5 May 2020 – During this time of economic uncertainty, AI Singapore (AISG) is introducing a series of initiatives to encourage employees and companies to upgrade their digital skills. This will prepare them to seize opportunities in the digital economy once the pandemic is over.

First, AISG will offer up to 2,800 individuals from companies affected by the COVID-19 situation, the opportunity to upskill, reskill and deep-skill in digital technology. This will be done by expanding the intake for two of its existing programmes – AI for Industry (AI4I)^TM and the AI Apprenticeship Programme (AIAP)^TM. AISG has also recently introduced a new programme in data curation for AI solutions, the AI Data Apprenticeship Programme (AIDP). Finally, AISG will provide additional incentives for companies to adopt AI to increase their competitiveness.

“The COVID-19 pandemic presents us with an unprecedented challenge as a nation. AI Singapore is doing its part to get us through this challenge by offering development and growth opportunities to individuals and companies. We invite Singaporeans to participate in the three education and apprenticeship programmes we are offering (AI4I^TM, AIAP^TM and AIDP). We will also support companies that want to invest in and adopt innovative AI solutions to better prepare themselves for a post COVID-19 world,” said Professor Ho Teck Hua, Executive Chairman of AI Singapore.

The AIAP^TM and AIDP trainings are supported by Workforce Singapore’s (WSG) SGUnited Traineeships Programme.

AISG’s COVID-19 initiatives will start on 1 May 2020 and will end on 31 December 2020.

Training opportunities for 2,800 Singaporean/SPR professionals  

The manpower training programmes under AISG’s COVID-19 initiatives are:

• AI4I^TM: This is a fully online programme to help learners gain proficiency in Python and be able to program basic AI and data applications. AISG will train 2,500 Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents (SPRs) at a special course fee of S$50 during this period. This rate is extended to the first 2,500 eligible applicants only. For more information, please visit https://aisingapore.org/ai4i.
• AIAP^TM: This is a 9-month, full-time, deep skilling programme to groom local AI talent. Apprentices will work on end-to-end, real-life, industry projects, from scoping problem statements to deploying trained AI models. The programme comprises 2 months of AI coursework on leading AI techniques and applications, followed by 7 months of on-the-job training on an industry AI project. There is no application fee and AIAP^TM apprentices will receive a monthly stipend. In the next one year, AISG will train 200 Singaporeans who are individuals or employees of companies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, please visit https://aisingapore.org/aiap/.

• AIDP: This is a new on-the-job training programme in data curation for AI solutions. Designed for diploma holders who are Singaporeans, AIDP is a 6-month, full-time programme which comprises 2 months of coursework on data curation and basic data engineering techniques and 4 months of hands-on training on a real data project. AISG will train 100 individuals or employees of companies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, please visit: http://aisingapore.org/aidp/.

Incentives for local companies to adopt AI technologies

As part of its COVID-19 initiatives, AISG will enhance our support to local companies to embark on the AISG 100 Experiments – Industry Track (100E4I) programme. 100E4I is a 9-month programme which helps local companies translate and adopt AI technology to solve business challenges, upskill employees, and improve productivity during these uncertain times.

AISG typically provides in-kind support of up to S$180,000 through AI Engineering team within AISG who work on the company’s AI problem statement, and the company is required to match with 30% in cash and 70% in-kind. Under the COVID-19 initiative, the cash contribution from local companies is reduced to 10%.

100E4I is part of AISG’s flagship programme, 100 Experiments (100E), which helps companies solve their pain points through AI solutions and empowers them to build their own AI teams. An organisation can propose as a 100E project, a problem for which no commercial off-the-shelf AI solution exists, but which may be solved by AISG’s research and engineering team within 9 to 18 months.

“AI has the potential to transform our economy and improve lives. We need to invest in learning, developing and investing in skills and technologies, to cope with the uncertainties of today and the future. Singaporeans and local companies should leverage the available training programmes and incentives offered to upgrade their digital skills and adopt AI. This will help businesses and workers seize new opportunities that AI provides, and be better equipped and prepared to harness the benefits of AI as we transit to the new normal, post COVID-19,” said Mr Tan Kok Yam, Deputy Secretary, Smart Nation and Digital Government and Co-Chairman, AI Singapore Management Committee.

More details on how to apply for them are available on https://aisingapore.org/covid-19-initiatives/.

updated on 13 May 2020