Key Points
- Singapore adopts a wait-and-see approach to regulating artificial intelligence (AI) while focusing on promoting responsible use.
- The government encourages collaboration with industry players through initiatives like the AI testing toolkit, AI Verify.
- Singapore aims to foster innovation in a safe environment and emphasizes the importance of close collaboration between the government, industry, research organizations, and other governments.
Singapore is taking a cautious approach to regulating artificial intelligence (AI) while focusing on promoting responsible use. Lee Wan Sie, director for trusted AI and data at Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority, stated that the government is not currently seeking to regulate AI. Instead, it is encouraging companies to collaborate on the world’s first AI testing toolkit called AI Verify. This toolkit enables users to conduct technical tests on their AI models and record process checks. Tech giant IBM and Singapore Airlines are already participating in pilot testing for AI Verify.
Globally, there have been calls for government interventions to address the potential risks of AI. Leaders in the tech industry, such as OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, have emphasized the dangers of the technology. Singapore aims to learn from industry practices before considering regulatory measures. Lee emphasized the importance of close collaboration between the government, industry, research organizations, and other governments.
Singapore’s collaborative approach involves engaging both businesses and policymakers. Haniyeh Mahmoudian, an AI ethicist at DataRobot, highlighted the benefit of such collaboration, bridging the gap between policymakers’ perspectives on AI and the reality in the business world. Tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and IBM have joined the AI Verify Foundation, a global open-source community that discusses AI standards, best practices, and governing AI.
Singapore’s Minister for Communications and Information, Josephine Teo, acknowledged the potential risks of AI and emphasized the need for private sector involvement in promoting ethical AI use. While some nations are imposing strict regulations on AI, Singapore aims to foster innovation in a safe environment. The country has been viewed as a jurisdiction that supports testing and implementation of technology with the guidance of regulators in controlled environments.
Singapore has launched various pilot projects, such as the FinTech Regulatory Sandbox and healthtech sandbox, to allow industry players to test their products before market deployment. These initiatives, along with testing toolkits like AI Verify, contribute to the development of AI governance policies that promote safe and trustworthy AI for businesses. The Singapore government recognizes the importance of understanding how to enforce regulations effectively to ensure compliance and responsible use of AI.
Credits: Photo by Swapnil Bapat on Unsplash
