Singapore to roll out certification framework for AI engineers

Singapore will roll out its first certification framework for AI engineers to meet growing local demand for experts in the fledging field of artificial intelligence, according to a report on Singapore broadsheet The Straits Times.

Certifying framework

The objective of the initiative is to make it easier for employers to establish the caliber of talent that they are hiring. To this end, AI engineers will be assessed on their technical competence and real-world projects by an independent panel of experts.

“Companies don't really know how to qualify or quantify AI skills today. The certification is for AI engineers to show they have the skills and the ability to scale AI projects in a real-world environment," said Laurence Liew, the director of industry innovation at AI Singapore (AISG).

AISG is the national AI program launched by the National Research Foundation (NRF) to enhance Singapore's AI-centric capabilities.

There will be three levels of proficiency defined as part of this AI Certification Initiative. To qualify as a Level One certified AI engineer, applicants must have at least one year of working experience in AI-related roles and have deployed an AI-project worth at least half a million Singapore dollars (US$367,000).

Applicants for Level Two must demonstrate the ability to manage an AI engineering team on top of the perquisites for a Level One certification; an applicant for Level Three must have the added ability to manage multiple AI applications across the entire organization.

The stipulated fees for certification are pegged at SG$500 (US$367), SG$800 and SG$1,000 respectively, with applications scheduled to open early next year. It is understood that AISG is currently working with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) to offer a subsidized certification fee, though nothing has been announced yet.