Singapore’s Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX), a statutory board under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is advancing its artificial intelligence capabilities to support public safety operations.
It is developing custom AI models, deploying secure cloud infrastructure, and establishing governance frameworks to ensure responsible AI use.
HTX has partnered with Google Cloud to scale these efforts.
Under the agreement, HTX will adopt Google Distributed Cloud (GDC) Air-Gapped in 2025.
It is a fully managed, air-gapped cloud platform designed to meet regulatory and data sovereignty requirements.
This infrastructure enables the secure deployment of AI-powered solutions aligned with national security standards.
Google Cloud’s president, Asia Pacific, Karan Bajwa, said the expanded partnership with HTX will result in developing and deploying advanced AI and cloud solutions in the public safety domain in Singapore and can serve as a model for governments around the world.
Fine-tuning AI models
HTX and Google Cloud focus on developing and fine-tuning AI models for operational use.
These include training Google’s models on Home Team-specific data to enhance effectiveness in areas including agentic AI, robotics, and embodied AI.
The partners explore deploying these models using Vertex AI to support intelligent, autonomous systems in public safety functions.
The agency will work with Google Cloud to explore AI governance models and guardrails for public safety use cases related to explainable AI, robust AI, and AI safety.
Since launching its HTxAI movement on 1 June 2024, HTX has been focused on ramping up the hiring of AI talent as an AI-first agency that empowers an AI-enabled Home Team.
HTX has developed Phoenix, a series of large language models trained on Home Team data.
These models are designed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of tasks such as data analysis and information processing.
HTX’s chief AI officer and assistant chief executive (digital and enterprise), Ang Chee Wee, said as HTX builds up a 500-strong AI workforce, the agency will work with partners to bring in AI tools, platforms, and infrastructure.
This collaboration with Google Cloud will propel HTX’s efforts to develop AI innovations for the Home Team, which would in turn strengthen the safety of the public in Singapore, he added.
