Singapore cybersecurity firm Flexxon on Monday launched the world's first solid-state drive (SSD) embedded with artificial intelligence (AI) data security. As the "last line of defence" to protect data at the hardware level, the SSD is able to guard against both remote and physical attacks, boasting a range of features including temperature sensors to detect unusual movements that occur. In the event of such an incursion, the device - also known as X-PHY - will alert the user via email and lock itself to prevent any physical tampering. Users may then unlock the device via a dynamic authentication process. For clients with high security needs, such as the military, data may be automatically wiped should the device fall into the wrong hands.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister-in-charge of Singapore's Smart Nation Initiative Vivian Balakrishnan said that the innovation was a "breakthrough" and a significant step in increasing security and safety for end users, having put AI into the firmware layer of an SSD. Congratulating Flexxon on its new product, Dr Balakrishnan - who was the guest-of-honour at the launch - also called on similar companies to include research institutes, universities and the private sector to enhance local research and development efforts in AI."In Singapore, we want to become more than just smart consumers or buyers of applications and hardware. We want to become a nation of innovators, makers and creators," he said.

The product, currently in trials with government agencies, medical and industrial clients, has not been made available to the public. Flexxon said it plans to cater to businesses by September this year and hopes to raise enough funds to produce the device for the mass consumer market by early 2022.

Said Camellia Chan, founder and chief executive officer of Flexxon: "With innovations like the X-PHY, we will be better equipped to leverage on the benefits of technology while safeguarding ourselves against rising cyber threats."

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