Diverse AI solutions win top honors at Design AI and Tech Awards

[SINGAPORE] Six companies that create easy-to-understand clinical guidelines for patients and evaluate construction bids using artificial intelligence won awards at the annual Design AI and Tech Awards in Daita on Wednesday (April 15).

Co-host: business times The competition, which includes the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), aims to inspire startups and corporate innovators to leverage design and technology to develop breakthrough solutions that address real-world business challenges.

This year’s second edition brings together 10 diverse candidates across two categories: start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and large corporations.

The finalists spanned a wide range of fields, from public services to marketing and financial services.

On Wednesday, the 10 finalist teams each gave five-minute presentations to the judges, followed by a five-minute question-and-answer session. Three companies received awards in each category.

Start-up and small business sector

In the Startup and Small Business category, awards went to physician-founded health tech company Milkyway AI, as well as built environment software startups Ailytics and H3 Zoom.

Sean Khoo, founder of H3 Zoom, which uses proprietary technology to detect defects in building facades, told BT: “By being able to understand[clients’]pain points in great detail, we use AI to design solutions that matter most to them, which is critical,” he said.

“[We’re]not trying to push AI for the sake of pushing AI, but[it’s]about really understanding traditional, traditional business workflows and leveraging and building on the technology that AI can provide and developing solutions.”

Similarly, Milkiway AI uses its system Clerical to generate personalized health reports for wellness centers.

“We’ve thought a lot about how the content should be understood by patients and how we can integrate it with physician workflows and processes to make it very seamless,” said co-founder Dr. Petty Chen.

Dr Cheng, a trained doctor, told BT that the solution is currently being implemented by a private hospital group in Singapore, with plans to expand regionally.

Meanwhile, Ailytics helps businesses improve operational safety by using AI-powered video analytics to eavesdrop on existing surveillance cameras and uncover real-time insights into risky activities and security breaches.

The other finalist in the Startup and Small Business category was Philippine technology company Synqbox. The company’s sensor-based kiosks engage local communities to fight dengue infections. Built environment startup Primustech has designed a large-scale language model (LLM) specifically for facilities management.

Large company category

In the large enterprise category, JTC Corporation’s AI bid evaluation solution, SBS Transit’s sign language virtual assistant (Silvia), and Thales’ AI-powered biometric passenger solution won.

JTC’s Evaluation Virtual Assistant (EVA) uses LLM to read, interpret, and score construction bid submissions.

Adam Chern, project manager at JTC Corporation, told BT that EVA is currently evaluating quantitative data, but plans to incorporate qualitative criteria in future stages.

To achieve this, JTC plans to train AI with more contextual knowledge and expand its use to areas outside of construction, such as consulting.

SBS Transit’s AI virtual assistant Silvia translates public service announcements into grammatically and contextually accurate sign language.

Thales’ touchless AI-powered biometric solutions allow passengers to effortlessly navigate the airport without compromising security and personal data protection.

The other finalist was Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore, which introduced an AI-tuned robotics ecosystem for manufacturing. Aecom Singapore has developed a suite of AI-enabled tools and workflows aimed at reshaping the way design decisions are made.

Submitted works were evaluated across five criteria: design thinking processes and strategies; Originality, functionality and aesthetics. Utilization of AI and cutting-edge technology. Ethical considerations and sustainability. and whether the design had a quantitative and qualitative impact.

Professor Tai Lee Shang, Vice President and Chief Innovation and Enterprise Officer of SUTD, said in a speech at the event: “These are very meaningful and exciting times we live in. AI is not scary. In fact, it should be embraced and put to good use.”

He chaired the review committee consisting of BT editor Chen Huifeng. Dawn Lim, Executive Director, Design Singapore Council; Jenny Lee, senior managing partner at multi-asset investment firm Granite Asia, and Dr Leslie Teo, senior director of AI products at AI Singapore.

Rahayu Mazzam, Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, graced the event as the guest of honour.

In her speech, she acknowledged that the changes brought about by AI in the design process can be “disruptive and even unsettling.” But even as AI takes on more technical and generative tasks, she said, “the distinctly human aspects of design are becoming more valuable, not less.”

“Designers bring vision and judgment shaped by lived experience. They understand the cultural, emotional and ethical context. They make decisions and align stakeholders around common goals,” she added.

“The strongest designers will be those who combine deep design expertise with AI fluency to tackle harder problems and deliver solutions that truly address people’s needs,” Rahayu said.

“This is what today’s awards show. The best solutions here don’t start with technology or algorithms looking for problems. They start by approaching them with curiosity, creativity, and compassion.”

Daita was established in October 2024 with multi-asset investment firm Granite Asia as a supporting partner. Click here for more information about Daita here.