South Korea's former first lady imprisoned after court issues warrant

CNA

4 days ago

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NDR 2025: Govt will help workers harness AI, redesign jobs, says PM Wong

Straits Times

30 minutes ago

Straits Times

NDR 2025: Govt will help workers harness AI, redesign jobs, says PM Wong

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The Government will help every enterprise harness AI effectively and use it to sharpen their competitive edge, said PM Lawrence Wong. Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - Using artificial intelligence (AI) to raise productivity and create new value in the economy is a game changer, and every company, big or small, stands to benefit from it, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. As such, the Government will help every enterprise, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), harness AI effectively and use it to sharpen their competitive edge, he said on Aug 17 in his National Day Rally speech. 'AI is not just for the big players,' PM Wong said, noting that AI will be a defining technology of this time. Adopting new technologies across the economy was how Singapore transformed in the past, and will be how Singapore plans to ride the AI wave and propel the nation forward, he said. PM Wong acknowledged that many people worry about the technological disruptions caused by AI that may replace entire jobs. But he assured Singaporeans that the Government will ensure workers benefit from the shift. Even as the country embraces AI, the Government will not lose sight of its key priority to ensure citizens have jobs, and will work closely with unions to redesign jobs and help workers, he said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDR 2025: US baseline tariff of 10% on Singapore offers 'little comfort', says PM Wong Singapore NDR 2025: Govt to strengthen partnership with Chinese community, which played key role in nation-building Singapore NDR 2025: New Islamic college campus will be in Rochor, students can take courses at SUSS next door Asia Mandarin with Taiwanese characteristics: Taipei leverages language as soft power tool Singapore She won big in Genting, but getting $240k winnings back to Singapore was dicey Singapore Buying hope: Inside S'pore's love affair with the lottery 'Singaporeans will always be at the center of everything we do. So, we won't just rush headlong to adopt new technology,' he said. He gave the example of how crane operators at port operator PSA were retrained to remotely supervise and manage multiple cranes and vehicles. This provided a huge boost in productivity, and created safer and higher-paying jobs for workers. 'It's a win-win for everyone,' he said. Some SMEs, like dental healthcare group Q&M Dental, also used AI to analyse X-rays in order to help dentists diagnose problems. While the dentist still needs to check the results and decide on the best course of treatment, the analysis by AI makes their work better and faster, he said. Past technological changes that came with the rise of computers and the internet created disruption, but also new opportunities like higher-skilled and better-paying jobs. In the 1980s, young people and workers were equipped and trained to use computers, and personal computers became common in offices. The same happened with the arrival of the internet in the 1990s. 'With each new wave of technology, we adapted. We upgraded. We lifted our whole country up,' he said. 'Like the computer and the internet in the past, AI will be a defining technology of our time.' AI is advancing rapidly and will only get better, with the power to solve real world problems. It will fundamentally change the way people live, Mr Wong said, noting that many people now turn to AI apps instead of a general internet search when they need to search for information. AI is being used in the civil service and has yielded good results, he added. In the past, officers in call centres run by government agencies had to manually write down a summary of each conversation to keep a proper record. Since March, the CPF Board has been using AI to transcribe calls and generate summaries. This allows officers to focus on what matters most, which is to help members of the public, Mr Wong said. Tuas Port, which is set to be fully completed in the 2040s, is also highly automated with containers at the port being transported around the facility in unmanned driverless vehicles. The Government is studying to similarly automate baggage handling and other airside operations in Changi Airport. 'The real game changer lies in using AI to raise productivity and create new value through every part of the economy,' he said, urging a deeper look into the opportunities created by AI. Global companies are choosing Singapore for opportunities related to technology, Mr Wong said. American energy company GE Vernova invested $81.4 million in a repair and service centre in Singapore in 2019. Its global turbine repair service centre uses AI to detect anomalies in turbine components. Human operators are then alerted to do an in-depth diagnosis. While Singapore may not have been the obvious choice for such a centre, global companies value the nation for its ability to combine technology and human skills. 'That's how we stay competitive, attract high-quality investments and create good jobs for Singaporeans,' PM Wong said. Watch PM Wong's National Day Rally speech here: