Singapore is gearing up to make 2024 the year it takes its artificial intelligence (AI) ambitions to the next level, aiming to become a global hub for AI technology with a strong focus on Southeast Asia. The government-led initiative, AI Singapore, is at the forefront of this push, working on developing AI models tailored to the region’s specific needs.
One of the key projects under AI Singapore’s belt is SEA-LION, an open-source large language model (LLM) similar to ChatGPT. SEA-LION is designed to represent the languages and cultures of Southeast Asia and is slated to be the first in a series of such models. Trained on data in 11 languages including Vietnamese, Thai, and Indonesia, SEA-LION is expected to be ready for use in 2024.
Dr. Leslie Teo, senior director of AI products at AI Singapore, highlighted the upcoming release of an instruction-tuned model in the coming weeks. He emphasized that this version will be commercially permissible, in addition to a version not licensed for commercial use due to the data used in training. This development is significant as it will reduce the region’s reliance on AI models developed in the West, primarily for the English language.
Singapore’s reputation as a leading tech hub, particularly in areas like cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, positions it well to add AI to its list of tech achievements. Teo noted collaborations with Amazon Web Services (AWS) for infrastructure and Google Research for data, highlighting partnerships with communities like SEACrowd to bolster SEA-LION’s capabilities.
AI fintech funding in Singapore saw a significant uptick in the latter half of 2023, reaching $333.13 million, a 77% increase from the first half of the year. This surge reflects the growing interest and investment in AI technology in the region. Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0, released at the end of 2023, outlines ambitious plans to train 15,000 AI experts, enhance government capabilities, build a smart nation, and expand computing capacity, setting the stage for Singapore’s AI-powered future.
(Source: Coin Telegraph | The Hindu | SCMP)
