For Singapore, the AI revolution is coming just in time
Lessons from the 1990s Windows boom show us why AI will not destroy work. Instead, it will transform it in ways we cannot yet imagine.
Critics worry about concrete job losses, but they are missing Singapore's bigger challenge: a rapidly ageing workforce.
Thirty years ago, office workers across Singapore, like everywhere else, were terrified. Microsoft Windows 95 was revolutionising workplaces, and the productivity gains seemed almost magical. Suddenly, tasks that took hours were completed in minutes. Entire job categories, from filing clerks, typists, to manual bookkeepers, were disappearing overnight.
'Computers will eliminate millions of jobs', warned the headlines. Sound familiar?
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Straits Times
36 minutes ago
- Straits Times
South Korean president to meet Japanese PM in Japan ahead of US visit
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox South Korean President Lee Jae-myung (above) and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will discuss ways to improve regional peace and boost trilateral cooperation with Washington. SEOUL - South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will visit Japan between Aug 23 and 24 and hold a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Mr Lee's office said at a briefing on Aug 13. The leaders will discuss ways to improve regional peace and boost trilateral cooperation with Washington, Mr Kang Yoo-jung, Mr Lee's spokesman, told reporters. Mr Kang did not specify the date of the summit during Mr Lee's two-day visit. Mr Lee has in the past been critical of efforts by administrations in Seoul to improve ties with Tokyo, though when he met Mr Ishiba for their first summit on the sidelines of a G7 meeting in Canada in June they vowed to deepen the relationship. Ties between the US allies have often been strained, rooted in historical disputes stemming from Japan's colonial rule over the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945. Their second summit meeting will also take place as the Asian economic powerhouses grapple with the implications of US tariffs imposed by the administration of US President Donald Trump. Mr Lee''s trip to Japan comes just ahead of his visit to the US, where he is scheduled to hold a summit with Mr Trump on Aug 25. REUTERS
Straits Times
41 minutes ago
- Straits Times
White House orders probe of Smithsonian museums to remove ‘partisan narratives'
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The Smithsonian's vast network of museums boasts of millions of artefacts for public display. WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump's administration has ordered a sweeping review of some Smithsonian museums to ensure their exhibitions laud American exceptionalism and 'remove divisive or partisan narratives'. Mr Trump has moved to assert control over major American cultural institutions since starting his second term in January, while also slashing arts and humanities funding. The Smithsonian is one of America's most hallowed institutions, with its vast network of museums boasting tens of millions of artefacts for public display. A letter to the institution's secretary, Mr Lonnie Bunch, published on the White House website on Aug 12, said the administration would carry out a 'comprehensive internal review of selected Smithsonian museums and exhibitions'. 'This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the president's directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions,' said the letter, signed by three senior White House officials. It will target eight major museums, including the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the National Museum of the American Indian, the letter said. The review aims to assess 'tone, historical framing and alignment with American ideals' across exhibitions, educational materials and digital content ahead of the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding in 2026. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Singapore banks face headwinds in rest of 2025, but DBS is pulling ahead: Analysts Singapore Yishun man admits to making etomidate-laced pods for vaporisers; first Kpod case conviction Singapore HSA seeks Kpod investigators to arrest abusers, conduct anti-trafficking ops Asia Malaysia's anti-graft agency busts arms smuggling ring masterminded by senior military officers Asia Mixed reactions among Malaysia drivers on S'pore move to clamp down on illegal ride-hailing services Singapore 4 taken to hospital after accident near Sports Hub, including 2 rescued with hydraulic tools Business Singapore life insurance sales surges in first half, led by boost in investment-linked plans Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History removed in July a label referring to Mr Trump's two impeachments , a move its parent institution later denied came under White House pressure. The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History removed in July a label referring to President Donald Trump's two impeachments. PHOTO: VALERIE PLESCH/NYTIMES The review requires that the museums submit extensive documentation, including exhibition plans, wall text, educational materials, grant information and internal guidelines, within 30 days. The Smithsonian said in a statement to The New York Times that its 'work is grounded in a deep commitment to scholarly excellence, rigorous research and the accurate, factual presentation of history'. 'We are reviewing the letter with this commitment in mind… and will continue to collaborate constructively with the White House, Congress and our governing Board of Regents,' it said. AFP
Straits Times
41 minutes ago
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Bournemouth signs Diakite in second most expensive deal
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Bournemouth signed Bafode Diakite from Lille on a five-year deal on Wednesday, making the defender the second most expensive signing in club history. While no financial details were disclosed, British media reported the fee was 35 million euros ($41 million) plus 5 million euros ($5.86 million) in add-ons, the second highest behind the 40.2 million pounds ($54.49 million) Bournemouth paid for Evanilson a year ago. Diakite links straight up with Andoni Iraola's squad, who face Liverpool in the Premier League season opener on Friday evening at Anfield. He will wear the number 18 shirt for the Cherries. The 24-year-old scored 13 goals in 112 appearances for Lille. He played in 48 games last season, scoring four goals. Diakite helps fill a hole on the back line left by the departure of Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid and Illia Zabarnyi to Paris Saint-Germain. "I know the coach has great ideas, which enables us to play well in the Premier League," the centre-back said in a statement. "Now I'm at the club, it's a good opportunity to show how I can help the team going forward." "I'm a defender who likes to have the ball and play with it, and I hope to show my qualities both with and without it. I will give everything for the team and I hope we will have some great moments together." REUTERS
