From Research to Real-World Impact: AI in Action with Sun Sumei

2024/11/14

Analyse Asia with Bernard Leong

AI Deep Dive AI Insights AI Chapters Transcript

Sun Sumei

Sun Sumei: 人工智能的成功在于兼顾效率和效力，实现成本与性能的平衡。在AI无处不在的时代，如何让人、AI和机器实现和谐共存与协作至关重要。AI应该支持和赋能人类，同时优化工作流程，让人类能够专注于更具创造性的工作。这需要持续的努力，并与生态系统合作伙伴共同努力。 Sun Sumei: I2R 致力于开发值得信赖、安全且高效的AI和数字解决方案，支持新加坡生态系统。我们的研究不仅注重理论，更注重将研究成果转化为可用于产业的工程解决方案，并兼顾性能、成本和经济效益。这需要我们了解研究端和产业的需求与挑战，并保持开放心态，积极倾听和思考。 Sun Sumei: AI的发展轨迹应注重平衡效益和成本，并提升模型效率，例如减少数据和计算资源的消耗。与新加坡航空的合作案例表明，高效的AI模型开发能够优化航空公司运营，并实现性能和成本的平衡。 Sun Sumei: I2R 关注多模态大型语言模型的开发，特别是语音方面的研究，以捕捉情感和语境信息。我们参与了AI制造业计划(AIM)，致力于开发高效的AI模型，推动新加坡制造业的创新和价值创造。我们开发的多模态大型语言模型Merlion与AI Singapore的CLion模型有所不同，侧重于多模态能力。 Sun Sumei: AI的应用应区分必要性和过度炒作，并注重可持续性，减少对资源的过度消耗。目前AI应用处于早期阶段，需要系统性的方法来引导其发展，避免过度炒作和不负责任的使用。区分好的AI应用和过度炒作的AI应用需要设计思维和公众意识的提高。成功的AI应用应注重效率和适用性，选择合适的模型来解决特定问题，避免盲目追求大型模型。衡量AI成功与否的标准应包括对人类和可持续性的影响，而非仅仅是技术突破。AI在科学发现和可持续发展方面具有巨大潜力，例如研发可持续材料和药物。I2R十多年来在AI领域取得了诸多成就，并致力于推动AI的良性发展，造福社会和产业。AI解决全球性问题的成功在于其能够高效地解决传统方法难以解决或效率低下的问题。未来AI的发展需要系统化和平衡化的策略，可能需要对工作流程进行重新设计。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

What is the focus of the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) under ASTAR?

I2R focuses on multidisciplinary digital technologies, including AI, communications, and cybersecurity. Its mission is to develop trustworthy, secure, and efficient AI and digital solutions to support Singapore's ecosystem, aiming to be the innovation engine in digital technologies.

Why is balancing cost and performance critical in AI development?

Balancing cost and performance ensures that AI solutions are not only effective but also economically viable. This balance is crucial for creating sustainable value and enabling widespread adoption of AI technologies in industries.

What is the significance of multimodal AI in large language model development?

Multimodal AI, which includes speech and text, captures additional information like empathy and emotion, enhancing the conversational capabilities of language models. This approach is particularly important for applications requiring nuanced human-AI interactions.

How does I2R collaborate with Singapore Airlines in AI development?

I2R has developed multiple AI models for Singapore Airlines, focusing on fleet optimization and maintenance. These models incorporate a 'learning with less' philosophy, ensuring efficiency and optimal performance while minimizing computational resources.

What is the AIM initiative, and how does it apply AI to manufacturing?

The AIM (AI for Manufacturing) initiative aims to drive efficient AI model development for the manufacturing sector. It focuses on integrating AI to enhance innovation and value capture in Singapore's manufacturing industries.

What is the MerLion project, and how does it differ from other large language models?

MerLion is I2R's multimodal large language model, focusing on South Asian and Singapore national languages. Unlike text-only models, MerLion incorporates speech to capture additional conversational nuances, making it more versatile for diverse applications.

How does I2R approach responsible AI usage?

I2R emphasizes a systematic and balanced approach to AI, focusing on efficiency, sustainability, and societal impact. It advocates for responsible AI by guiding industries and consumers toward meaningful applications rather than overhyped trends.

What role does AI play in scientific discovery and sustainability?

AI is being used to handle complex scientific challenges, such as discovering sustainable materials and new drugs. These applications demonstrate AI's potential to contribute to humanity and sustainability by addressing pressing global issues.

How does I2R measure success in AI development?

Success in AI is measured not just by technical breakthroughs but by the impact on humanity and sustainability. I2R focuses on developing the right models for specific use cases, ensuring AI contributes meaningfully to society.

What is the future vision for AI in addressing global challenges?

The future vision for AI involves moving the needle on pressing global issues like climate change and healthcare. Success will be achieved when AI enables solutions that traditional methods cannot address as quickly or efficiently.

Shownotes Transcript

"The efficiency on top of the efficacy because it is critical that we will achieve this balance of cost and performance. And in addition to that, I think one more aspect we are putting emphasis is actually how, in the new era of AI, all pervasive intelligence and pervasive connectivity, how do we bring human, AI, and machine into a cohesive coexistence and also cohesive collaboration so that we are able to have actually the AI machine support human, empower human, and at the same time. We look at actually the design of the workflows so that we are able to extract out the value, at the same time, also elevate the human to do more creative works. So this is one aspect. I think we have been hearing a lot, but how this will move forward is some efforts have started, and certainly we look forward to gathering more ecosystem partners to embark on this journey together." - Dr Sun Sumei, Executive Director, Institute of Infocomm Research, ASTAR Fresh out of the studio, Dr. Sun Sumei, Executive Director of the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) at Singapore’s ASTAR shares her perspectives on AI’s fast-paced evolution and its broader impact on the future. With over a decade dedicated to AI research, Dr. Sumei reflects on I2R’s journey from big data analytics to the era of Generative AI, emphasizing large language models designed for Southeast Asia. Advocating for responsible AI, Dr. Sumei prioritizes societal benefit and sustainability over sheer technical ambition, urging a balanced, systematic approach to distinguish valuable applications from mere hype. Last but not least she shares her vision of AI as a force to enhance human creativity and address real-world challenges through sustainable innovation."

Audio Episode Highlights: [0:46] - Introduction to Sun Sumei and her role at ASTAR [2:09] - Sun Sumei’s journey from China to Singapore [2:50] - The mission of the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) [4:00] - Research at I2R blending innovation with commercial applications [4:11] - Career lessons from Sun Sumei’s extensive experience in science and technology [6:32] - The evolution of AI and its rapid advancements [7:15] - Striking a balance between performance and cost in AI [8:11] - Collaborating with Singapore Airlines on AI for fleet optimization [9:55] - Focus on multimodal AI and large language model development [11:26] - AI for manufacturing: The AIM initiative [12:20] - MerLion: I2R multi-modal LLM in the works [13:27] - The future of AI in scientific discovery and its potential for sustainability [16:03] - The balance between necessary and unnecessary AI applications [16:55] - Responsible AI: Navigating the curiosity phase [19:10] - Achieving success in AI through efficiency and model optimization [20:52] - What constitutes success in AI: Technical breakthroughs vs. societal impact [22:48] - AI for good: Contributing to humanity and sustainability [24:02] - The importance of a systematic approach to AI [24:53] - Closing remarks and future expectations for AI

You can find Dr Sun Sumei here in ASTAR: https://www.a-star.edu.sg/i2r/about-i2r/i2r-management/sun-sumei and her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumei-sun-8590814/?originalSubdomain=sg

Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig

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