The National University of Singapore (NUS) has inaugurated the NUS AI Institute (NAII) with the aim of leveraging AI advancements for societal progress. This institute will focus on fundamental research, development, and practical implementation of AI technologies in key areas such as education, healthcare, finance, sustainability, logistics & manufacturing, among others. Additionally, NAII will prioritize research into regulatory frameworks to ensure transparency and accountability, addressing ethical concerns and risks associated with AI. Drawing on diverse AI expertise from across NUS schools, faculties, and colleges, NAII will pool knowledge to address challenges not only within Singapore but also on a global scale.
Apart from securing S$8 million in external research grants, the NAII researchers have received an additional S$20 million investment from NUS to launch their initiatives. This funding will support focused research areas including foundational AI research, policy considerations, societal impacts of AI, and practical applications across diverse fields. NUS is committed to cultivating AI talent locally and globally. The NUS Provost is collaborating with colleges, faculties, and schools to develop comprehensive AI education programs for undergraduates, graduates, professionals seeking continuing education, and policymakers. Furthermore, NAII's AI for Education research will offer learning opportunities such as internships for both undergraduate and graduate students.
The new institute aims to collaborate with government agencies and industry to amplify AI capabilities across society. Close collaboration with industry is essential and crucial, as this drives innovation and research translation to derive benefits for society and the economy. Strategic industry partnerships will enable NUS to better understand real-world challenges, drive fundamental research and, in turn, develop the relevant talent and technologies for industry. For a start, IBM and Google Cloud will be collaborating with NAII as industry partners for research and domain application development with the goal of spurring technological advancements and societal impact. NUS is in active discussions with other local and international companies to explore collaborative initiatives.
Professor Liu Bin, NUS Deputy President (Research and Technology), said, “The impact of AI on our lives, society, and economy will depend on how we develop, deploy and govern these technologies to maximize their benefits while addressing the challenges and the risks. Through strategic partnerships with local and international experts from both academia and industry, the new AI Institute will be the University’s focal point to synergize our diverse range of capabilities and create a dynamic ecosystem where sound fundamental research will drive cutting-edge advances in AI and where interdisciplinary collaborations will translate research outcomes into innovative solutions with deep impacts on our society”.
Professor Mohan Kankanhalli, hailing from the NUS School of Computing, will assume the role of Director at the newly established institute. Prof. Kankanhalli is an esteemed figure in multimodal computing, computer vision, and trustworthy AI. Over 20 principal investigators spanning various disciplines within NUS, such as business, computer science, data science, engineering, medicine, law, and sustainability, will spearhead over 10 research programs within the institute.
“NAII aspires to become a global node of AI thought leadership, bringing together domain experts from within and beyond NUS to collaborate on impactful research problems to address societal issues. Recognizing the importance of growing a pipeline of AI talent, the institute will also provide exciting hands-on opportunities for NUS students who are keen to pursue a career in AI or explore entrepreneurial pursuits in this fast-growing field”, added Prof Kankanhalli.
