ST Engineering’s Latest AI Breakthroughs: What You Missed at InnoTech 2024 in Singapore

ST Engineering Unveils AI Innovations at InnoTech Conference 2024

ST Engineering, a leading Singaporean multinational technology and engineering group renowned for its advancements in aerospace, smart city solutions, and public security, spotlighted an impressive array of over 20 AI-powered solutions at its InnoTech Conference 2024.

This year’s conference, held on September 3 at Marina Bay Sands, focuses on expanding the boundaries of artificial intelligence to benefit various business sectors and critical industries.

The showcased applications prominently include sophisticated tools for fraud and deepfake detection, guided crime analysis, real-time emergency response, and the optimisation of hospital operations and resources.

What is ST Engineering

ST Engineering, officially known as Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd, is a major Singaporean multinational technology and engineering conglomerate.

The company operates across various sectors, including aerospace, smart city solutions, defence, and public security.

It leverages technology and innovation to address real-world challenges, contributing to a more secure and sustainable world.

ST Engineering reported revenue of over $10 billion for FY2023 and is listed among the largest companies on the Singapore Exchange.

The company is also a component of several key indices, including the MSCI Singapore, FTSE Straits Times Index, and Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index.

With operations extending across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S., ST Engineering serves customers in more than 100 countries.

Employing approximately 23,000 people globally, two-thirds of whom are in engineering and technology roles, ST Engineering stands out as one of Asia's largest and most prominent defence and engineering groups.

Thematic Focus: AI and Beyond - Transcending Limits, Empowering Tomorrow

The theme of this year’s event, "AI and Beyond - Transcending Limits, Empowering Tomorrow," reflects ST Engineering’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI technology.

The conference was divided into two main segments: InnoTech.AI, which delved into the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, and InnoTech.Healthcare, which highlighted AI’s transformative impact on the healthcare sector.

With more than 2,000 participants, the event drew significant attention and was honoured by the presence of distinguished guests such as Mr. Ong Ye Kung, Singapore’s Minister for Health, and Mr. Desmond Tan, Senior Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office and Singapore National Trades Union Congress Deputy Secretary-General.

AI-Driven Solutions to Address Contemporary Challenges

In his keynote address, Mr. Low Jin Phang, President of Digital Systems at ST Engineering, emphasised the company’s strategic integration of AI into their product development.

"ST Engineering has consistently embraced AI as a core component of our product development strategy, evolving and adopting new technologies to enhance our offerings"

He elaborated that the company’s AI-driven applications tackle some of the most urgent challenges of our time, including countering cybercrime, optimising emergency response systems, and improving hospital operations.

He added,

"By integrating AI with our existing technologies, we’ve unlocked new possibilities, delivering highly effective solutions that enhance decision-making, boost operational efficiency, and create real value for businesses, governments, and individuals."

Revolutionising Connectivity with 5G SoC Small Cell

Among the highlights of the conference was the unveiling of ST Engineering’s 5G System-on-Chip (SoC) Small Cell.

This cutting-edge innovation represents a significant leap in wireless connectivity by utilising AI for intelligent network management and dynamic load balancing.

The integration of both 5G and Wi-Fi 7 technologies within this small cell marks a pioneering achievement in the industry.

This advancement sets a new benchmark for connectivity solutions, enhancing network efficiency and user experience.

Strategic Collaborations and R&D Initiatives

The conference also featured several strategic collaborations aimed at advancing digital health and quantum-safe solutions.

ST Engineering announced a partnership with Philips to develop digital health solutions that will revolutionise care delivery models and optimise hospital resources.

(L-R) Teo Ming Kian, Chairman of ST Engineering; Tan Bin Ru, President of Enterprise Digital at ST Engineering; Ong Ye Kung, Singapore’s Minister for Health; Dan Ball, Head of Enterprise Informatics for Philips Asia Pacific; and Fabia Tetteroo-Bueno, Global Commercial Leader of Enterprise Informatics at Philips, have formalised a partnership to enhance digital health solutions for bedside support and capacity management. (source: MediaOutReach)

Additionally, a memorandum of understanding was signed with Toshiba and SpeQtral to create quantum-safe solutions for critical sectors.

MOU signing ceremony between Toshiba, ST Engineering, and SpeQtral

As part of its Research Translation @ ST Engineering platform, the company is expanding its R&D efforts with Singapore universities and A*STAR, launching 16 new projects.

These projects will focus on areas such as green computing, energy-efficient large language models, and multimodal deepfake detection.

Einstein.AI – A New Tool Against Deepfakes

A notable addition to ST Engineering’s suite of AI solutions is Einstein.AI, a deepfake detection tool introduced during the conference.

Designed for use by banks, investment platforms, and media companies, Einstein.AI identifies inconsistencies in videos, such as unusual eyebrow or lip movements, and detects audio frequencies indicative of computer-generated content.

Tan Boon Leong, head of data science and AI at ST Engineering, described how the tool generates a report that includes a deepfake likelihood score, a transcript and summary of the video’s audio feed, and related news content to help users assess the reliability of the content.

"These are increasingly becoming tougher for people to spot with their own eyes."

Global Concerns and Investments in Deepfake Detection

The rise of deepfakes has prompted a global response to tackle this evolving threat.

Senior Minister of State Desmond Tan highlighted the urgency of addressing deepfakes, citing a significant 500 percent increase in such content in 2023 compared to the previous year.

He referenced an incident in Hong Kong where scammers used deepfake technology to deceive executives into transferring HK$200 million (S$34 million).

Deepfake thief nets $25M in unprecedented AI robbery.

Deepfake technology, known for its creativity, was used dangerously in a scam targeting a multinational company's office in Hong Kong. This sophisticated scheme tricked the office out of HK$200 million (US$25.6 million). Scammers created a fake video conference call that appeared to feature the company's chief financial officer and other staff, convincing them to transfer funds without proper authorization.

The Details:

Deepfake Technology in Scams: The incident showcased the use of deepfake technology to create highly convincing fake videos of the company's employees, including the chief financial officer, to deceive an employee into transferring funds.

Method of Deception: Scammers executed a phishing attack to initiate contact with an employee, followed by a simulated multi-person video conference using deepfakes to provide visual and auditory verification of the fraudulent instructions.

Impact and Discovery: The scam led to the unauthorized transfer of HK$200 million to multiple accounts. It was uncovered a week later, highlighting the sophisticated nature of the deception and the challenges in promptly detecting such scams.

This growing threat has led to substantial investments in detection capabilities, including a $50 million investment by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information into the Centre for Advanced Technologies in Online Safety, and the development of detection models by Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research and Home Team Science and Technology Agency.

ST Engineering’s InnoTech Conference 2024 not only showcased the company’s latest AI innovations but also underscored its role in advancing technology to address contemporary challenges.

The event highlighted the transformative potential of AI across various sectors and solidified ST Engineering’s position as a leader in the technology and engineering space.