In the transition from Industry 4.0 to 5.0, the spotlight is shifting from automation to collaboration – from machines replacing people to intelligent systems empowering them. For Aaron Lee, founder and CEO of Gabkotech Innovations, this next industrial evolution is not about removing the human element from security and facility management but redefining its role.
“We don’t see AI as replacing people,” Lee explains. “We see it as giving every security officer an AI companion, a digital partner that helps them respond faster, think ahead and work smarter.”
This philosophy sits at the core of Gabkotech’s GSIMS Advanced Video Analytics, a Singapore-developed AI platform designed to bring human-AI collaboration to the heart of smart infrastructure. As manpower shortages persist and operational demands intensify, Lee believes the solution lies in augmenting human judgment with machine intelligence – what he calls the new holistic approach to protection.
Human-AI synergy: The essence of Industry 5.0
Industry 5.0 emphasises sustainability, resilience and the synergy between humans and machines. For Gabkotech, that translates into AI systems that assist rather than automate away human responsibility.
Security operations centres today struggle with an overwhelming flow of data and limited manpower. Gabkotech’s AI platform acts as a “second pair of eyes,” analysing hundreds of live camera feeds in real time and flagging potential anomalies. Instead of operators reacting to incidents, they are guided by predictive insights that allow preemptive intervention.
Lee describes this as human-centric augmentation: “The officer still makes the final call. But AI gives them the clarity and speed to act decisively.”
IMAGE: Gabkotech Technologies
GPU-free AI for the real world
One of Gabkotech’s most significant innovations is its GPU-free AI acceleration – a parallel processing technology that eliminates the need for expensive graphics processors. Traditional AI analytics platforms often rely on GPU hardware, driving up costs and energy consumption. Gabkotech’s solution, by contrast, runs efficiently on existing CCTV infrastructure through lightweight AI appliance boxes”connected to network video recorders.
This design dramatically reduces hardware expenses and power usage, while offering scalability across facilities of any size.
“A typical 25-camera AI system can cost up to S$250,000 a year,” Lee notes. “With our model, it’s about S$22,500, almost ten times cheaper, without sacrificing capability.”
The result is a powerful yet accessible platform that transforms ordinary cameras into intelligent sentinels. Gabkotech’s AI can detect complex behaviours, from fights and smoking in restricted zones to unattended bags and fire outbreaks, distinguishing between nuanced movements such as a hug versus an altercation.
From reactive to predictive security
Traditional CCTV systems are inherently reactive: they document events after they happen. Gabkotech’s AI moves surveillance into the predictive domain.
Through behavioural and anomaly analytics, GSIMS identifies irregular patterns, such as crowd surges or prolonged object placement, and issues early warnings before incidents escalate. In a retail environment, for instance, the AI can detect if a bag is left unattended for too long or if individuals are loitering near sensitive zones.
At a shopping mall in Singapore for instance, Gabkotech’s AI counts the number of people remaining in the building after closing hours and alerts command centres if thresholds are breached. Another layer of protection detects suspicious objects left behind – an intelligent safeguard for public safety in high-traffic venues.
“AI should not just be an observer,” Lee asserts. “It should be a collaborator that helps organisations act before things go wrong.”
Democratising AI for businesses
Gabkotech’s mission extends beyond large-scale enterprises and government projects. The company wants to democratise advanced AI analytics for small and medium businesses (SMEs), sectors often priced out of enterprise-grade systems.
With subscription pricing starting from S$75 per camera stream, Gabkotech is bringing predictive security within reach of smaller facilities, schools and local municipalities. The plug-and-play nature of its AI boxes (pre-trained with over 20 algorithms) allows instant deployment without months of data training.
“You plug it in, and within weeks the AI starts detecting anomalies,” says Lee. “That’s our jump start advantage.”
This approach aligns with the Industry 5.0 vision of inclusivity, making next-generation intelligence accessible to all layers of the economy, not just those with deep pockets.
Beyond surveillance, Gabkotech’s GSIMS integrates seamlessly with other smart building systems, including HVAC, fire detection and IoT-based facility management platforms. The AI serves as a data layer that feeds into central dashboards, enabling operators to see, decide and act from a unified interface.
This interoperability is key to building smart, connected environments envisioned under Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative. Using REST APIs, GSIMS can communicate with most existing systems, turning traditional infrastructure into dynamic, learning environments.
“We are not just a security company,” Lee explains. “We are a platform enabler that integrates safety, operations and sustainability into one ecosystem.”
Ethical AI and responsible surveillance
In an era of heightened privacy concerns, Gabkotech is also keenly aware of the ethical dimension of AI. The company’s systems are fully compliant with Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and adaptable to international frameworks like GDPR.
Sensitive identifiers such as NRIC or facial images are automatically masked or anonymised before any data leaves a facility. Hybrid deployment models allow organisations to decide how much data, if any, is processed off-premise.
Lee underscores the principle of trust by design: “We only collect what is necessary for safety and operational improvement. Nothing more. Our goal is to build confidence, not surveillance anxiety.”
AI, robotics and the future of smart spaces
Looking forward, Gabkotech envisions an era where AI, IoT and robotics converge to create responsive, autonomous environments. The company is developing its own AI companion software, designed to be paired with every security officer; a virtual assistant that learns from operational data to guide decision-making.
Gabkotech is also exploring partnerships with robotics firms in China to deploy dog-like and humanoid robots equipped with its AI vision system. These machines could perform routine patrols while human operators manage command centres, achieving a hybrid model of manpower and machine collaboration.
“We’re not replacing the human officer,” Lee emphasises. “We’re upgrading him – giving him digital eyes, faster intelligence and a wider reach.”
As Gabkotech expands beyond Singapore into Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia, it aims to position itself as a regional leader in human-AI security symbiosis. The company’s roadmap includes integrating edge AI for faster data processing and exploring quantum-secure systems for future-proof protection.
In many ways, Gabkotech embodies the promise of Industry 5.0: not machines taking over, but machines amplifying what humans do best. By blending ethics, accessibility and intelligence into its technology, the Singapore-grown company is reimagining how cities can stay safe, sustainable and human-centred.
As Lee reflects: “Every building, every city, should have both human wisdom and AI intelligence working hand in hand. That’s how we build resilience, not just smart infrastructure, but sentient environments that care.”
