AI ‘upgrades' to gongfu classics deserve zero stars
When it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), most folks seem to fall into two diametrically opposed camps, according to several polls. There are those who believe it to be nothing less than a technological revolution that will significantly change every aspect of how we live, and others who dismiss it as the emperor's new clothes, an ecologically irresponsible, not-ready-for-prime-time pipe dream that produces error-ridden prose and eye-sore attempts at illustration.
China Film Foundation and its partners' recent announcement of the Kung Fu Film Heritage Project reminded me why I'm in the latter group.
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Straits Times
28 minutes ago
- Straits Times
NDR 2025: Govt will help workers harness AI, redesign jobs, says PM Wong
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The Government will help every enterprise harness AI effectively and use it to sharpen their competitive edge, said PM Lawrence Wong. Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - Using artificial intelligence (AI) to raise productivity and create new value in the economy is a game changer, and every company, big or small, stands to benefit from it, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. As such, the Government will help every enterprise, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), harness AI effectively and use it to sharpen their competitive edge, he said on Aug 17 in his National Day Rally speech. 'AI is not just for the big players,' PM Wong said, noting that AI will be a defining technology of this time. Adopting new technologies across the economy was how Singapore transformed in the past, and will be how Singapore plans to ride the AI wave and propel the nation forward, he said. PM Wong acknowledged that many people worry about the technological disruptions caused by AI that may replace entire jobs. But he assured Singaporeans that the Government will ensure workers benefit from the shift. Even as the country embraces AI, the Government will not lose sight of its key priority to ensure citizens have jobs, and will work closely with unions to redesign jobs and help workers, he said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDR 2025: US baseline tariff of 10% on Singapore offers 'little comfort', says PM Wong Singapore NDR 2025: Govt to strengthen partnership with Chinese community, which played key role in nation-building Singapore NDR 2025: New Islamic college campus will be in Rochor, students can take courses at SUSS next door Asia Mandarin with Taiwanese characteristics: Taipei leverages language as soft power tool Singapore She won big in Genting, but getting $240k winnings back to Singapore was dicey Singapore Buying hope: Inside S'pore's love affair with the lottery 'Singaporeans will always be at the center of everything we do. So, we won't just rush headlong to adopt new technology,' he said. He gave the example of how crane operators at port operator PSA were retrained to remotely supervise and manage multiple cranes and vehicles. This provided a huge boost in productivity, and created safer and higher-paying jobs for workers. 'It's a win-win for everyone,' he said. Some SMEs, like dental healthcare group Q&M Dental, also used AI to analyse X-rays in order to help dentists diagnose problems. While the dentist still needs to check the results and decide on the best course of treatment, the analysis by AI makes their work better and faster, he said. Past technological changes that came with the rise of computers and the internet created disruption, but also new opportunities like higher-skilled and better-paying jobs. In the 1980s, young people and workers were equipped and trained to use computers, and personal computers became common in offices. The same happened with the arrival of the internet in the 1990s. 'With each new wave of technology, we adapted. We upgraded. We lifted our whole country up,' he said. 'Like the computer and the internet in the past, AI will be a defining technology of our time.' AI is advancing rapidly and will only get better, with the power to solve real world problems. It will fundamentally change the way people live, Mr Wong said, noting that many people now turn to AI apps instead of a general internet search when they need to search for information. AI is being used in the civil service and has yielded good results, he added. In the past, officers in call centres run by government agencies had to manually write down a summary of each conversation to keep a proper record. Since March, the CPF Board has been using AI to transcribe calls and generate summaries. This allows officers to focus on what matters most, which is to help members of the public, Mr Wong said. Tuas Port, which is set to be fully completed in the 2040s, is also highly automated with containers at the port being transported around the facility in unmanned driverless vehicles. The Government is studying to similarly automate baggage handling and other airside operations in Changi Airport. 'The real game changer lies in using AI to raise productivity and create new value through every part of the economy,' he said, urging a deeper look into the opportunities created by AI. Global companies are choosing Singapore for opportunities related to technology, Mr Wong said. American energy company GE Vernova invested $81.4 million in a repair and service centre in Singapore in 2019. Its global turbine repair service centre uses AI to detect anomalies in turbine components. Human operators are then alerted to do an in-depth diagnosis. While Singapore may not have been the obvious choice for such a centre, global companies value the nation for its ability to combine technology and human skills. 'That's how we stay competitive, attract high-quality investments and create good jobs for Singaporeans,' PM Wong said. Watch PM Wong's National Day Rally speech here:
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Monster birdie gives heckled Robert MacIntyre four-stroke BMW Championship lead
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Leader Robert MacIntyre reacts after sinking a putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the BMW Championship golf tournament. WASHINGTON – Robert MacIntyre closed with a 41-foot birdie putt to grab a four-stroke lead over top-ranked Scottie Scheffler after the third round of the BMW Championship on Aug 16. The 29-year-old Scotsman, runner-up to J.J. Spaun at June's US Open, fired a two-under 68 to stand on 16-under 194 after 54 holes at Caves Valley in suburban Baltimore. 'The day was tough,' MacIntyre said. 'It wasn't the plain sailing of the first two days, but I thought I managed it well. 'It was steady. Holed some nice par putts, missed a couple of chances I felt I could have got, but the pins were absolutely brutal.' As for his electrifying final putt, MacIntyre said, 'Holing that putt is a massive boost going into tomorrow. That one shot is everything out here.' US star Scheffler, whose four victories this season include Major triumphs at the PGA Championship and Open Championship, fired a 67 to finish on 198 but clutch putting by MacIntyre kept him from closing the gap as they battled down the back nine. 'I did some good stuff out there. I would have liked to have been a little sharper with my irons,' said Scheffler. 'I did a good job of staying patient. Would have liked to make a few more birdies, but overall for how I was hitting it, not a terrible score. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Mandarin with Taiwanese characteristics: Taipei leverages language as soft power tool Singapore She won big in Genting, but getting $240k winnings back to Singapore was dicey Singapore Buying hope: Inside S'pore's love affair with the lottery Life Stefanie Sun makes emotional concert return to Taiwan, where she made her debut Singapore Motorcyclist dies after multi-vehicle collision on TPE Singapore I want to divorce my husband and be a single mother: More victims speaking up on emotional abuse Asia Dozens injured after magnitude 6.0 quake strikes Sulawesi, Indonesia, official says 'Bob has got a four-shot lead going into tomorrow. He's playing some great golf and it's up to me to go out there and chase him down.' Sweden's Ludvig Aberg was third on 200 after shooting 68 with England's Harry Hall and American Sam Burns on 202 and England's Tommy Fleetwood and American Maverick McNealy on 203. MacIntyre's two PGA wins came last year at the Canadian and Scottish Opens, the Canada victory coming after his only previous PGA 54-hole lead. The Scotsman shushed a heckler after making a clutch par putt at the 14th hole. 'He was just jeering. He was just shouting I missed it – he's pushed it. Pushed it right in the middle of the hole, I guess,' MacIntyre said. 'I'll give as good back as I get. There was obviously a couple of shouts. But there's plenty of security there that are hearing it and seeing it, and I did see them talk to a few people. I don't know if anyone was thrown out, but there was plenty of people to talk to.' MacIntyre warned he is not one to be heckled, adding, 'It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog and I grew up fighting to be in this position.' MacIntyre, who led Scheffler by five when the day began, opened with a bogey after finding a greenside bunker but birdied the par-five fourth from inside three feet then sank a seven-foot birdie putt at the ninth to lead by four at 15-under. Scheffler had tap-in birdies at the fourth and seventh holes, birdied the 11th from 14 feet but missed a par putt at 12 from just beyond 10 feet to fall four back, MacIntyre parring from just inside seven feet at 12. Scheffler rolled in an 18-foot birdie putt at the 14th but despite the heckler MacIntyre sank a clutch par putt from just outside seven feet at 14 – his fourth par putt of the day made from beyond six feet. The BMW is the second PGA playoff FedExCup event, with the top 30 in season points advancing to next week's Tour Championship in Atlanta. American Akshay Bhatia, battling for one of the last spots in Atlanta, aced the 227-yard par-three 17th hole with a five-iron. He shot 66 to stand on 210 thanks in part to his first PGA hole-in-one and his sixth overall. 'When that golf ball goes in, it was the craziest thing in the world,' Bhatia said. 'I couldn't even feel my body.' Bhatia said he will give the BMW he won for the ace to his caddie. AFP
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Concert review: Le Sserafim are ‘steady lah' with strong stage presence, use of Singlish
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox 2025 Le Sserafim Tour Easy Crazy Hot In Singapore Singapore Indoor Stadium Aug 16 Le Sserafim's fans in Singapore are 'steady lah', the K-pop girl quintet praised repeatedly during their sold-out show at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Aug 16. The 7,500-strong audience frequently sang along and cheered, earning the approval of the group, who also exclaimed in Singlish: 'Swee lah (Hokkien for nicely done).' This marked Le Sserafim's first performance in Singapore since their 2022 debut and subsequent meteoric rise. The group's line-up comprises Kim Chaewon, 25, and Hong Eunchae, 18, from South Korea; Sakura, 27, and Kazuha, 22, from Japan; and Huh Yunjin, 23, from the United States. Their concert tour kicked off in April in Incheon, followed by stops in various Japanese cities, Taipei, Hong Kong, Manila and Bangkok. Singapore marks the conclusion of their Asia tour. In September, they are scheduled to perform in eight North American cities, including Chicago, San Francisco and Las Vegas. The K-pop sensation delighted fans with a comprehensive set list of more than 25 hits. They opened with Ash and Hot, two alluring mid-tempo tracks from their latest EP, released in March. The quintet's choreography for Hot had them fanning their faces to the lyrics 'I'm burning hot'. This set the stage for a nearly three-hour energetic performance. The group made a concerted effort to use Singlish, and were eager to impress and connect with their fans, affectionately known as Fearnot. For instance, before launching into the high-energy Latin-pop-inspired Fire In The Belly (2023), which features a Spanish chant of 'ole ole ole', Kim encouraged the audience to join in: 'Singapore, be my kaki.' The concert also incorporated elements of a fan meet, with the quintet engaging in long stretches of banter and playing games among themselves. As with every show on the concert tour, they performed a local tongue twister. For the Singapore leg, this involved hilarious attempts to order coffee like a local: 'Auntie, kopi, kopi peng, kopi kosong, kopi O, kopi C, kopi siew dai, kopi ga dai, kopi gao. Da bao.' Which member did the best? From the enthusiastic cheers, all five of them were winners. The second half of the show featured songs that propelled them to fame, such as Antifragile (2022), Unforgiven (2023) and Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard's Wife (2023). Just like at most concerts, many attendees held up their phones to record videos and take photos. Sakura gently urged them to put away their phones and immerse themselves in the moment. 'We look more beautiful when you see us through your eyes,' she playfully remarked. Indeed, they were captivating, with Kim appearing to be the most popular among the young male concertgoers, who made up a good half of the audience. Her name was frequently yelled, even leading to a humorous shouting match when one fan, wearing a yellow jersey with her name screamed back: 'Chaewon is mine!' K-pop girl quintet Le Sserafim performed in Singapore for the first time since their 2022 debut and subsequent meteoric rise. PHOTO: As the concert concluded, the group promised to return to Singapore. Huh said: 'Please get more people to like Le Sserafim.' Their heartfelt appreciation was evident as they lingered onstage long after their final two songs – their first full English track Perfect Night and the Korean song No-Return (Into The Unknown) – continuing to say 'thank you' and 'bye-bye' to their fans. In the eyes of the audience, the quintet were truly 'steady lah' too.
