, Asia, Pacific, Shanghai, Gaza

☆ Lucasfilm shutters its Singapore studio after nearly 2 decades in the country amid Disney's plan to save $5.5 billion this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Lucasfilm is shutting down its Singapore operations after nearly 20 years in the country. The shuttering comes amid Disney's push to save $5.5 billion in costs this year. Lucasfilm Singapore was the company's first international studio, located in its Star Wars-inspired "Sandcrawler" office. Lucasfilm is shutting down its Singapore operations after nearly two decades, the city-state's government said Tuesday. "Over the next several months, ILM will be consolidating its global footprint and winding down its Singapore studio due to economic factors affecting the industry," Disney said in a statement to the AFP.

Persons: Disney, Bob Iger, George Lucas Organizations: Lucasfilm, Lucasfilm Singapore, Morning, ILM, Force, AFP, Infocomm Media Development Authority, Disney, Channel News Asia, Cartoon Network, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Blackstone Group Locations: Singapore

☆ Singapore is not looking to regulate A.I. just yet, says the city-state's authority
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"We are currently not looking at regulating AI," Lee Wan Sie, director for trusted AI and data at Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority, told CNBC. It is calling for companies to collaborate in the world's first AI testing toolkit — called AI Verify — that enables users to conduct technical tests on their AI models and record process checks. Google , Microsoft and IBM are among tech giants which have already joined the AI Verify Foundation — a global open-source community set up to discuss AI standards and best practices, as well as collaborate on governing AI. "By creating practical resources like the AI governance testing framework and toolkit, Singapore is helping organizations build robust governance and testing processes," said Smith. Singapore has really sort of positioned itself as almost like the steward in the region of responsible and trustworthy use of AI.

Persons: Nicky Loh, Lee Wan Sie, IMDA, Lee Wan, chatbot ChatGPT, Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Lee, Haniyeh, Brad Smith, Smith, Josephine Teo, Teo, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Stella Cramer, APAC, Clifford Chance's, Clifford Chance, Stella Cramer APAC Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, Media Development Authority, CNBC, Tech, IBM, Singapore Airlines, Tesla, U.S, National AI Advisory, Google, Microsoft, Singapore government's, Asia Tech, Singapore's, Communications, European Union, Artificial Intelligence Locations: Bay, Singapore, DataRobot, U.S, China

Senior Southeast Asian officials said the so-called ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics was taking shape and would try to balance the economic benefits of the technology with its many risks. The other ASEAN countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The sources declined to comment further on what the AI guide would look like, given the early stage of the discussions and confidentiality of the ASEAN process. The sources, who included officials in three Southeast Asian countries, declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media. The island city-state has been at the forefront of AI strategy in the region and is leading the talks to draw up the AI guide, according to three sources.

Persons: Fanny Potkin, Panu, Stephen Coates, William Mallard Organizations: Reuters, Regulators, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Senior Southeast, ASEAN Digital Ministers, Singapore’s Ministry for Communications, Information, European Union, Media Development Authority, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, BANGKOK, ASEAN, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, United States, Europe, U.S

SINGAPORE/BANGKOK, June 16 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian countries are drawing up governance and ethics guidelines for artificial intelligence (AI) that will impose "guardrails" on the booming technology, five officials with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Senior Southeast Asian officials said the so-called ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics was taking shape and would try to balance the economic benefits of the technology with its many risks. The other ASEAN countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The sources, who included officials in three Southeast Asian countries, declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media. The island city-state has been at the forefront of AI strategy in the region and is leading the talks to draw up the AI guide, according to three sources.

☆ Tech's been hit by layoffs. But Singapore is still investing big in its talent — in tech and beyond
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Audrey Wan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Demand for individuals with specialized tech talent isn't limited to the tech sector, says Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority. "This has been a consequence of tech companies anchoring and growing their higher-value tech development and corporate functions here," he said. Tech 'powers all the big banks'In finance, technology is the engine that "powers all the big banks," said Donald MacDonald, OCBC head of group data. and deep tech," MacDonald said. Specialized tech skills

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