Temus and AI Singapore (AISG) last week signed a strategic partnership to speed up AI adoption and innovation among companies in the city to solidify Singapore’s position as a global AI hub.
Under the MOU, the two organisations will work together to develop new AI technologies, solutions, and applications for firms based in Singapore. The partnership will also provide training, resources, and mentorship to nurture local AI talent and support local research projects and initiatives.
Stepping up AI adoption of Singapore enterprises
A key element of the partnership is to push forward AISG’s flagship 100 Experiments (100E) programme, which is designed for AI-ready companies with suitable resources and data. Temus’ role in this new partnership is to help companies that do not have these two prerequisites and guide them on data collection, preparation, and governance.
Once AI-ready, companies can use AISG's 100E programme for AI solutions and products and turn to Temus for deployment and maintenance support.
“A business problem statement often encompasses more than just the AI model. It includes other components such as database design, UI/UX design, the application itself, and model maintenance and support for a comprehensive solution."
Professor Mohan Kankanhalli, deputy executive chairman of AISG
He added: “Partnering with organisations like Temus will enable project sponsors to deploy a complete end-to-end solution, and to operate and maintain the models after deployment.”
AISG and Temus have already started working together before their formal partnership was signed last week. One joint project involved an aviation company to test AI solutions that can make sense of large quantities of unstructured information to drive efficiencies in the company’s contracting and negotiation process.
“In an increasingly digital world, it is imperative that we increase AI-readiness across sectors and industries so that Singapore can benefit from the immense potential of AI to catalyse change and develop smart technologies will the capacity to transform societies,” said Kankanhalli.
Established in 2017, the 100E programme under AISG addresses industry-specific AI challenges and empowers businesses to develop their own in-house AI expertise. To date, the programme has completed over 60 projects of the more than 100 projects that were approved.
“Companies we have worked with include start-ups like uParcel, EM2AI which is part of the Q&M Dental Group and MNCs such as Continental, IBM and Sompo Insurance. We also have projects with government ministries, agencies, and statutory boards such as SCDF, IRAS and HDB. Moving forward, we have been tasked to deliver another 100 more projects,” said Kankahalli.
Temus is pumped to support companies in Singapore in deploying AI and deriving long-term value from AI operating models.
“To face the challenges of what an AI-driven future will bring, we must embrace the attributes of an AI factory and unlock powerful opportunities for learning and growth. This will take partnerships like the one we’re building today, among stakeholders in government, research institutions and industry.'
KC Yeoh, CEO, Temus.
Cultivating Singapore’s AI talent
Another key element of the partnership between AISG and Temus is the widening of the breadth and depth of Singapore’s AI talent pool under the latter’s AI Apprenticeship Programme (AIAP).
Through hands-on, real-world project experiences, the programme cultivates local talent, simultaneously enhancing career prospects for participants, bolstering research and development capabilities, and fostering a skilled AI workforce for the industry.
“To effectively address the AI-related issues faced by Singapore and its enterprises, the availability of a robust, homegrown AI talent pool is essential,” said Kankahalli. “To meet strong demand from both industry and Singaporeans, AISG will double the number of AI apprentices trained over the next five years from 200 to over 400.”
To bolster AIAP, AISG and Temus will deliver joint AI for Leaders seminars – as well as a by-invite- only monthly event for business leaders and decision-makers to gain industry insights on the latest developments in AI, understand the technology, and have discussions on how AI solutions can deliver better business outcomes.
Yeoh said: “We will aim to raise the level of thinking and thought leadership among business leaders in Singapore through a monthly series of by-invitation-only seminar titled ‘AI for Leaders’. And subsequent seminars will examine how the best AI-driven firms manage data, confront silos, mitigate risks that come with digital transformation, and ultimately realise the economic benefits of new value creation.”
