The Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) in Singapore has teamed up with Google Cloud to work together to improve the agency’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) in many areas. This partnership will help HTX use advanced technology to do its job better.
HTX and Google Cloud said in a statement on Tuesday that this new agreement builds on their long-standing partnership. They plan to work more closely together on science and technology projects.
Their focus areas include making AI and cybersecurity safer, developing new AI models, using cloud services and platforms, creating smart software powered by AI, and providing training and rules to guide the use of AI.
Since starting its HTxAI initiative on June 1, 2024, HTX has been working to hire more AI experts. As an agency that puts AI first, its goal is to help the Home Team use AI to do their work better.
One of the AI tools HTX has created is called Phoenix. It’s a group of large language models (LLMs) trained using Home Team data. Phoenix helps make tasks like analyzing data and processing information faster and more accurate.
In 2025, HTX will start using Google Distributed Cloud (GDC) Air-Gapped to support the work of Home Team agencies. This cloud system is designed to meet their specific needs while keeping data secure.
GDC Air-Gapped is a cloud service that is fully managed and completely cut off from outside networks. It’s made for organizations that need to keep their data fully private and follow strict government rules.
HTX will also team up with Google Cloud to look into how AI should be safely and responsibly used for public safety. They’ll focus on things like making AI decisions easier to understand (Explainable AI), building strong and reliable AI (Robust AI), and making sure AI is safe to use.
“AI is poised to become a cornerstone of public sector operations, transforming how government agencies serve their constituents and make decisions,
“Our expanded partnership with HTX sees us working together to develop and deploy advanced AI and cloud solutions in the public safety domain in Singapore, and can serve as a model for governments around the world,” said Karan Bajwa, President, Asia Pacific, Google Cloud.
As part of their partnership, HTX and Google Cloud will look into creating a special GenAI Solution Accelerator that can run on the secure GDC Air-Gapped system. They also plan to use Google’s AI models on Vertex AI to support advanced uses like smart robots, AI that can act on its own (agentic AI), and AI that interacts with the physical world (embodied AI).
The solutions created by HTX and Google Cloud could one day be used by public safety agencies in other countries, too. This can help save lives and make the world a safer place for everyone.
In the area of AI model development, Google Cloud will help HTX train and improve its top AI models. This will support HTX’s work and help them carry out their mission more effectively.
“AI has the potential to transform our work in ensuring the safety and security of Singaporeans,
“The challenges we face in the realm of public safety are constantly changing, and we must stay ahead of the curve by leveraging the latest in AI technologies if we are to tackle them effectively,” said Ang Chee Wee, HTX’s Chief AI Officer and Assistant Chief Executive (Digital and Enterprise).
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