NCPA 6th Distinguished Speaker Series Lecture by NTU President, Professor Ho Teck Hua

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In recent years, there has been a spotlight on artificial intelligence (AI), a multifaceted domain encompassing theory, technology, and applications, as well as ethical considerations linked to the use of AI.

On April 16, the Nanyang Centre for Public Administration (NCPA) hosted its 6^th Distinguished Speakers Series (DSS) lecture, titled “Can Singapore Be a Key AI Innovation Hub in the World?” at Gaia within Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The distinguished keynote speaker was Professor Ho Teck Hua, a prominent behavioural scientist and the fifth president of NTU, where he is a Distinguished University Professor. Prof Ho is also the founding executive chairman of AI Singapore (AISG); president of the Academy of Engineering, Singapore; and an academician of Academia Sinica.

NCPA was honoured to host Prof Ho. His talk drew a large audience, with many registering for the event well in advance. In his opening address, Professor Liu Hong, Associate Vice president of NTU and NCPA Director (Research and Executive Education), provided an overview of Prof Ho’s illustrious and diverse career. He highlighted Prof Ho’s unwavering support for NCPA's advancement. Since taking office as president of NTU in April 2023, Prof Ho has engaged Lien scholars, alumni, and students, and shared a visionary roadmap for the centre’s development, for which Prof Liu extended NCPA’s gratitude.

In his inspiring lecture, Prof Ho advocated three strategic imperatives for Singapore's ascent as a global AI innovation hub: fostering and cultivating talent; expediting technology transfer to catalyse AI adoption across industries; and constructing a robust, national-level AI ecosystem. He emphasised that despite being a small country, Singapore must focus on developing local AI talent whilst fostering strong international partnerships to cultivate exceptional talent through shared knowledge and expertise. Delving into industrial applications, Prof Ho illustrated the potential of AI in healthcare, showcasing its ability to mitigate disease progression in the elderly and manage complications arising from diseases.

In citing the recent success story of a large, locally developed language model, SEA-LION, he explained the crucial role that data plays in the AI ecosystem, connecting producers, consumers, and industry partners. He also discussed ethical issues of governance and standards, and the impact of AI applications on training data, integrated networks, and technological advancements.

During the session, the attendees, who included professors, professionals, and students from NCPA's esteemed Mayor Class master's programmes, actively engaged Prof Ho, fostering a rich exchange of perspectives. Following the robust question-and-answer segment, Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed, a member of NTU's board of trustees and the former senior minister of state, presented a memento to Prof Ho for his exceptional contribution to the 6^th Distinguished Speaker Series.

In sum, the event was a resounding success, drawing over 200 participants, including Associate Professor Wang Jue, director of NCPA; deputy directors Dr Dai Shiyan and Dr Wang Hang; and Lien Scholars and students from NCPA’s masters’ programmes, all of whom gained invaluable insights on AI in preparation for the complexities of an increasingly AI-driven world.

DSS was established in October 2017 to commemorate NCPA’s 25th anniversary. NCPA has since hosted globally eminent leaders from the public and private sectors. Previous DSS speakers include Professor Justin Lin Yifu, former vice president of the World Bank Group and an esteemed economist; Ms Janice Lachance, former president of the American Society for Public Administration and former director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management; Professor Subra Suresh, NTU's fourth president; Mr Lim Swee Say, Singapore’s former minister for manpower; and Dr Arkebe Oqubay, senior minister and special advisor to the prime minister of Ethiopia. The series delves into themes such as globalization, public management, and social governance, offering comprehensive and profound insights.