Mr Laurence Liew, Director, AI Innovation, AI Singapore
Mr Koo Sengmeng, Senior Deputy Director, AI Innovation, AI Singapore
Mr Gavin Chua, APAC Head, Stakeholder Engagement, Meta
Ms Catherine Lau, Assistant Chief Executive, National Library Board
Parents, Children, Ladies and Gentlemen
1. A very good morning to all of you. The AI4K® programme was launched in 2019 to introduce AI literacy to upper primary school children aged 10 to 12. Today, AI Singapore is releasing a book on artificial intelligence (AI) that is written specifically for lower primary school children. I am excited that this initiative encourages our young readers to find out more about new technologies such as AI and helps our children embrace digital technologies from a young age.
2. Our children are growing up in a digital world where technology and social media have become interwoven into our everyday lives. COVID-19 has also accelerated the pace of digitalisation in the global economy, and reshaped the way we live, work and play. Our children will require digital skills to harness technology safely, responsibly and effectively. This is why the Ministry of Education (MOE) launched the National Digital Literacy Programme in 2020 to help our students acquire various digital skills throughout their education journey.
3. MOE will continue to enrich teaching and learning through the thoughtful use of Educational Technology (EdTech). EdTech offers promising opportunities to enhance student engagement and personalise learning experiences. For instance, new technologies, including AI-enabled ones, can help provide more customised learning experiences for each child, and provide quick feedback to improve their learning. AI technologies can also support our teachers in automating some administrative or manual processes.
4. As we continue to enhance digital literacies in school, we will also need to build stronger partnerships to develop innovative solutions that can provide enhanced learning opportunities for all. I am happy to know that AI Singapore has worked closely with community and industry partners like Meta and the National Library Board to make this book accessible for our young learners, including children from less privileged backgrounds.
5. I hope that this book not only piques children’s interest in learning more about AI, but also serves as a first step towards building a lifelong love of gaining knowledge and digital skills, preparing them to be confident digital learners.
6. Thank you.
Source: Ministry of Health, Singapore