Most popular stories, October 2024

By Si Ying Thian

GovInsider's top five reads for October highlight the latest trends in government technology.

Most popular stories, October 2024. Image: Canva

These ranged from Singapore’s renewed focus on AI and building cyber resilience, utilising LLMs to simplify data-driven policymaking, enhancing data sharing through whole-of-government observability and how digital innovations are revolutionizing aid disbursement.

1. Singapore’s renewed focus on AI and cyber resilience

*Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the updated Smart Nation policy seeks to build trust, growth, and community. Click image to access article >>>*

“But we must never think that we have arrived. Technology is advancing rapidly, and our operating environment is ever-changing. So, we have to keep pace, stay abreast of the latest developments, and continually strive to do better,” said Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

2. GPT for data-driven policymaking

Singapore public sector officers can use a simple chat interface to extract insights from government databases via SENSE; MOH first ministry to start using the application. Click image to access article >>>

“I found a bunch of people here who are very interested in problem solving. They're not in love with the solution, they're in love with the problem,” said GovTech Singapore’s Deputy Director (Policy, Strategy & Development), Yeo Yong Kiat.

3. Observability for whole-of-government data sharing

GovTech Singapore has built its StackOps on the Elastic Search AI Platform on AWS to improve observability, making it easier for government teams to effectively monitor their critical applications. Click image to access article >>>

A common observability tool allows government agencies to collaborate on monitoring data to improve system or site resiliency and quality, said GovTech Singapore’s Lead DevOps Engineer, Yi Sheng Yap, who is part of the product team for StackOps built on the SG Tech Stack.

4. How digital enables equitable, swift and secure aid disbursements

When crises strike, aid must be distributed swiftly and efficiently and digital disbursements can ensure aid arrives quickly and at scale to those who need them most. Click image to access article >>>

Digital aid disbursements overcome many of the barriers associated with traditional forms of aid. They enable people to buy what they need locally, instead of relying on aid agencies and imports, which are well-intentioned but can be inaccurate, said Visa Asia Pacific’s Head of Visa Government Solutions, Azrin Azlina Anuar.

5. Crowdsourcing to tackle Singapore’s ageing population

Three out of five winning teams at the largest Open Government Products (OGP)’s Build for Good hackathon yet have built out-of-the-box solutions to tackle eldercare-related problems. Click image to access article >>>

Governments in general may be constrained by the ways they develop solutions to problems, said Agency for Integrated Care (Singapore)'s Care Systems Integration Division’s Deputy Chief, Chun-Liang Chew, but citizens can think out-of-the-box when you give them the opportunity to do so.