'No single safeguard is sufficient': IMDA unveils 3 new initiatives to strengthen AI safety

Singapore has introduced three initiatives to strengthen artificial intelligence (AI) safety and cybersecurity as increasingly autonomous AI systems pose new risks, including unauthorised access to sensitive information and unintended actions.Announced by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) on Wednesday (Oct 14), the initiatives include a testing guide for agentic AI systems, an accreditation scheme for AI testing firms, and a taskforce to strengthen cybersecurity defences.Speaking at the AI Assurance Exchange: Agentic AI Edition at Novotel Singapore on Stevens, IMDA chief executive Ng Cher Pong said: "When we give AI more agency, we need greater assurance over how that agency is exercised."New guide to help organisations test AI agentsThe first initiative is the Starter Kit for Testing Agentic Systems for Safety and Reliability, which provides guidance on assessing AI agents before deployment.Unlike traditional AI applications, agentic AI systems can use tools, access sensitive information and execute tasks on behalf of users, potentially causing unintended consequences.