Filtered by: Artificial Intelligence
Associate Professor Ooi Wei Tsang from the Department of Computer Science was featured in a report by The Business Times on the rapid uptake of new open-source AI agent OpenClaw and the risks it raises for enterprise use.
The article looks at how tools like OpenClaw can carry out multi-step tasks with minimal human input, allowing users to automate workflows quickly. However, this ease of use also means such tools may be deployed without proper oversight or safeguards.
A/Prof Ooi cautioned that using these systems without appropriate controls can expose organisations to significant risks.
He likened it to “hiring an intern who blindly obeys instructions, while still giving them deep access to enterprise system, and allowing external parties to send instructions directly.”
A/Prof Ooi added that large language models can produce incorrect or misleading instructions, which may lead to unintended or harmful actions when executed by autonomous systems.
The report highlights growing concerns around “shadow AI”, where such tools are used outside formal IT governance, and the need for stronger safeguards including validation, human oversight and secure system design.
The Edge Singapore spoke to business leaders, investors, and academics on Singapore's multibillion-dollar push to harness AI – from national policy and workforce reskilling to what it means for local companies and startups.
Associate Professor Ben Leong from the Department of Computer Science offered a grounded take on where Singapore stands in the global AI race. Rather than competing head-on with the United States – the world's dominant technology powerhouse for the past two decades – he argued that Singapore's edge lies in finding the right niches.
"That's not to say that we shouldn't care. We don't have a choice. It is not possible for us to be Number One or Number Two in AI. Despite this situation, what can we do? Give up? That cannot be right. So we try to find niches that make sense for us."
On the productivity gains AI has delivered so far, Assoc Prof Leong was measured. While AI has meaningfully lifted output, the benefits are not uniform, and the pace of change may be slower than the hype suggests.
"The reality is that AI has somewhat increased productivity, about 20% to 30%. It's not massive, but there are some productivity gains. But if you ask me, will AI change everything? Not really or perhaps not so fast."
His sharpest observation, though, was about people rather than technology. Ultimately, he noted, how quickly a company adopts AI comes down to management decisions, and the willingness to change behaviour.
"Adoption of AI is not a tech problem. It's a human problem where you are trying to change behaviour."
CNA's Singapore Tonight featured Professor Anthony Tung from the Department of Computer Science as a live studio guest on Singtel's two consecutive days of mobile connectivity disruptions.
On the cause of the outage, Prof Tung pointed to (possibly) cascading errors across hardware, software, and core routing systems — rare combinations that engineers have never encountered before, making them exceptionally difficult to diagnose and resolve.
Asked whether current safeguards are sufficient, he offered a vaccine analogy: just as no vaccine is failproof, no network can anticipate every unforeseen failure. Beyond a certain reliability threshold, he noted, the cost of incremental improvement becomes prohibitive — making rapid detection, isolation, and recovery the more practical priority.
On whether consumers should expect better, Prof Tung gave a characteristically balanced response — affirming that higher standards are warranted, while also calling on individuals to reduce over-reliance on mobile connectivity and maintain fallback options.
"We should always expect better, but I would also take proactive action to ensure there is no over-reliance on the phone, and always have something to back up on."
CNA Singapore Tonight (17 Mar 2025): "Singtel faces second straight day of connectivity issues"
Tech in Asia reported on NUS School of Computing's collaboration with OpenAI to integrate Codex and other tools from OpenAI's enterprise platform into its undergraduate curriculum – giving students hands-on experience with AI-assisted development in secure educational environments.
The tools will be progressively incorporated into over 30 undergraduate courses spanning software engineering, systems, and capstone projects. Beyond the classroom, students will participate in workshops, hackathons, and build days organised with OpenAI and other industry partners.
At its core, the collaboration is about equipping graduates with practical fluency in AI-assisted development while keeping computing fundamentals like algorithms, systems thinking, and problem-solving firmly at the centre.
Channel 8's current affairs programme, Hello Singapore, featured Professor Anthony Tung from the Department of Computer Science in a panel discussion on how Singapore can hold its ground in the age of AI – alongside Minister of State for Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and Education, Jasmin Lau, and a media professional.
On the most essential AI skill, Prof Tung kept it simple: Learn to ask better questions. Where most of us are trained to find answers, he argued that the real shift is learning to prompt, to engage AI in a genuine dialogue.
"You can ask AI to introduce 10 useful prompts for your personal use. AI can then customise a learning plan for you – learn to have a dialogue with it, as if it were a real teacher."
Asked which AI initiative Singaporeans should pay closest attention to, Prof Tung pointed to Singapore's AI Mission. His reasoning was that progress with AI is not about speed, but about direction.
"Learning or using AI isn't about being slow – it's about not standing still. Set a goal, and keep moving forward."
On raising kids in the era of AI, Prof Tung drew on classical Chinese philosophy to make his point. He invoked the Zhuangzi principle of 物物而不物于物 – that one should master things, not be mastered by them. In his view, the humanities are not a retreat from technology; they are its counterweight. "AI is a tool. We set goals, let it work for us, and don't let it replace us." That is why, he added, he places emphasis on culture, philosophy, and human thinking in his daughter's upbringing – qualities that remain stubbornly beyond what any algorithm can replicate.
For students anxious about graduating into an AI-transformed job market, his counsel was steadying: cultivate curiosity, not anxiety.
"You set a goal, enjoy the process, and have an experience of self-driven growth. When a new challenge comes, it's a chance to learn something new."
Associate Professor Suranga Nanayakkara from NUS Computing was featured in The Straits Times for his work on an AI-powered wearable headset developed by an NUS research team led by him, aimed at supporting independent navigation and daily activities for persons who are visually impaired.
The article highlighted the experience of Madam Teresa Ng, who shared how the headset could help her commute, shop, and navigate public spaces with greater confidence and independence, reducing the need to rely on assistance from others.
"It could tell me the price, size, colour, and even describe the kin of occasion each outfit is suitable for – very useful. Sometimes when I go grocery shopping, I have to ask the promoters for help and later feel obligated to buy from them. But with AiSee, I won't have to trouble anyone."
The wearable headset, AiSee, uses AI to interpret the surrounding environment and provide real-time audio guidance, helping users navigate public transport, avoid obstacles, and move safely through complex everyday settings. The system is designed to improve mobility and autonomy while preserving users' dignity.
A/Prof Nanayakkara explained that the project was developed with a strong human-centred focus, emphasising usability, real-world impact and close collaboration with visually impaired users to ensure the technology addresses practical needs rather than laboratory assumptions.
Funded by the Enabling Lives Initiative (ELI) Grant in November 2025, the team is enhancing the AiSee software with onboard object detection, navigation, expert guidance, scene sonification, and task-based functionalities, including pilot testing at the Singapore Botanic Gardens to guide users on curated tours. The ELI Grant, funded by Tote Board and managed by SG Enable, is a strategic fund that catalyses and supports innovations to improve the independence and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
This coverage highlighted the potential of assistive AI to enhance inclusion and accessibility, while recognising the importance of careful design, testing and deployment in complex real-world environments.
On THE (Times Higher Education) Connect podcast, Professor Tulika Mitra, Dean of NUS Computing and Associate Professor Suranga Nanayakkara discussed how SoC is adapting its education and research agenda for an AI-enabled world - while keeping computing fundamentals at the core. They outlined how the refreshed curriculum builds “AI-native” capabilities (including exposure to LLMs, system design and AI safety), with AI ethics as a compulsory component for all computing students, alongside new and upcoming AI-focused programmes.
The conversation also highlighted SoC’s commitment to interdisciplinary, human-centred research through platforms such as the NUS Artificial Intelligence Institute, and partnerships with government and industry to ensure AI innovation remains socially responsible. Both speakers emphasised lifelong learning through stackable, modular pathways, and the School’s goal of developing graduates who pair technical excellence with ethics, empathy and adaptability.
