No one to be left behind in Singapore's AI push, says Tan Kiat How
'We are putting in place the infrastructure, the investment ecosystem to help companies and workers make full use of this technology', he said in a speech at the DBS 'Live Fulfilled' employee carnival.
To help small businesses adopt AI, the government is running programmes such as SMEs Go Digital, which provides financial support for the adoption of advanced digital tools such as Gen AI, he said.
There are also efforts to ensure that companies stay safe from potential cyberattacks – whether they are large enterprises often facing online threats, or smaller businesses that are still vulnerable.
By supporting the integration of AI in companies' work processes, the government is also giving workers the opportunity to learn the right way to use AI tools, Tan noted.
In addition, ambassadors from the SG Digital Office are teaching the elderly digital skills such as Gen AI.
A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU
Friday, 8.30 am SGSME
Get updates on Singapore's SME community, along with profiles, news and tips.
Sign Up
Sign Up
Tan gave the example of a grandmother using Gen AI to find a simplified recipe for fish and chips, which she wanted to cook for her grandson. 'We are not leaving anyone behind (in the adoption of AI)', he said.
He believes that AI will not steal the jobs of human workers because there are many tasks it cannot perform.
In the tech sector, AI can generate code efficiently – but someone needs to define what the code should do and whether it is reliable.
Although the nature of jobs may change, 'in Singapore, especially when we don't have enough people, there will always be jobs', he said.
Companies may be anxious about using AI, so large institutions such as DBS can 'lead by example' through active adoption of the technology, he noted.
DBS introduces AI career coach
At the carnival, DBS launched iCoach – a Gen AI-powered virtual coach for its employees.
The program can be accessed by the bank's offices in Singapore, Indonesia, India, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, a spokesperson from the bank said during a product demonstration.
iCoach's knowledge base was developed jointly with Marshall Goldsmith, a career coach with more than four decades of experience working with managers and executives.
The virtual coach provides employees with personalised, on-demand career guidance to help them navigate the workplace.
Available around the clock, it draws on DBS' roles, functions and internal mobility pathways to deliver relevant career advice.
Seventy per cent of coached employees made improvements in work performance, relationships and communication, and 80 per cent reported higher self-confidence, data from International Coaching Federation and Better Up Career Coaching indicated.
In response to The Business Times' query on whether iCoach will be used widely by DBS employees, the bank's spokesperson said the launch event was a key attempt at raising awareness of the tool.
Employees also have access to human resource software that may guide them to iCoach, she added.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Video-sharing app Vine is returning 'in AI form', Musk says
Elon Musk's social media company X is bringing back popular video-sharing platform Vine in "AI form", the billionaire tech-entrepreneur said on Thursday, almost nine years after the app was discontinued. Musk made the announcement in a post on X, formerly Twitter, but did not provide further details. X did not immediately respond to a Reuters request seeking more information on the reboot. The Tesla CEO has previously hinted at reviving Vine multiple times since he acquired Twitter in 2022, including posting public polls on X about bringing back the short-form video app that was popular in the 2010s. Twitter introduced Vine in January 2013, allowing users to share small snippets of video that were six seconds or less, with the app quickly gaining popularity among video bloggers and attracting millions of followers. In late 2016, Twitter announced it would discontinue the app. The six-second long video format could work favorably for AI-generated content, as most AI video generation tools available currently typically generate short-form content while longer video clips come with increased costs.

Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Mice industry will need more manpower in sectors like technology, sustainability: Alvin Tan
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Minister of State for Trade and Industry and National Development Alvin Tan speaks during the Mice Awards Gala Dinner at Sands Expo & Convention Centre on July 24. SINGAPORE - Singapore will need more people in the Mice industry – that is, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions – to hit its goal of tripling Mice tourism receipts from $1.4 billion in 2019 to $4.5 billion by 2040. It is especially looking for those with expertise in sustainability and technology, said Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan, on the sidelines of the Singapore Mice Awards 2025 on July 24. These skills will help draw global event organisers to Singapore, he added. He cited examples such as using machine learning and artificial intelligence to make organising Mice events more exciting and less labour-intensive. 'People, as we know, are behind the heart of every Mice experience and behind every successful Mice event – where you start from 5.30 in the morning to those who are cleaning up after today's dinner,' Mr Tan said. 'That's why we must continually identify, grow and develop talent in our industry.' Singapore recently secured several Mice events for multi-year contracts such as the Milken Institute Asia Summit, which will be from 2026 to 2028. It will also host the Asian edition of world-leading trade shows from Europe, such as Passenger Terminal Expo Asia and Breakbulk Asia in 2026, and InnoTrans Asia in 2027. They span growing industries, such as aviation, logistics and transport technology. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Live: People evacuated from border regions amid deadly Thailand-Cambodia clash Asia 11 Thai civilians killed as Thai and Cambodian militaries clash at disputed border: Reports Asia Deadly Thai-Cambodian dispute puts Asean's relevance on the line Singapore Singapore says prolonged suffering of civilians in Gaza is 'unconscionable' Singapore Khatib Camp to make way for housing, with its functions moving to Amoy Quee Camp Singapore First BTO flats in Greater Southern Waterfront, Mount Pleasant to go on sale in October Singapore Mindef to set up new volunteer management unit to grow volunteer pool Singapore Primary 1 registration: 29 schools to conduct ballot in Phase 2B The groundwork for this talent pipeline is already being laid, he added. The Singapore Mice Development initiative will be launched on July 25 as part of the three-day Singapore Mice Forum that kicked off on July 23. The forum, organised by the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (Saceos), is expected to see more than 1,500 attendees from the industry. Leading Mice companies will be able to engage with over 600 students from 13 institutes of higher learning (IHLs), and mid-career professionals exploring opportunities in the industry as part of this initiative. In a speech at the Singapore Mice Awards at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Mr Tan noted that the global Mice market is projected to double in value, with the Asia-Pacific as one of the fastest growing markets. Singapore is intensifying efforts to attract more Mice visitors, who are estimated to spend twice as much as leisure visitors, and studying the development of a new Mice hub in the downtown area. The new facility is expected to complement and bolster Mice facilities in the vicinity, and will leverage existing and upcoming amenities, including hotels and lifestyle experiences. A total of 16 awards were given out at the Singapore Mice Awards, which celebrated outstanding individuals and organisations in the business events industry. The forum also saw the signing of four agreements on July 23 between partners such as Saceos, IHLs and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), aimed at strengthening the pipeline of talent and enhancing training standards. With the aim of lowering barriers to launch, scale and anchor new and innovative events in the Republic, and cultivate them into impactful international events, STB and Saceos have launched BeInspiredSG on July 24. The event incubator and accelerator pilot programme will provide promising local event concepts with mentorship from industry veterans and professional consultancy services.


CNA
5 hours ago
- CNA
Innovations That Matter - To Super-Aged Societies
21:40 Min Innovations That Matter About the show: What are the cutting-edge innovations emerging from the National University of Singapore that are transforming the nation and potentially the world? Find out in this five-part series that showcases how NUS' faculty, researchers and students are tackling pressing challenges such as ageing and sustainability, putting AI to work in the real world, nurturing startups and uplifting communities in and beyond Singapore. Brought to you by the National University of Singapore.