News Media
On Channel 8’s Frontline, Prof Anthony Tung, AI Lead for Urban Sustainability at the NUS AI Institute in Singapore, highlighted that while AI can be a powerful tool, it inevitably comes with a margin of error and requires verification. For instance, although many believe AI can be relied on for coding and programming, mistakes often occur. Over-reliance on AI without proper oversight could disrupt company operations, which is why organisations still need professionals to review outputs and ensure programmes function correctly. Otherwise, such errors could result in wasted time and resources.
Assoc Prof Terence Sim from NUS’s School of Computing highlights the challenges posed by AI-generated voice fraud. He notes that the Singaporean accent can be harder to clone, as most AI models are trained on American or British accents. While skills such as spotting hissing, mismatched background sounds, or abrupt transitions in speech can help detect deepfake voices, he cautions that these methods are not foolproof as voice cloning technology continues to advance.
Singapore’s government is helping businesses harness AI to boost efficiency and competitiveness. Prof Anthony Tung, AI Lead for Urban Sustainability at the NUS AI Institute in Singapore, highlighted that this support is especially crucial for small and medium-sized enterprises, which face challenges such as high AI talent costs, data acquisition for model training, and energy consumption.
He expressed optimism about AI’s potential, noting that while people currently use AI to solve existing problems, future students equipped with AI tools could tackle challenges never imagined before. Prof Tung also emphasised that alongside technical skills, nurturing human qualities—imagination, creativity, values, and purpose—is essential, as these remain irreplaceable by machines.
Social media apps are built to keep you scrolling, and that’s not an easy habit to break. But what if there’s an app specially designed to help you spend your free time more intentionally and meaningfully? On Good Tech, Lynlee Foo speaks to Sindhu Mohan (NUS BBA alumna, 2025) and Vishnu Sundaresan (NUS Computer Science alumnus, 2024), Co-Founders of Snowball to learn more about a very different kind of social media that rewards you for living more offline.
Dr Li Xiaofan, Assistant Professor at NUS researching cryptocurrency and cybersecurity, highlights the challenges of the crypto sector despite its technological potential. He notes that while some use cases exist, rampant speculation and short-term profit motives often overshadow genuine technological development.
Reflecting on past experiences, Dr Li observes that many students drawn to crypto careers are initially excited to work on systems and innovation, only to find that client acquisition and financial gains take precedence. He also points out that the lack of global regulations and the allure of quick returns—exemplified by the 2017 ICO boom—can hinder the industry’s long-term development.
Dr Li’s insights underscore the importance of informed engagement with crypto, balancing enthusiasm with critical awareness.
Mr Tomithy Too, instructor for Advanced Computing for Executives at NUS’s School of Computing, emphasises the importance of organisational guidance in AI adoption: “It’s important to educate the executives, have an AI steering committee… who are responsible for some of the outcomes and security concerns.” His insights highlight NUS’s role in shaping responsible AI use and leadership in Singapore.
Mr Tomithy Too, instructor for Advanced Computing for Executives at NUS’s School of Computing, highlights a key challenge in building AI agents: effectively instructing them to achieve desired outcomes. He notes that while natural language can be limiting, having some programming knowledge allows users to give clearer instructions and use AI tools much more effectively. This insight underscores how NUS equips learners to harness AI responsibly and efficiently.
Professor Hahn Jungpil from NUS Computing was featured in Lianhe Zaobao on consumer fraud in the digital economy, where he commented on how scams are becoming more targeted and sophisticated, particularly towards older consumers. He noted that while seniors in Singapore tend to have higher scam awareness compared to those in other Asia-Pacific countries, they also face greater financial losses when defrauded due to their accumulated assets and the nature of scams such as impersonation of government officials.
He advised businesses to take proactive steps against online fraud, including monitoring for fake websites and social media accounts, clarifying official communication channels, and collaborating with platforms and authorities to swiftly remove impersonators.
Can AI make high-quality academic support more accessible and empower students to learn better, not just faster? Two graduates from the National University of Singapore saw an opportunity to do that. On Good Tech, Lynlee Foo speaks to Andre Lim and Jed Ng, co-founders of Check, an AI-powered tool developed to offer hyper-personalised academic support for students from secondary school to junior college.
Associate Professor Terence Sim from NUS Computing was featured on Money FM 89.3’s The Big Story (aired 2 July 2025), where he discussed the growing threat of deepfakes and the urgent need to bridge the gap between public confidence and actual ability to detect such content. Citing findings from a recent national cybersecurity survey, Dr Sim noted that while nearly 80% of Singaporeans believed they could identify deepfakes, only 25% were able to do so correctly, highlighting a dangerous overconfidence that could increase vulnerability to scams.
He explained how advancements in generative AI have made deepfakes more convincing and harder to detect using traditional cues like lip-sync mismatches. Emphasising the importance of cyber hygiene, Dr Sim likened deepfake preparedness to pandemic readiness, where education, personal vigilance, and coordinated action are essential. He also shared how NUS Computing has launched community anti-scam workshops to raise awareness and equip the public with practical tools to spot fakes. Dr Sim called for a whole-of-society approach, combining public education, stronger regulation, and platform-level safeguards to counter the evolving landscape of AI-driven threats.
Associate Professor Ben Leong from NUS Computing was featured in GovInsider (4 June 2025), where he shared how the university is using AI to enhance students’ practical, human-centred skills through roleplaying. He introduced ScholAIstic, a GenAI-powered tool developed by the AI Centre for Educational Technologies (AICET), which enables students in fields such as law, nursing, and social work to practise real-world scenarios with AI-generated personas.
By using large language models, ScholAIstic simulates courtroom exchanges or client interactions, providing instant feedback and helping students develop critical workplace skills. Prof Leong stressed the importance of a pedagogy-first approach, applying technology only after understanding instructional needs. The initiative, supported by AI Singapore, aims to make experiential learning scalable and accessible.
Professor Hahn Jungpil from NUS Computing was featured in an interview on ZDnet Korea discussing the global AI race, which he described as a “war of data and capital”. He noted that the United States and China are leading due to their access to vast data and strong investments in computing and AI models.
He highlighted the rise of agentic AI as a key driver of corporate investment but stressed the need for ethical development. Drawing from Singapore’s approach, he advocated for flexible, forward-looking regulations and emphasised the importance of cross-sector communication to balance innovation with governance.
Professor Anthony Tung from NUS Computing was featured on Hello Singapore (12 June 2025), where he shared his views on the growing use of AI-generated romantic companions. He explained that these AI partners gather data from users’ browsing history, social media, and shopping behaviour to simulate engaging and personalised conversations, much like targeted advertisements. By combining this information with extensive knowledge across subjects like finance, psychology, and philosophy, AI companions create the illusion of meaningful, emotionally intelligent interactions.
However, Professor Tung cautioned that these systems merely echo what users want to hear, calling it “见人说人话，见鬼说鬼话”—an algorithmic mimicry rather than genuine understanding. He emphasised the importance of maintaining clear boundaries between virtual and real-world relationships, ensuring users understand that they are interacting with artificial intelligence, not a real person.
Professor Anthony Tung from NUS Computing was featured on Hello Singapore (23 May 2025), sharing his views on AI's transformative potential across industries such as security, aviation, and port operations. He emphasised the importance of talent and resources in driving innovation, noting that the future lies in "using AI to build AI" and unlock real breakthroughs.
The feature coincided with Grab’s launch of its first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre of Excellence in Singapore, supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority. The new centre aims to improve transport efficiency through AI, potentially resulting in shorter wait times and lower fares for commuters.
Now a Systems Analyst at the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), Hannah Chia was honoured at the SCS Gala Dinner and Tech Leader Awards on 9 May 2025 for her outstanding contributions and leadership potential in Singapore’s tech sector.
As part of the SG Digital Leadership Accelerator programme, Hannah joins 19 newly appointed digital talents who senior industry leaders across diverse fields such as product management, AI, and quantum computing will mentor. The initiative, launched by IMDA in 2022, has reached over 1,500 professionals to date.
👉 Watch the award video and read the full citation to learn more about Hannah’s achievements.