Dr Savitha Ramasamy, Principal Scientist, Machine Intellection Department, A*STAR Institute for Infocomm Research (A*STAR I2R), Singapore

1. How do you use technology/policy to improve citizens’ lives? Tell us about your role or organisation. 

I am a Principal Scientist and Group Leader in the Machine Intellection Department of A*STAR Institute for Infocomm Research (A*STAR I²R).

At A*STAR I²R, we focus on advancing technologies to drive digital transformation and enhance lives, with a strong emphasis on making AI accessible and impactful.

My team specialises in analysing large-scale sensor data from IoT devices and wearables, which are integral to sectors like healthcare, transport, and urban living.

For example, in air and sea transport, we develop advanced analytics to predict system failures before they occur, allowing proactive maintenance and minimising service disruptions.

These efforts translate into smoother commutes, and more reliable service for citizens, potentially enhancing their quality of life.

In the manufacturing domain, A*STAR I²R contributes through the Sectoral AI Centre of Excellence for Manufacturing (AIMfg).

This initiative applies cutting-edge AI technologies, including AI foundation models for product design, 3D vision and Visual Language Models, automated visual inspection for surface and subsurface defects, and time-series sensor data analysis.

These innovations are designed to enhance efficiency and quality in manufacturing, supporting industries that deliver products and services essential to daily life.

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2. What was the most impactful project you worked on this year? 

This year, the most impactful project was the AI for Airlines Operations Programme, developed in collaboration with Singapore Airlines (SIA).

The main objective was to create AI solutions to enhance operations in airline engineering and customer service, including Aircraft Predictive Maintenance (APM).

By leveraging advanced analytics and deep learning, we developed tools to predict aircraft component failures and optimise fleet operations. This initiative reduced unplanned maintenance costs and improved fleet reliability.

This project not only sets new standards for operational efficiency and reliability in the aviation sector, but also demonstrates the potential for scaling AI solutions to enhance passenger experiences across the industry.

The success of this project, which earned the IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Award 2024, highlights the real-world value of AI in large-scale operations.

3. What was one unexpected learning from 2024? 

I am an avid reader, and this year I had the pleasure of reading Genome by Matt Ridley.

The book deepened my understanding of how genetics shapes our lives and reminded me how recent many transformative technologies are.

For instance, the electric bulb was invented less than 150 years ago, yet it has revolutionised the way we live. This perspective gives me hope that AI, despite current apprehensions, will eventually become as integral and transformative as electricity.  

4. What’s a tool or technique you’re excited to explore in 2025? 

I am excited to explore tools that can accelerate AI adoption in practical settings.

For example, explainable AI can make models more reliable and build trust, while composable AI can reduce computational costs, making it more accessible.

Additionally, tools like AutoGPT, which can perform tasks with minimal human input, hold great promise for automating complex workflows. These advancements could significantly expand AI’s impact across industries.

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5. Everybody’s talking about AI today – give us your hot take on AI and what it means for the public sector.

AI has already made inroads into the public sector. Recent advancements in AI offer significant potential to streamline complex processes across various sectors.

In tax administration, AI can enhance efficiency by optimising claims processing, detecting fraudulent activities, and ensuring greater financial accountability.

In social services, AI can improve the accuracy and speed of benefit disbursements, ensuring timely assistance to the recipients. By automating these processes, AI accelerates service delivery, enhances transparency, and builds greater trust, ultimately improving the citizen experience.

In education, AI-powered tools enable personalised learning and enhance accessibility.

For example, A*STAR I2R’s AI for Education Programme uses generative AI technology and learning analytics to streamline teaching processes and create more engaging learning experiences. This approach can benefit student with diverse needs, including those with learning challenges or language barriers, by providing customised support.

AI's ability to automate routine tasks, such as citizen support services, can significantly improve government efficiency by handling common inquiries, requests, and administrative tasks.

This frees up human resources for more complex tasks, enabling faster, more accurate service delivery, and improving the citizen experience.

Human-like chatbots also enhance citizen engagement by providing instant, 24/7 support in natural language.  

They reduce wait times, offer consistent information, and build trust by addressing citizens’ needs more intuitively. As AI chatbots evolve, they can provide even more personalised, context-aware responses, further enhancing citizen interactions.

6. What are your priorities for 2025? 

My priorities for 2025 are focused on leveraging AI to drive sustainable energy and environment, and healthcare.

1. Developing predictive tools based on IoT time-series data to optimise the use of engineering assets in transport and buildings.
2. Enhancing AI model transparency to improve trust and adoption.
3. Exploring ways to adapt AI models seamlessly to new data environments for broader applications.

By addressing these challenges, I aim to develop AI tools that contribute to sustainable energy and environment and improve quality of life.

7. What advice do you have for public sector innovators? 

For public sector innovators, it is important to take calculated risks and view failure as a stepping stone. Start small with pilot projects to test and validate ideas before scaling up.

Focus on solving real-world challenges faced by citizens, such as improving service delivery, reducing inefficiencies, and enhancing transparency.

Collaboration is key – bring together diverse expertise to ensure solutions are ethical, practical, and impactful. Especially when it comes to AI, domain expertise is critical, so engaging stakeholders early on is key to ensuring a smooth and effective adoption process.

8. Who inspires you today? 

I draw inspiration from pioneers across the AI value chain, from innovators developing groundbreaking technologies to adopters who integrate AI into everyday applications.

This year, the Nobel Prize in Physics and Chemistry (John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton for Physics and Sir Demis Hassabis and John Jumper for Chemistry) highlighted AI’s transformative impact, reinforcing my passion to push its boundaries.

These milestones remind me that AI has the potential to become as ubiquitous as electricity, inspiring me to develop solutions that make AI accessible and impactful in real-world applications.