27-7-2023 (SINGAPORE) The pursuit of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to bolster the capabilities of self-driving military vehicles and develop AI tools for defence has led to a groundbreaking $20 million research challenge in Singapore. The initiative is a collaborative effort between AI Singapore and the Ministry of Defence (Mindef), marking a significant milestone in local AI research collaboration.
The core objective of the challenge, as announced at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) innovation4.0 building, is to create AI systems that can revolutionize both military and commercial applications. The research funding will be divided among five leading teams, comprising industry players and universities from Singapore and overseas.
Three of the teams will be dedicated to developing cutting-edge AI systems for autonomous vehicles. These AI technologies will address critical challenges faced by self-driving vehicles, such as sensors being misled by flickering lights on road signs or adverse weather conditions. By improving the recognition capabilities of AI systems and enhancing their real-world performance, the goal is to make autonomous vehicles safer and more reliable.
Professor Mohan Kankanhalli, Deputy Executive Chairman of AI Singapore, highlighted the importance of meeting stringent safety and reliability requirements specific to military equipment. He explained that vulnerabilities in existing autonomous vehicles need to be thoroughly explored and addressed through this challenge, leading to the development of more robust AI systems.
While fully autonomous vehicles may still be a few years away, the research carried out in this challenge is expected to pave the way for the creation of new AI tools that can assist human drivers and contribute to the advancement of autonomous technology.
The other two teams will focus on generative AI, a technology similar to that used in ChatGPT, which will aid in discovering new materials by simulating the mixing of metals and elements to create stronger and lighter materials. This AI-driven experiment discovery system is set to accelerate the process of material development, enabling scientists to achieve desired materials much faster.
Dr Teow Loo Nin, Chief Engineer of DSO National Laboratories, emphasized that the research will enhance the resilience of AI applications in defence and protect systems from potential cyber attacks. The findings are also expected to bolster existing capabilities utilized in unmanned vehicles, including the sophisticated Harrier and Foxhound robots developed by DSO.
During the grant announcement, Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How acknowledged the challenges in deploying AI, particularly the risk of AI-generated hallucinations that could have severe real-world consequences. He stressed the need for sound databases and ethical AI practices to avoid biased decision-making.
Mr. Heng underscored Mindef’s commitment to expanding its investment in AI and fostering collaboration with global and local industry players and research teams. Various arms of the military are already embracing AI technology for tasks such as logistics support, cyber threat detection, automatic runway damage classification using drones, and coastal security systems employing advanced video analytics.
The AI research challenge signifies a significant stride in Singapore’s pursuit of AI-driven solutions to enhance its military capabilities and organisational needs, while also addressing the unique challenges posed by AI technology in real-world applications.
