AI company Zero Gravity investing S$20m in Singapore, including in badminton research

The bulk of Zero Gravity's investment, S$10 million, is allocated to establishing its global headquarters and expanding its team and operations in Singapore. An additional S$9 million will support research collaborations with higher education institutions, building on an existing S$5 million partnership with Nanyang Technological University and reserving S$4 million for other academic partners.

The S$1 million directed towards AI and badminton research aims to develop a foundation model for the sport. This involves collecting and integrating data on player movements, videos, training sessions, and competitions. The goal is to equip coaches with insights they might otherwise miss, potentially refining training approaches and lowering injury risks, especially for younger athletes, by incorporating anatomical data.

While the badminton research is in its initial phase, it exemplifies a specific application of AI in sports, moving beyond traditional coaching methods. The selection of badminton, described as "multi-faceted" due to its varied physical and cognitive demands, suggests a broad potential for AI to offer detailed performance analysis. Dr. Maliki Osman, patron-in-chief of the Singapore Badminton Association, expressed hope that any developed applications could eventually support national athletes and other sports.

A three-year partnership with Y Badminton Academy is also part of the initiative, focusing on creating more opportunities for students from neighbourhood schools to engage in badminton. This includes plans for tournaments and pathways to identify and develop promising young players, linking the AI research with community sports development.