Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong outlines Singapore’s updated National AI Strategy and emphasizes international collaboration at the inaugural Singapore Conference on AI for the Global Good.
Singapore, December 4, 2023 – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong delivered a speech at the National Gallery of Singapore during the inaugural Singapore Conference on AI for the Global Good. The event, attended by Cabinet colleague Minister Josephine Teo, featured discussions on the transformative nature of AI and its potential impact on societies worldwide.
DPM Lawrence Wong highlighted Singapore’s commitment to harnessing AI for societal benefit, citing the country’s existing efforts in healthcare, finance, and public services. He emphasized the importance of AI in disease detection, fraud prevention, and public query responses. Wong noted that Singapore’s forward-looking approach to AI is grounded in a National AI Strategy established in 2019 and a Model AI Governance Framework that prioritizes transparency, fairness, and human-centric principles.
In his address, Wong unveiled Singapore’s updated National AI Strategy, crafted through extensive consultations with over 300 experts and organizations. The strategy aims to position Singapore as a global leader in AI, focusing on advanced manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, education, and public services. Wong outlined three key focus areas: building skilled AI talent, fostering a thriving AI industry, and advancing AI research in Responsible AI, Resource-Efficient AI, and Reasoning AI.
The Deputy Prime Minister addressed concerns about AI’s impact on jobs, affirming the government’s commitment to significant investments in adult education and training. He stressed the need to nurture a critical mass of skilled AI talent while ensuring the entire workforce is AI-ready.
The Deputy Prime Minister addressed concerns about AI’s impact on jobs, affirming the government’s commitment to significant investments in adult education and training. He stressed the need to nurture a critical mass of skilled AI talent while ensuring the entire workforce is AI-ready.
Wong acknowledged the challenges in governing AI, emphasizing the importance of finding a pragmatic balance. Singapore’s approach involves encouraging experimentation and innovation through regulatory sandboxes while implementing guardrails to mitigate systemic risks. Wong also highlighted the necessity of global cooperation in shaping responsible AI governance, despite the current geopolitical challenges.
In conclusion, DPM Lawrence Wong expressed Singapore’s ambition to contribute to the global advancement of AI for the greater good. He called for collaborative efforts and international partnerships to address the evolving challenges and opportunities presented by AI.
Source – PMO
