Thursday (30 August) saw the launch of a government programme called AI for Everyone (AI4E) at AI Singapore’s first anniversary event.
According to this, the programme wants to equip 10,000 participants, from secondary school students to working adults, basic skills and knowledge about Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The free workshop is three hours long and materials will be provided by Microsoft and Intel.
Some of the topics include examples of machine learning and deep learning, an overview of industries where AI is present, and how to incorporate data science workflows at work.
AI4E will run for three years beginning at the end of August, and registration for classes starting in September is now open.
Another programme unveiled at the event is called, AI for Industry (AI4I).
AI4I wants to attract about 2,000 engineers, software developers, as well as managers and executives who are tech-savvy and want to learn or want to improve on their Python programming skills.
The course costs S$500 and any Singapore or PR are eligible as long as they have at least a diploma from a local polytechnic or a university degree, the website states.
IMDA will provide financial support to those who meet the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) Critical Infocomm Technology Resource Programme+ (CITREP+) requirements.
So, NSmen and students can receive up to 100% subsidy while other participants sponsored by SMEs and Singaporeans aged 40 and above will get up to 90%.
AI4I is a hybrid course consisting of both online and offline AI curriculum, and gives participants a one-year subscription to DataCamp, an online data science learning platform.
Participants will be awarded a Foundations in AI Certificate upon completion of the course within three months.
Applications will begin mid-September and the programme is set to start in mid-October.
According to AI Singapore’s press release, the two programmes “will focus on educating Singaporeans about AI – showing them how technology can help in their daily lives, and to prepare industry professionals to […] work productively with AI.”
Professor Ho Teck Hua, Executive Chairman of AI Singapore, said at the end of the event that there is a need to continue to invest in the creation of AI technologies, accelerating AI innovation for industry, and scaling up AI adoption for the whole nation.
AI Singapore is a national initiative that was formed last year, funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF), and is a partnership and collaboration with professors and researchers from NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD, SUSS, SIT, and A*STAR.
Featured Image Credit: OpenGov