Meta announced the launch of an AI Accelerator program for Asia Pacific (APAC) startups in its regional headquarters in Singapore on October 3, in conjunction with the Meta APAC AI Accelerator Finals.

The new long-term program, witnessed by Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo and Meta President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg, will empower innovative companies and developers to integrate Llama, Meta’s open-source AI model, into their products.

By providing access to the latest open-source models and resources in AI, Meta aims to support these organisations in creating pioneering solutions to help shape the next wave of innovation.

During the event, Clegg announced plans to launch a Singapore-focused incubator program that will support 100 enterprises in deepening their understanding of GenAI and Llama. The program will help connect 20 participants with technical and business experts who will mentor them as they develop, refine, and launch Llama-powered solutions for their businesses.

Digital Industry Singapore (DISG) supports the initiative, which is aligned with Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0 (NAIS 2.0) to promote the development and adoption of AI by businesses and startups.

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“Meta’s AI Incubator programme is a strong example of how Singapore continues to support businesses in embracing cutting-edge technologies such as Generative AI. By empowering local enterprises with both technical expertise and mentorship, this initiative fosters innovation and helps businesses unlock new opportunities through AI,” said Philbert Gomez, Executive Director, DISG.

“We are proud to collaborate with Meta in this programme, which aligns closely with our National AI Strategy 2.0 to deepen AI capabilities and ensure that Singapore remains a key hub for AI development in the region.”

According to Meta, over 720 companies and developers from across the region, including Singapore, submitted their projects showcasing impactful use cases of Llama to tackle challenges in education, public services and economic development.

The top finalists from 13 markets came together at Meta’s headquarters in Singapore to showcase their solutions and win a grant to further their work.

The event named Traversaal.ai from Pakistan, the winner of the regional finals, entitling the company to a US$100,000 grant for its innovative use of Llama to create a state-of-the-art Urdu Llama model aimed at connecting 250 million Urdu speakers worldwide.

The first and second runners-up from Indonesia and New Zealand also received grants of US$15,000 and US$10,000, respectively, to further develop their proposals.

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“We are beyond thrilled to be representing Pakistan at this level. It’s a great honour to be here in Singapore, the hub of technology, and we are extremely grateful to Meta for enabling us to convert our dreams into reality,” said Hamza Farooq, the founder of Traversaal.ai.

Supporting the ecosystem

Meta has been advancing AI innovation globally through partnerships with governments, AI associations, and incubators.

The company recently awarded Llama Impact Innovation Awards to startups that used Llama 2 or 3 to address social challenges. One recipient was AiSee by the National University of Singapore, which developed an affordable wearable assistive device using AI to help visually impaired individuals “see.”

At the event, Minister Teo and Clegg participated in a fireside chat, discussing responsible AI development, including generative AI, and how Singapore fosters AI innovation. Minister Teo highlighted Singapore’s collaborations with industry leaders such as Meta and the open-source community, noting their role in realising the nation’s vision of AI for the Public Good, which aligns with the refreshed Smart Nation strategy.

Clegg said, “It’s been incredible to see examples of the work that startups are doing with our Llama models to address major societal challenges within the Asia Pacific region. Open-sourcing AI helps ensure more people can access the opportunities that AI provides, and this is evident in the strong submissions that we have received. I’m very encouraged to see the vibrant developer community in APAC, how governments welcome AI innovation and the benefits it will bring to the region.”

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Image Credit: Meta AI

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