The minister said Singapore’s approach puts people at the center of technology adoption.
[SINGAPORE] Digital Development and Information Minister Josephine Theo said on Thursday (June 4) that artificial intelligence should work by supporting humans, rather than requiring humans to operate the technology.
He sought to reassure Singapore’s approach that puts humans at the center of AI deployment, as concerns grow globally about AI-induced job cuts.
She delivered a keynote speech on the Republic’s AI strategy and the use of technology for public goods and investments at the Nomura Investment Forum Asia 2026 held at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore.
He noted that Singapore’s tripartite partners share a commitment to ensuring that the introduction of AI does not result in job losses. This means that jobs will need to be redesigned and employees reskilled at scale, building on existing SkillsFuture programs.
“This emphasis is absolutely important when thinking about implementing AI,” she added.
This work forms part of the government’s wider strategy to prepare the workforce for an AI-driven future, keeping workers’ interests and concerns at the heart of policy-making.
“The interests and concerns of the public are at the heart of everything we do and cannot be put on the back burner,” she said.
She added that advanced AI tools and industry-specific models should not operate in isolation. “We need a workforce with the skills to guide, supervise, and safely integrate them into existing workflows.”
The minister’s comments come as companies, including Meta, announce job cuts while seeking greater efficiency through AI and automation.
She highlighted the National AI Impact Program launched during Budget 2026. Under this programme, Singapore aims to initially train 100,000 ‘AI bilingual’ professionals.
“These are people who combine expertise in fields such as finance, law and medicine with a practical understanding of how to use and apply AI in their roles,” she said.
She gave the example of a portfolio manager using AI to clarify investment thesis and stress testing assumptions. She is “not only more productive, but also sharper and, importantly, she is still decisive,” Mr Teo said.
He emphasized that beyond training AI talent, the government is also supporting 10,000 companies to meaningfully integrate AI into their operations.
This targets not only large multinational companies, but also small and medium-sized enterprises, which account for 99 per cent of Singapore’s businesses and employ 70 per cent of its employees.
“They contribute significantly to our economy and we either move forward by working with frontier companies or we become a laggard,” Mr Teo said.
Through these targeted initiatives, the government aims to prepare the local workforce to work with next-generation technologies.
“By providing infrastructure, reliable guardrails, and a skilled workforce, we ensure companies have a stable foundation on which to build and scale their AI solutions,” she added.
Growing AI ecosystem
Mr Teo also cited concerns about the impact of geopolitical tensions on the digital economy, adding that he is often asked whether geopolitical conflicts could split the digital world into separate blocs.
Countries recognize the possibility of such an outcome, but they should not allow uncertainty to paralyze action.
“The digital ministers of the ASEAN region and I want to make the most of AI to revitalize the economy,” she said.
He stressed that Singapore’s efforts are not only focused on infrastructure and capacity building.
Equally important, we remain proactive in our relationships with our partners in the United States, Europe, and China, and find opportunities for meaningful cooperation, including facilitating cross-border data flows.
Without such connectivity, digital infrastructure would be severely constrained, she said.
“We see that they all have the interest and ability to be part of the AI growth story in ASEAN,” she added.
Mr Teo called on investors at the forum to further participate in Singapore’s growing AI ecosystem and AI hub.
“Doing so will give us new access to the broader ASEAN market, with a population of over 650 million people and a digital economy expected to reach US$1 trillion by 2030,” she said.
He described ASEAN as a key driver of growth, noting that the upcoming ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement is expected to further strengthen the region’s momentum.
She added that Singapore serves as a gateway to the region and AI solutions developed and deployed here could be applied across other ASEAN markets.
He also stressed that Singapore’s AI ecosystem is “forming pretty well” and provides “reasons to aim higher and go faster.”
He noted that the Singapore government announced an update to the Singapore National AI Strategy at last month’s ATxSummit in an effort to strengthen its focus on areas with the greatest opportunities in AI.
These plans are also aimed at supporting the National AI Council, chaired by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Among its priorities is a national AI mission that goes beyond small-scale pilot projects to transform entire sectors in four areas: connectivity, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and finance.
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