(Open to all CDE majors)

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the imitation of human intelligence by computers and other machines. This includes tasks like learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and natural language understanding.  In short, AI is about creating technology that can think, learn, and act like a human. AI technologies are rapidly penetrating every domain in our society, from education to business to manufacturing to the arts. Singapore has recognised the importance of being a leader in AI through a variety of actions. First, Singapore plans to invest more than $1 billion over the next five years to further boost AI activities to boost market competitiveness. Second, it has invested significantly in agencies such as AI Singapore to help train the next generation of AI engineers and AI entrepreneurs. Third, Singapore is putting in valuable resources to shape the regulatory landscape for AI technologies, especially generative AI. Given this national roadmap, it is imperative that the NUS College of Design and Engineering respond accordingly and provide the opportunity for its graduates to gain a solid grounding in AI.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the design and engineering landscape. From autonomous systems and robotics to materials science and smart buildings, AI is becoming an indispensable tool for engineers. A Minor in Artificial Intelligence (Design and Engineering) provides students with a solid foundation in data engineering, data science, and machine learning and enables them to:

• Develop innovative solutions: Apply AI to address complex engineering challenges and create novel products and services.
• Enhance problem-solving skills: Cultivate a data-driven mindset and leverage AI to optimise engineering processes.
• Increase employability: Gain in-demand skills that are highly sought after by industries across the board.
• Contribute to interdisciplinary research: Collaborate with researchers from across the campus, from law to medicine and other fields, to advance research and development.

A Minor in Artificial Intelligence (Design and Engineering) equip CDE graduates with the necessary skills to excel in the digital age and become leaders in the fields of design and engineering.  Design and Engineering graduates will be able to solve complex engineering problems using the foundations and concepts learned.

Minor in AI (Design and Engineering) offers a suite of electives designed specifically for students across a range of Design and Engineering programmes, including civil and environmental engineering, industrial and systems engineering, materials science and engineering, electrical engineering, robotics and machine intelligence, infrastructure and facilities management, and computer engineering, among others. The syllabus and content of these electives are meticulously curated to highlight the relevance of AI to each student’s field of study. This contextualised approach helps students grasp the practical applications of AI within their discipline, thereby enhancing their employability and better preparing them for industry challenges.

Minor in AI (Design and Engineering) offers a more targeted, interdisciplinary, and practical education tailored to CDE students. It provides Design and Engineering students with an industry-focused, hands-on learning experience that is immediately applicable to their fields of study.

Students completing the Minor will be able to:

1. Grasp the fundamental concepts of AI, including machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision.
2. Identify problems that can be addressed with AI and develop appropriate solutions for applications to different domains.
3. Model a real-world problem using AI tools such as optimisation, classification, regression, and clustering.
4. Assess the performance of AI models, including selecting performance metrics.
5. Analyse complex problems, break them down into smaller, manageable components, and come up with innovative AI solutions.
6. Understand the ethical implications of AI and how to develop responsible AI systems.