Latest news with #DesignAIandTechAwards
Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
AI and design will see wider adoption only if tools and systems are designed well: Tan Kiat How
Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How noted that enterprise adoption of AI has grown steadily from 34 per cent in 2022 to 46 per cent last year. PHOTO: SUTD AI and design will see wider adoption only if tools and systems are designed well: Tan Kiat How SINGAPORE - More companies in Singapore view artificial intelligence (AI) as a 'practical tool' for growth and innovation today, with many already moving past the experimentation stage and actively deploying AI in their daily operations. Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How said this at the inaugural Design AI and Tech Awards ceremony on May 19, an event that recognised enterprises that harness design, AI and technology to tackle real business challenges. Mr Tan noted that, according to latest available figures, enterprise adoption of AI has grown steadily from 34 per cent in 2022 to 46 per cent last year. In 2024, close to 3,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) here adopted AI-enabled solutions from local retailers – making use of the technology to help them to forecast demand, optimise venues and reduce wastage. Mr Tan added that with this greater adoption of AI, SMEs should take advantage of various government initiatives and make use of the platforms and tools on offer. He cited examples such as the Chief Technology Officer-as-a-Service, which offers over 300 pre-approved digital solutions, nearly a third of which were AI-enabled last year alone. It supported more than 330,000 users and helped some 3,000 SMEs adopt AI to enhance operations, improve customer efficiency and make informed decisions. Another tool is the SME Go Digital programme, which has benefited close to 100,000 SMEs since 2017 by helping them digitalise at their own pace to suit their needs. 'Innovators and start-ups in Singapore who find solutions to common issues should make use of these platforms to reach out to SMEs and firms,' he said. These platforms are not just for end-users but also for innovators to scale up and implement their solutions in Singapore and overseas. Beyond SMEs, Tan also highlighted the importance of helping workers outside of traditional tech sectors, by providing clear and practical guidance on how roles are evolving and to keep pace with them. In his speech at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Tan also spoke of the focus on enrolling more students in information and digital technology (IDT) courses. Last year, around 8,000 students were enrolled in such courses across universities, polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education. IDT places at universities have increased from 3,000 in 2020 to 4,000 this year, accounting for more than one in four degree places, he said. Universities are also making AI more accessible, practical and relevant across fields beyond tech, such as architecture, sustainable design and engineering product development. 'It's not about our technology, it's our people and talent. AI and design will only be widely adopted if the tools are designed well with the user interface and experience fitting into existing workflows. Designers not only need skills but (they) also need to understand users and their needs,' said Mr Tan. The Design AI and Tech Awards, jointly organised by The Business Times and the SUTD, saw three finalists named as this year's winners – LionsBot, MetaOptics Technologies and Sengkang General Hospital. The awards were open to all companies, international and locally, including SMEs, start-ups and large corporations. Applicants were assessed across six criteria: design thinking process and strategies; originality; utilisation of AI and advanced technologies; ethical consideration and sustainability; aesthetic and functional qualities; and whether the design has made quantitative and qualitative impact. THE BUSINESS TIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
A start-up, a scale-up and a hospital bag top accolades at maiden Design AI and Tech Awards
Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How (2nd from left), with (from left) SUTD's Tai Lee Siang; ; LionsBot's Tan Wei Hua; SGH's Moarie Grace Tan and Jeff Tang; MetaOptics Technologies' Aloysius Chua; and BT editor Chen Huifen. PHOTO: WINSTON CHUANG SINGAPORE - Home-grown semiconductor optics start-up MetaOptics Technologies, local autonomous cleaning robot firm LionsBot and Sengkang General Hospital clinched top honours at the inaugural Design AI and Tech Awards (Daita) on May 19. Jointly organised by The Business Times (BT) and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), the competition aims to spur innovators from start-ups and companies to harness design and technology to develop groundbreaking solutions that tackle real-life business challenges. Daita was launched in October 2024 with multi-asset investment firm Granite Asia as a supporting partner. MetaOptics swept the judges with its advanced colour metalens imaging system that features a single-glass layer alternative to traditional multi-layer curved plastic lenses. Its deputy chief executive officer Aloysius Chua said in his presentation: 'The challenge today with traditional three-dimensional optics is the bulkiness, complexity and high costs.' He explained that metalenses, also known as flat optics or 2D lenses, are single layers of glass made up of millions of circular pillars of varying diameters – each as thin as one-thousandth of a human hair – at the same height. MetaOptics uses semiconductor fabrication techniques to etch millions of microscopic pillars onto glass wafers. PHOTO: METAOPTICS TECHNOLOGIES 'MetaOptics is the first company to produce a single-layer metalens on a 12-inch glass wafer, working in visible light wavelengths and integrated into a camera to capture a colour image,' said Mr Chua. The start-up boasts proprietary AI software that sharpens and improves the vibrancy of the images captured, as well as a brightening algorithm that lights up dark areas without overexposing brighter sections. Noting that the lenses are fabricated and assembled in Singapore, Mr Chua told BT: 'We want Singapore to be the excellence centre of metalenses. We want to control the design and we want the key manufacturing supply chain to be in Singapore.' MetaOptics Technologies' deputy chief executive officer Aloysius Chua told BT the award brings validation to the work put in by the young startup over the past three-and-a-half years. PHOTO: WINSTON CHUANG On winning the award, he said: 'As a young start-up, it brings validation to the work that we put in… In three-and-a-half years, we were able to develop tech and commercialise it, and now our products are already sold into the market.' A mechanical engineer by training, Mr Chua added: 'We are not very far from commercialising lenses into the consumer electronics market… In the next few months, you will hear a lot about us.' MetaOptics was one of the three winners among eight shortlisted projects. Local robotics company LionsBot took the crown with its autonomous robots that are armed with AI navigation, fleet management and generative AI support; and which use 10 per cent of the water utilised by traditional cleaning machines. Local robotics company LionsBot's design head, Tan Wei Hua, said the mature startup, which was founded in 2018, aims to double the number of robots it deploys worldwide in the next few years. PHOTO: WINSTON CHUANG Design head Tan Wei Hua told BT: 'It's the first award that really brings together design and technology… and a lot resonated with us, like how we're using design to make technology more accessible, impactful and delightful for users. It's an affirmation that we're on the right path of bringing design, AI and tech together.' Founded in 2018, the mature start-up has conducted some 10 cycles of prototyping of its robots, more than 3,500 of which are deployed in over 30 countries. 'We are not stopping here. In the next couple of years, we're aiming to double the number of robots that we're deploying worldwide,' said LionsBot's Mr Tan. LionsBot's autonomous robots are armed with AI navigation, fleet management and generative AI support; and use 10 per cent of the water utilised by traditional cleaning machines. PHOTO: LIONSBOT He concluded: 'We have transformed cleaners into skilled robot operators, enhanced the dignity of the profession, improved accessibility to technology for the elderly and less-tech-literate and, at the same time, put Singapore on the map as a source of innovative design and engineering.' Rounding up the three winners is Sengkang General Hospital (SKH) with its fully automated sterile supply system. Jeff Tang (left), senior executive, operating theatre services, and Moarie Grace Tan, assistant director, nursing, operating theatre services, at Sengkang General Hospital. PHOTO: WINSTON CHUANG Ms Moarie Grace Tan, assistant director, nursing, operating theatre services, explained: 'We have 14,000 unique instruments categorised into 4,000 products, 2,600 different kinds of surgeries and many surgeons with their own preferences, (which) becomes a huge nightmare when we can't find what is needed.' With its first-of-its-kind automated storage and retrieval system in Singapore's healthcare sector, the hospital has halved retrieval times of instruments, boosted storage capacity by 75 per cent and reduced the manual handling of heavy containers. 'Now we can look into having the whole department as automated as possible,' said SKH's Ms Tan. 'The award gives us that leverage because it tells others that we are people who are looking at innovating and making things work better, rather than just sticking to traditional methods.' A three-arm robotic system, coupled with four Vertical Carousel Systems, automates the storage and retrieval of instrument sets. PHOTO: SENGKANG GENERAL HOSPITAL The other five finalists include: international education provider EtonHouse; Nanyang Biologics, a pioneering spin-off from Nanyang Technological University; Singapore-based Porolis Technologies, which focuses on digital gemmology; port operator PSA Singapore; and SBS Transit Rail. In a speech at the event, SUTD's deputy president and chief innovation and enterprise officer Tai Lee Siang said: 'All the contestants put in clear indicators of the impact… some of which are not possible without the power of AI, to overcome past inefficiencies and accurately measure impact.' Award submissions were assessed across six criteria: design-thinking process and strategies; originality; utilisation of AI and advanced technologies; ethical consideration and sustainability; aesthetic and functional qualities; and quantitative and qualitative impact. The six touchstones are weighted equally so that contenders use the opportunity to address a range of factors, said Prof Tai in an earlier interview with BT. He chaired the judging panel, which comprised BT editor Chen Huifen; DesignSingapore Council executive director Dawn Lim; GreenA Consultants senior partner Farizan d'Avezac De Moran; AI Singapore director for AI innovation Laurence Liew; and Professor John Ochsendorf, founding director of MIT Morningside Academy for Design. On May 19, the eight finalist teams each delivered a five-minute presentation to the judges, followed by another five minutes of question-and-answer from the judges. Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and National Development Tan Kiat How graced the event as the guest of honour. Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How was the event's guest of honour and delivered a speech. PHOTO: WINSTON CHUANG On why SUTD made the pivot to AI, the university's president Phoon Kok Kwang said: 'We are making the bet that AI is not hype. If we are right, the opportunities for innovation would be staggering, and we want to be the forerunner of this post-AI world.' BT's Ms Chen said: 'This competition isn't just about ideas. It's about human-centric solutions amplified by AI's transformative potential… The best solutions don't just leverage AI; they elevate people and improve lives and processes.' More information about Daita is available here. THE BUSINESS TIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Business Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
AI and design will see wider adoption only if tools and systems are designed well: Tan Kiat How
[SINGAPORE] More companies in Singapore view artificial intelligence (AI) as a 'practical tool' for growth and innovation today, with many already moving past the experimentation stage and actively deploying AI in their daily operations. Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How said this at the inaugural Design AI and Tech Awards ceremony on Monday (May 19), an event that recognised enterprises that harness design, AI and technology to tackle real business challenges. Tan noted that, according to latest available figures, enterprise adoption of AI has grown steadily from 34 per cent in 2022 to 46 per cent last year. In 2024, close to 3,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) here adopted AI-enabled solutions from local retailers – making use of the technology to help them to forecast demand, optimise venues and reduce wastage. Tan added that with this greater adoption of AI, SMEs should take advantage of various government initiatives and make use of the platforms and tools on offer. He cited examples such as the Chief Technology Officer-as-a-Service, which offers over 300 pre-approved digital solutions, nearly a third of which were AI-enabled last year alone. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am SGSME Get updates on Singapore's SME community, along with profiles, news and tips. Sign Up Sign Up It supported more than 330,000 users and helped some 3,000 SMEs adopt AI to enhance operations, improve customer efficiency and make informed decisions. Another tool is the SME Go Digital programme, which has benefited close to 100,000 SMEs since 2017 by helping them digitalise at their own pace to suit their needs. 'Innovators and startups in Singapore who find solutions to common issues should make use of these platforms to reach out to SMEs and firms,' he said. These platforms are not just for end-users but also for innovators to scale up and implement their solutions in Singapore and overseas. Beyond SMEs, Tan also highlighted the importance of helping workers outside of traditional tech sectors, by providing clear and practical guidance on how roles are evolving and to keep pace with them. In his speech at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Tan also spoke of the focus on enrolling more students in information and digital technology (IDT) courses. Last year, around 8,000 students were enrolled in such courses across universities, polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education. IDT places at universities have increased from 3,000 in 2020 to 4,000 this year, accounting for more than one in four degree places, he said. Universities are also making AI more accessible, practical and relevant across fields beyond tech, such as architecture, sustainable design and engineering product development. 'It's not about our technology, it's our people and talent. AI and design will only be widely adopted if the tools are designed well with the user interface and experience fitting into existing workflows. Designers not only need skills but (they) also need to understand users and their needs,' said Tan. The Design AI and Tech Awards, jointly organised by The Business Times and the SUTD, saw three finalists named as this year's winners – LionsBot, MetaOptics Technologies and Sengkang General Hospital. The awards were open to all companies, international and locally, including SMEs, startups and large corporations. Applicants were assessed across six criteria: design thinking process and strategies; originality; utilisation of AI and advanced technologies; ethical consideration and sustainability; aesthetic and functional qualities; and whether the design has made quantitative and qualitative impact.
Business Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
A startup, a scale-up and a hospital bag top accolades at maiden Design AI and Tech Awards
[SINGAPORE] Home-grown semiconductor optics startup MetaOptics Technologies, local autonomous cleaning robot firm LionsBot and Sengkang General Hospital clinched top honours at the inaugural Design AI and Tech Awards (Daita) on Monday (May 19). Jointly organised by The Business Times (BT) and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), the competition aims to spur innovators from startups and companies to harness design and technology to develop groundbreaking solutions that tackle real-life business challenges. Daita was launched in October 2024 with multi-asset investment firm Granite Asia as a supporting partner. MetaOptics swept the judges with its advanced colour metalens imaging system that features a single-glass layer alternative to traditional multi-layer curved plastic lenses. Its deputy chief executive officer Aloysius Chua said in his presentation: 'The challenge today with traditional three-dimensional optics is the bulkiness, complexity and high costs.' He explained that metalenses, also known as flat optics or 2D lenses, are single layers of glass made up of millions of circular pillars of varying diameters – each as thin as one-thousandth of a human hair – at the same height.
Business Times
16-05-2025
- Business Times
Design AI: The next stage of AI evolution
SINCE the introduction of the world's very first electronic digital computer in 1946, mankind has been obsessed with the infinite possibilities of what 'artificial intelligence' – as opposed to 'human intelligence' – can achieve. Countless books and movies have been produced in the last eight decades, as fact and fiction meld into one, and the prowess of computers are debated and explored. Movies such as Minority Report and Terminator have achieved cult status, as their writers let imagination run wild, painting a sci-fi future that sometimes bordered on the absurd. Until now. As AI becomes more commonplace, questions that have plagued us since the advent of technology, have become more pertinent. Will AI help mankind solve our biggest challenges, from climate change to food shortages and incurable diseases? Or will they turn on us and become our greatest enemy yet? SEE ALSO SBS Transit Rail puts its trust in 6Sense GET BT IN YOUR INBOX DAILY Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up VIEW ALL Are they, quite simply, friend or foe? 'There is no simple answer to this but the path AI will take over the next few years will depend on how humans interact with it, and how they put in place enough safeguards to ensure that AI is developed and used ethically and responsibly,' said Professor Tai Lee Siang, SUTD deputy president and chief innovation and enterprise officer. Prof Tai, who is also chief judge in the inaugural Design AI and Tech Awards, jointly organised by The Business Times and SUTD, describes AI as a partner – one who is capable of exponentially increasing the quality and innovativeness of all solutioning. New frontier for mankind 'Never before has there been a technology with such immense potential. The power of large language models opens up a whole new frontier for mankind. With great power, comes great responsibility and the time is for that is now,' he said. Harnessing this power is why SUTD is making the pivot as the world's first Design AI university. Expectations are growing that AI can help solve many wicked problems. Those who can design innovations from and beyond our imaginations with AI will always be in demand. SUTD calls this Design AI – it is how one will innovate in future; it is also how one will craft the Future of Innovation for economy and society.
