Singapore could eventually need an artificial intelligence safety regime similar to the system of standards and regulations used in civil aviation, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo has said.
In a LinkedIn post on Sept 17, Teo said trust would be essential if AI is to become a technology that people and organisations regularly rely on.
She compared the development of AI safety with civil aviation, where passengers expect to reach their destinations safely because of extensive safeguards covering aircraft manufacturing, maintenance, airport operations and airspace management.
Teo noted that civil aviation relies on hundreds, if not thousands, of standards and regulations, as well as properly trained workers and consistent safety procedures.
“In time to come, we will need similar set-ups for AI,” she said, adding that safeguards for advanced AI are still developing and will require further research and testing.
Singapore’s approach is to build safety measures alongside the adoption of AI rather than waiting for the technology to mature before introducing safeguards.
The government is working on ways to test and assess AI systems, strengthen technical capabilities for evaluating advanced models and provide organisations with practical guidance on responsible use.
Teo highlighted several initiatives, including AI Verify, the Singapore AI Safety Institute and the country’s Model AI Governance Frameworks.
Singapore is also pushing for greater international cooperation, with Teo stressing that AI safety cannot be addressed by individual countries alone.
The Republic has hosted international discussions on AI safety and helped bring together researchers and policymakers to identify shared priorities for research. Singapore has also been involved in efforts to develop international standards for testing generative AI systems.
Teo’s comments come amid growing debate among technology leaders about whether AI development is moving faster than efforts to manage its risks. Some executives and researchers have called for stronger safeguards and, in some cases, a slower pace of development.
At the same time, governments and companies are seeking to expand AI adoption for economic and technological gains, creating pressure to balance innovation with safety and accountability.
Teo said Singapore would continue to test, learn and strengthen its approach as AI becomes more capable, while working with industry, researchers and international partners.
The government’s objective is to build enough safeguards and confidence for AI to be adopted more widely while ensuring that safety measures keep pace with the technology’s development.
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