We were pleased to host Prof. Simon Chesterman on 16 October 2025 for a seminar titled “The University Disrupted – AI’s Impact on Knowledge Work and Tertiary Education.”

Prof. Chesterman discussed how artificial intelligence is profoundly transforming the way we learn, work, and live — posing an existential challenge to universities worldwide. As AI systems increasingly perform knowledge work more efficiently and at lower cost, fundamental questions arise about the value, purpose, and funding of university education.

At the same time, amid declining public trust in expertise and institutions, universities must confront the challenge of sustaining their legitimacy as enduring pillars of knowledge and civic authority.

The seminar examined these interconnected issues, reflecting on the future of higher education and its role in an AI-driven world.

We were delighted to host Prof. Tarek Abdelzaher (Sohaib and Sara Abbasi Professor and Willett Faculty Scholar, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) on 25th September, 2025, for a thought-provoking seminar on Advances in Self-Supervised AI for Distributed Embedded Sensing.

Prof. Abdelzaher discussed the transformative role of self-supervised machine intelligence and its unique challenges in the IoT domain, especially on resource-constrained embedded devices with multimodal sensors. 

His talk highlighted open research questions around adapting self-supervised pipelines for embedded sensing, developing foundation models for IoT, understanding spatial signal propagation, and addressing data scarcity for specialized sensor modalities.

Organised by SMART M3S in partnership with Singapore Management University (SMU), the two-day symposium explored how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping education, skills development, and organisational culture.

Guest-of-Honour Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment and for Education, highlighted the importance of partnerships that connect research with real-world workforce challenges. Prof Alan Chan, SMU Provost, reaffirmed SMU’s mission to develop digitally skilled, socially responsible leaders.

Prof Archan Misra introduced the ResWORK Initiative to enhance workforce resilience, while Prof Jinhua Zhao outlined M3S’s dual vision—advancing AI technologies and enabling institutions to adapt for innovation and social welfare.

Three keynote speakers provided global perspectives on AI’s paradoxes and possibilities. Prof Dragan Gasevic(Monash University) explored how AI can both empower and erode human learning; Mr Gita Wirjawan (Ancora Group) discussed the “elitism of AI” and the need for equitable access; and Prof Batia Wiesenfeld (New York University) examined AI’s impact on organisational culture, trust, and innovation.

Panel discussions and thematic sessions delved into AI’s effects on labour markets, lifelong learning, and digital inclusion. Speakers showcased AI-powered tools for personalised education, adaptive upskilling, and data-driven workforce planning, while emphasising the need for ethical design, transparency, and human-centred innovation.

The symposium concluded with a shared message: AI should augment rather than replace human intelligence, advancing not only technological progress but also social resilience and inclusive growth.

Click here to view the Program List

Organised by M3S in partnership with IMDA, the symposium explored two key frontiers in AI research: embodied intelligence—AI systems that physically and perceptually interact with the world—and scalable AI for efficient real-world deployment.

Prof. Zhao opened the event, highlighting M3S’s interdisciplinary collaboration across MIT, SMU, NUS, and IMDA, and emphasised embodied and scalable AI as pillars for future intelligent systems that can adapt to human contexts and operate at scale.

In her keynote, Prof. Daniela Rus, Director of MIT CSAIL and M3S Co-lead PI, discussed “The Future of Embodied AI – Systems That See, Sense, and Support,” showcasing advances like liquid neural networks for adaptive, energy-efficient robotics.

A panel featuring MIT and SMUfaculty—including Profs. Zhao, Sarma, Solar-Lezama, Misra, and Wang—concluded the symposium with a discussion on “AI in Context: Bridging Research and Societal Impact.”

Click here to view the Program List

On 3 June, M3S had the honour of hosting the newly appointed Chief Executive of A*Star, Mr Beh Kian Teik, during a special workshop visit.

As part of our ongoing efforts to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange with the wider community and industry partners, M3S regularly engages with distinguished guests and external stakeholders.

During the visit, our team had the opportunity to showcase their latest research through a vibrant poster presentation, highlighting key projects. Guests also experienced live demonstrations of innovative prototypes and emerging technologies currently under development at M3S.

Several M3S researchers actively contributed to the ICLR 2025 Conference and its associated workshops, showcasing cutting-edge advancements in machine learning and artificial intelligence. 

The strong engagement at ICLR underscores M3S’s growing presence on the global AI research stage and its commitment to advancing responsible, high-impact AI innovation.

The M3S booth at the RoboSG exhibition, organized by the National Robotics Program on March 14-15, 2025, showcased our latest advancements in robotics. A key highlight was the soft robotic arm prototype, accompanied by an informative video demonstrating its capabilities and potential applications.

The first day of the exhibition was dedicated to industry partners, providing an opportunity for networking, collaboration, and discussions on future technological developments.

The second day was open to the public, where visitors, including students, researchers, and tech enthusiasts, engaged with the display and expressed keen interest in the innovative robotic technology. The event successfully raised awareness about M3S’s contributions to the robotics field and fostered meaningful interactions with both industry professionals and the broader community.

M3S collarborate with Mendaki to held the AI Literacy Tutor Training Workshop. This workshop training and focused on providing participants with foundational AI Literacy skills, which entail educating participants on the responsible, ethical and productive use of AI  technology, including:   

• Understanding how AI-powered technologies operate and what their applications are  

• Employing AI technologies to promote creative discovery, discussion, and critical thinking   

• Presenting the drawbacks and possibilities, challenges and opportunities of AI technology  

• Exploring the societal and ethical impacts of AI

M3S fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing with the community and industry and through engagements with external guests. M3S have the privilege of hosting several distinguished visitors, including CEO, Executive Director from the National Research Foundation (NRF), the SMART Governing Board, and various local agencies. 

In addition to welcoming guests to M3S, the team has also visited these agencies at their offices to share insights into the work, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations.

Internally, M3S prioritize similar knowledge-sharing initiatives through regular discussions, technical seminars, and collaborative sessions. These interactions not only enhance our collective expertise but also provide valuable opportunities to socialize, build stronger professional relationships, and appreciate diverse cultural perspectives within our multidisciplinary community.

M3S team is definitely pushing boundaries and paving the way for technological advancements!

The SMART Governing Board visited M3S on 21 Jan 2025, where the team had the opportunity to showcase their cutting-edge research. The visit featured an engaging poster presentation highlighting key projects, as well as live demonstrations of innovative prototypes and technologies currently under development.

IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2024) provided an incredible platform for us to host the M3S Forum, bringing together experts from around the world to exchange insights on how AI is reshaping the future of work and education. 

The event saw attendance by researchers, academics and industry professionals worldwide, including professors and researchers from SMART, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and other leading institutions. 

The forum explored key themes shaping the integration of AI and robotics across various sectors, envisioning a future where AI and robotics can elevate human potential while sustaining an inclusive and productive workforce.