Tech firm Oracle answers Singapore's call for AI centres of excellence

Its new initiative helps enterprises such as car-sharing firm GetGo carry out AI projects

- Krist Boo

An initiative in Singapore by tech company Oracle to help enterprises implement artificial intelligence (AI) projects had swift results when it teamed up with car-sharing firm GetGo.

The start-up was keen to develop an AI model that identifies damage to its rental cars through pictures sent in by clients. The task would have taken a year or more, but that all changed when its executives began bouncing ideas around with Oracle managers in 2024.

Oracle sent its experts to train and work with the GetGo data and technical teams to set up the operating environment and pick the right model.

Much of the work, which was carried out at Oracle's first AI Centre of Excellence in Asia-Pacific, soon produced fruitful results.

GetGo's chief executive and co-founder Toh Ting Feng said the AI model combs through as many as 50,000 photos its customers send in daily before and after they have rented one of its 3,000 vehicles.

"The model will then tell us if there is damage to the vehicles," said Mr Toh, who spoke to The Straits Times at the annual Oracle CloudWorld conference held at Shangri-La Hotel on March 13.

His firm, which employs 160 staff in Singapore, was the first project unveiled by the Oracle centre, which is based at Fusionpolis.

The Singapore Government has called on global tech firms to set up such facilities to help businesses embrace AI.