Mobilising AI App Creation Know-hows Among Business Professionals

After the National AI Prompt Design Challenge Open category was set in motion with its Meet & Greet two weeks ago, the event’s highly anticipated Bootcamp & Challenge finally took place from 9-11 September. 

Organised by Straits Interactive and co-organised by the Association of Small & Medium Enterprises (ASME), the competition serves as a platform for working professionals and their organisations to acquire skills in leveraging generative AI capabilities and craft app-based tools that address business challenges, with no programming knowledge required. The initiative aligns with Singapore's National Strategy 2.0 and the Digital For Life movement, which aims to help Singaporeans use technology effectively.  

Nearly 300 business professionals across various industries took part in the Challenge that was held at the Singapore Management University (SMU). Teams received a half-day crash course (the Bootcamp) on prompt design and app creation, and subsequently built their apps submission (the Challenge). Participants hailed from a multitude of SMEs, organisations and industries, such as Professional Service Providers, Social Services, Education, IT, Consulting, Trade Associations, Healthcare and many more.

During the Bootcamp, participants were introduced to Large Language Models (LLMs) and their relationship with different modalities, followed by a hands-on tutorial of targeted prompt techniques and generative AI app development. During which, the import of responsible practices in enacting AI Governance and critical strategies to counter adversarial prompts were impressed upon them.

With this knowledge, the floor became abuzz with participants’ ideation and creation of apps to address unique challenges in their organisations. With each person a domain expert in their own right, their solutions spanned the gamut of providing support to overseas job seekers coming to Singapore, concept ideation for designers, healthcare advisory, customisation of staff enrichment programmes and matching the right education grants to adult learners. Whether they were looking to streamline departmental workflows, or to address a business roadblock, the Challenge set the stage for participants to showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills.

The apps were built using Capabara, Straits Interactive’s generative AI platform, that supports code-less seamless app creation on any Large Language Model in a safe, secure and sustainable environment. It is constructed to empower users to design AI-powered solutions for their specific needs.

SMU Academy is the Programme Partner for both the Youth and Open categories of the Challenge. The event was also conducted in collaboration with leading bodies in Singapore’s digital sphere, such as AI Verify Foundation, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the Cyber Security Agency (CSA) of Singapore.

We saw keen sponsorship from MyRepublic, Omada by TP-Link, myhalo, Rackspace and Elevation Events.

Judging is underway, with the panel led by Chief Judge Harish Pillay. Winners will be crowned in October.

Photos of the National AI Prompt Design Challenge can be found here. 

Stay tuned to see who will emerge as winners.