AI governance non-profit opens local chapter in Singapore
(From left) Mr Looi Teck Kheong, Dr Genie Sugene Gan, Dr Rachel Ooi, and Mr Tommy Foo, at the launch of the Singapore chapter of the Global Council for Responsible AI.
SINGAPORE -- Imagine an artificial intelligence (AI) tool tracking your mall visits and pushing you hyper-targeted ads the moment you step into a mall.
Or picture this: an AI loan approval tool rejecting a heartland resident's loan application because of biased data weighting that does not favour lower-income applicants.
These scenarios are just a snapshot of the AI-related ethical challenges that the Global Council for Responsible AI (GCRAI) aims to address as it opens a local chapter in Singapore.
Founded in 2024, GCRAI is a US-based non-profit which provides a platform for championing responsible AI. It currently has 520 members worldwide, with 15 local chapters in Europe, the US, Canada, Africa, Australia, Central and South America.
Members of GCRAI are largely professionals, from cybersecurity to policy and legal experts.
The chapter in Singapore is the 16th globally and the first in Southeast Asia.
'The Singapore chapter will be instrumental in bridging international standards with regional expertise,' said Dr Genie Sugene Gan, Global Governor of GCRAI.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA
Asia Live: Thailand-Cambodia border clashes continue for second day
Singapore Etomidate found in blood of 2 people involved in fatal Punggol Road accident in May: HSA
Singapore More students to get Smart Buddy watches; most schools to go cashless by end-2025
Singapore Vape disposal bins at 23 CCs for users to surrender e-vaporisers, without facing penalties
Business Microsoft Singapore managing director Lee Hui Li dies while on sabbatical
Life When modern cars outgrow parking lots: How to navigate tight carparks in Singapore
Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly
'Our mission is to support and strengthen the future of AI through education, leadership, certification, and advisory services that center human dignity, innovation, and international cooperation,' she added.
GCRAI has already convened three forums in London, San Francisco, and Washington D.C this year, and hosted policy discussions. It is planning to hold an AI leadership training camp at Lake Como in Italy.
GCRAI has chosen to open a chapter in Singapore because of its role as a meeting point between East and West tech policies, a hub for AI testing, and a springboard to ASEAN's $1 trillion digital economy.
As Singapore's AI ambition grows, so does its challenges in governing the technology.
Balancing access to data with privacy is one critical hurdle. Other ethical concerns include the use of deepfakes to spread harmful content, bias in AI systems, surveillance risks, and job displacement.
Local cases of AI misuse have underlined the need for governance. In the lead-up to the 2025 General Elections, a surge of AI-generated videos of candidates appeared, spurring a new law banning AI-generated content that misrepresents political candidates. A 2024 incident where Singapore students created deepfake nude photos of female schoolmates also made headlines.
Even when not intentionally abused, flawed AI models can cause harm. In a 2024 AI safety challenge by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the four large language models (LLMs) tested were
found to reinforce ethnic stereotypes .
For example, when prompted to write a script about Singapore inmates, the LLMs chose Chinese names for a character jailed for illegal gambling, Indian names for a disorderly drunk and a Muslim name for a drug abuse offender.
To tackle these issues, GCRAI Singapore chapter intends to work with Singapore's AI Verify Foundation - an Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) initiative that develops AI testing tools - to develop detection tools that can root out inauthentic content.
GCRAI Singapore will also draw from international standards for AI governance. One such standard is the ISO/IEC 42001, which requires AI bias mitigation and fairness checks, risk and impact assessment, and robust documentation in bias management.
GCRAI's proposed certification based on these guidelines will ensure banks and financial institutions test for and correct biases in AI-powered loan approval systems, promoting fair access to financial services.
It will also be working with the Association for Information Security Professionals, which has 2,400 cybersecurity professionals as members, to help enterprises here align with internationally-recognised frameworks for AI governance.
The local chapter of GCRAI will be led by Mr Looi Teck Kheong, a principal consultant at business advisory firm Public Policy Asia Advisors.
The vice-president of the chapter, Dr Rachel Ooi, is the founder of Singapore-based management consultancy and strategic advisory firm Antioch Streams.
Mr Looi and Dr Ooi are joined by four other tech professionals:
- Mr Tommy Foo, who leads the transformation of Grab's commercial systems. He also serves as an advisor to the head of Grab Technology Solutions.
- Mr Anthony Lim, a cybersecurity and fintech fellow at Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)
- Dr Deny Rahardjo, chief information and digital officer of Sime Darby Berhad, and
- Ms Michelle Yao, co-founder of CyberLite, a social enterprise that promotes cyber safety and AI education.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
15 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Hanoi's plan to ban petrol bikes by 2026 leaves livelihoods in the dust
Find out what's new on ST website and app. On July 12, Vietnam officials said it would ban all fossil fuel-powered motorbikes from Hanoi's inner-city starting on July 1, 2026. HANOI – Almost every day, Mr Bui Van Cong, 36, rides around on his motorbike taxi ferrying passengers in Hanoi, many of whom are travelling downtown for work or school and others running various errands. He covers almost 100km daily, making around 500,000 Vietnamese dong (S$24.50) a day. This is sufficient for to cover the bachelor's daily expenses and rental for a modest room on the outskirts of the city. But the common sight of thousands of motorbikes like his zipping across the Vietnam capital could soon be a thing of the past. On July 12, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed a directive to ban all fossil fuel-powered motorbikes from Hanoi's inner-city starting July 1, 2026, as part of a sweeping new effort to tackle air and water pollution in the capital. For the city's 8.5 million people who own nearly 7 million motorbikes, most of them powered by fossil fuel, the phasing out of these vehicles comes at great cost for the average person. 'Our livelihoods are going to be affected badly,' said Mr Cong. It would be an understatement to say Hanoi residents rely heavily on petrol bikes – they use the motorbikes to take their children to school, deliver goods to the market, and may transport a family of four and even five on one bike to their hometowns in other provinces during the Lunar New Year holiday. 'This ban is a tax on the poor,' said motorbike ride Le Van Thinh, 58, an army veteran and part-time deliveryman, pointing out that for millions of low-income people in Hanoi, motorbikes are their livelihoods. The decision to ban petrol bikes has quickly become one of the hottest, and most divisive, topics of discussion among Hanoi residents. Currently, about half a million petrol-powered bikes operate within Hanoi's inner city every day. Petrol motorbikes significantly contribute to the city's worsening air pollution, accounting for 25 per cent of local fine dust, or particulate matter, according to a World Bank report. Other factors include industrial production and agriculture. This has made Hanoi one of the world's most air-polluted cities – 40 per cent of people in Hanoi are exposed to concentrations nearly five times greater than World Health Organisation guidelines. Petrol-powered motorbikes also emit high levels of other harmful pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds. Vietnam, which is a regional manufacturing hub with one of the fastest growing economies in Asia, sees around 60,000 deaths annually that are related to air pollution. The toxic smog that envelops Hanoi for most of the year also poses health, environmental and economic risks to residents. Since 2017, the local government has been considering a plan to clean up the capital's air, but the progress has been slow, until Mr Chinh's announcement on July 12. Some like Mr Nguyen Thi Huong Lan, 42, an office worker, are supportive of the move. And while it will impact the daily commute for numerous people, Ms Lan believes that 'extreme situations call for drastic measures'. 'I'm worried about my children's health and their future, so I'm very happy the government has decided to phase out polluting vehicles in Hanoi,' she told ST. 'I bought an electric bike myself last year.' Inadequate infrastructure The July 2026 deadline, which is a timeframe of a little less than 12 months, has also been described as too hasty. 'I understand that a civilised, modern hub should have fewer motorbikes,' said Dr Vu Thanh Ca, a senior lecturer at Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment. 'But with fewer motorbikes, how will Hanoi residents get around when the public transportation system is as underdeveloped as it is now?' he asked. The public transport infrastructure in Hanoi remains far from adequate, with only some 2,000 public buses, including fewer than 300 electric ones. The city's nascent metro system has just two operational lines spanning 20km in total. Dr Ca suggested that in order to ban petrol motorbikes or cars, Hanoi must 'urgently' build and operate a good public transportation network and improve urban railway system. In 2017, the Hanoi authorities set a target for its public passenger transport system, consisting mostly of buses, to meet at least 30 per cent of travel demand in the central urban area by 2020. It hoped to raise this figure to 50 per cent by 2030. Mr Bui Van Cong, who provides motorbike taxi services to Hanoi commuters, is worried about the 2026 ban. PHOTO: NGA PHAM Currently, the public bus system currently meets only 18 per cent of the total transportation demand. 'I think banning or restricting personal vehicles should be implemented gradually alongside an efficient public transportation system,' said Dr Ca, adding that the authorities should also enforce strict emission testing for fossil-fuelled vehicles. According to a recent survey of more than 13,000 people by VnExpress news outlet, 58 per cent of respondents felt that banning petrol bikes by mid-2026 was 'unfeasible', and only 18 per cent were confident of the city meeting the deadline. 'They will not able to do that, not next year, not in the next five years,' exclaimed Mr Thinh, the army veteran. 'Where are they going to dump the millions of petrol bikes we have?' While going electric seems to be the obvious solution for some, for others it's not within their budget. The average monthly earnings in Hanoi is around 10 million Vietnamese dong . 'I don't make much money and I have a million things to pay for,' Mr Cong told ST, 'How can I afford to buy a new electric motorbike that costs at least 30 million dong ?' His second-hand petrol bike cost around 8 million dong two years ago. Right now, such motorcycles cost around 10 million to 12 million dong. The Hanoi authorities have proposed a scheme to subsidise some of the costs involved in converting from petrol-powered motorbikes to electric motorbikes. Mr Duong Duc Tuan, the vice-chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, said the city will cover nearly all associated administrative costs for vehicle conversion, including registration fees and licence plate issuance for new electric motorbikes, amounting to at least 3 million dong . Charging of these vehicles also poses a major challenge for the authorities. Hanoi still lacks sufficient facilities for the millions of electric motorbikes it plans to put on the roads in the near future. At the moment, only one automaker, Vinfast, has around 10 charging stations across Hanoi, only for Vinfast motorbikes. It is unclear how many vehicles the stations serve, as most of users charge at home. In total, there are 200,000 e-bikes in Hanoi, according to the transport department. Mr Tuan said on July 14 that the authorities will establish 'a suitable charging station system (for electric vehicles), while ensuring safety'. Mr Cong said: 'Those (electric) bikes are only good for going to the shop or short distances, not for the hundreds of kilometres a day my job requires, because they need constant charging.' On a full charge, an electric motorbike can travel between 60km and 80km. PHOTO: NGA PHAM On a full charge, an electric motorbike can travel between 60km and 80km. Mr Tuan also said an electric public transport network with small electric buses will be set up to form an inner-city shuttle system to meet people's mobility needs, he said. This scheme, however, is likely to take more than a year to carry out. Mr Tuan did not give any dates or other details, such as the size of the electric public transport network. Changing habit Mr Nguyen Ba Canh Son, founder and CEO of Dat Bike, is one of Vietnam's home-grown electric bike producers that hit the streets in 2019. PHOTO: NGA PHAM Electric motorbike makers are upbeat about the 'clear signal that Vietnam is serious about decarbonising urban transport', said Mr Nguyen Ba Canh Son, founder and CEO of Dat Bike, one of Vietnam's home-grown electric bike producers that hit the streets in 2019. Mr Son said that the e-bike market is expanding by a 'remarkable' 30 per cent a year. He said that the market for adult-use electric motorbikes, like the models Dat Bike produces, is growing at approximately 50 per cent annually. There are also electric bikes for schoolchildren and people with limited mobility. 'We aim to produce 200,000 to 250,000 bikes a year to meet this rising demand,' added Mr Son. Besides Dat Bike, there are several electric motorbike manufacturers in Vietnam. The biggest is VinFast, which is owned by Vingroup, one of the largest private corporations in the country. VinFast delivered 71,000 electric bikes in 2024 and plans to double that figure in 2025. According to the World Bank, Vietnam could have 12 million to 16 million electric motorbikes on the road by 2035. But the country will need to increase electricity generation to meet charging demand. This will require additional power sector investments of up to US$9 billion (S$11.5 billion) by 2030, said the World Bank. While the government's direction for greener modes of transport can bring long-term benefits, there needs to be more work done to support the green transition. 'In order to have green transportation, we need green energy,' said environmental activist Pham Thi Huong Giang, noting that currently, 85 per cent of Vietnam's electricity comes from fossil fuels. Meanwhile, she too was sceptical of the one-year deadline to phase out petrol bikes from the city core. She believes this should be extended to at least five years to help people prepare for the transition. 'It's not that we don't support the switch to electric bikes, we just want an action plan with greener solutions,' Ms Giang said.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Trump and Starmer to meet in Scotland with trade and Gaza on agenda
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Mr Starmer (right) had hoped to negotiate a drop in US steel and aluminium tariffs as part of the talks. EDINBURGH/TURNBERRY, Scotland - US President Donald Trump will host British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his golf resort in western Scotland on July 28 for talks ranging from their recent bilateral trade deal to the worsening hunger crisis in Gaza, the two governments said. Mr Trump, riding high after announcing a huge trade agreement with the European Union late on July 27, said he expected Mr Starmer would also be pleased. 'The prime minister of the UK, while he's not involved in this, will be very happy because you know, there's a certain unity that's been brought there, too,' Mr Trump said. 'He's going to be very happy to see what we did.' UK wants to discuss steel tariffs Mr Starmer had hoped to negotiate a drop in US steel and aluminium tariffs as part of the talks, but Mr Trump on July 28 ruled out any changes in the 50 per cent steel and aluminium duties for the EU, and has said the trade deal with Britain is 'concluded'. British business and trade minister Jonathan Reynolds told the BBC the talks with Mr Trump offered Britain a good chance to advance its arguments, but he did not expect announcements on the issue on July 28. Mr Trump and Mr Starmer were expected to meet at noon local time at Mr Trump's luxury golf resort in Turnberry, on Scotland's west coast, before travelling on together later to a second sprawling estate owned by Mr Trump in the east, near Aberdeen. Hundreds of police officers were guarding the perimeter of the Turnberry course and the beach that flanks it, with a helicopter hovering overhead, although there was no sign of protesters outside the course. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole backfilled; road to be repaved after LTA tests Asia Gunman kills 5 security guards near Bangkok's Chatuchak market before taking own life Singapore HPB looking for vaping, smoking counselling services for up to 175 secondary school students Asia Cambodia says immediate ceasefire is purpose of talks; Thailand questions its sincerity Singapore Jail for former pre-school teacher who tripped toddler repeatedly, causing child to bleed from nose Singapore Police statements by doctor in fake vaccine case involving Iris Koh allowed in court: Judge Singapore Woman allegedly linked to case involving pre-schooler's sexual assault given stern warning Singapore Singapore lion dance troupe retains title at Genting World championship Mr Starmer was arriving from Switzerland, where England on July 27 won the women's European soccer championship final. Casting a shadow over their visit has been the deepening crisis in the war-torn Gaza enclave, where images of starving Palestinians have alarmed the world. British cabinet recalled Mr Starmer has recalled his ministers from their summer recess for a cabinet meeting, a government source said on July 28, most likely to discuss the situation in Gaza as pressure grows at home and abroad to recognise a Palestinian state. On July 25, he said Britain would recognise a Palestinian state only as part of a negotiated peace deal, disappointing many in his Labour Party who want him to follow France in taking swifter action. Mr Trump on July 25 dismissed French President Emmanuel Macron's plan to recognise a Palestinian state , an intention that also drew strong condemnation from Israel, after similar moves from Spain, Norway and Ireland in 2024. Mr Trump said that while the US would increase its aid to Gaza, it wanted others to join the effort. Ukraine was also on the agenda for talks with Mr Starmer. Dozens of Gazans have died of malnutrition in recent weeks , according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run enclave, with aid groups warning of mass hunger. The war began on Oct 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters stormed southern Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's offensive has killed nearly 60,000 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health officials. It has reduced much of the enclave to ruins and displaced nearly the entire population of over 2 million. REUTERS
Business Times
2 hours ago
- Business Times
BOJ may paint less gloomy view, signal rate-hike resumption
[TOKYO] The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is set to hold off raising interest rates on Thursday (Jul 31) but may offer a less gloomy view on the outlook after Tokyo's trade agreement with the US last week, signalling rate hikes may resume later this year. Receding global trade tensions following Sunday's agreement between the US and the European Union add relief for BOJ policymakers on the outlook of Japan's export-heavy economy. But the BOJ is likely to warn of lingering uncertainty on how US tariffs affect business activity with the hit to exports seen intensifying later this year, analysts say. 'It's very big progress that reduces uncertainty for Japan's economy – but obviously, some uncertainty remains,' BOJ Deputy Governor Shinichi Uchida said last week on the Japan-US trade deal. Uchida noted questions around how soon Washington strikes trade deals with other countries, how the tariffs affect domestic and global economies and how long it could take for the tariffs' effects to be seen in hard data. At the two-day meeting ending on Thursday, the BOJ is widely expected to keep short-term interest rates steady at 0.5 per cent. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Markets are focusing on the bank's quarterly outlook report and Governor Kazuo Ueda's post-meeting news conference for clues on the timing of the next rate hike. A Reuters poll, taken before last week's Japan-US trade deal announcement, showed a majority of economists expect the BOJ to raise rates again by year-end. In the quarterly report, the BOJ is likely to revise up this fiscal year's inflation forecast due to persistent rises in rice and other food costs, sources have told Reuters. The BOJ may also tweak its current view that risks to the price outlook were skewed to the downside, and offer a less gloomy view on the economy compared with the current one focused on tariff-induced risks, according to separate sources. The board is likely to maintain its view that inflation will durably hit its 2 per cent target in the latter half of its three-year projection period running through fiscal 2027, they said. In current projections made on May 1, the BOJ projects core consumer inflation to hit 2.2 per cent in fiscal 2025, before slowing to 1.7 per cent in 2026 and 1.9 per cent in 2027. Japan struck a trade deal with President Donald Trump last week that lowers US tariffs for imports of goods, including its mainstay automobiles, easing the pain for the export-reliant economy and clearing a key hurdle for further BOJ rate hikes. The positive development contrasts with the gloom that surrounded the economy on May 1, when the BOJ produced its current estimates amid heightened market volatility caused by Trump's April announcement of sweeping 'reciprocal' tariffs. The BOJ exited a decade-long, massive stimulus last year and raised its short-term policy rate to 0.5 per cent in January on the view that Japan was progressing towards durably achieving its price goal. With rising food costs hurting households and keeping inflation above its 2 per cent target for three years, some hawkish board members have highlighted mounting price pressures that could justify resuming rate hikes. REUTERS
