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Business Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Rethinking AI skilling: From awareness to practical adoption
ARTIFICIAL intelligence (AI) adoption has undoubtedly evolved from an intriguing technological frontier to an indispensable strategic asset, poised to redefine business success in the digital age. Popular AI tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot now offer organisations proprietary accounts, reflecting increased corporate interest in integrating AI into mainstream corporate functions. Some 92 per cent of companies also plan to increase their AI investments over the next three years, according to a report by consulting firm McKinsey. Yet, despite these exciting developments, many organisations encounter a disconnect in marrying corporate AI training programmes with tangible business outcomes. A critical observation across industries is that corporate AI training frequently misses the mark by offering overly theoretical, generic content disconnected from actual business needs. One of SGTech's members, a cybersecurity small and medium-sized enterprise, initially found value in basic AI learning platforms that later proved to lack depth in architecture adaptation, performance optimisation and business integration. As a result, they encountered significant difficulties when the AI models needed to be modified. This experience highlighted that effective AI deployment demands more than just online self-learning or technical experimentation, but also requires guided, use-case-specific training to address real-world constraints for measurable impact. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Beyond that, there is a persistent misconception that AI training is relevant only for technical roles. Yet, as AI-driven tools increasingly reshape industries – from finance, where predictive analytics dramatically enhance risk management, to healthcare, where generative AI (GenAI) assists in diagnostics – AI literacy is becoming essential across all organisational levels. When employees across departments are empowered with relevant AI knowledge, organisations can then fully realise the potential of their technology investments. Companies also tend to focus heavily on training for large language models, while overlooking the broader spectrum of AI and analytics that have been in use for years. Predictive AI, for instance, remains highly effective for use cases involving probability estimation, outcome classification and decision support. Organisations that strategically select and deploy AI solutions tailored to their specific challenges and opportunities would be more likely to realise tangible value from employee-training initiatives. Avoiding trend-driven adoption and prioritising alignment with business objectives can significantly improve the return of investment on their digital transformation efforts. The pathway to making corporate AI skilling count To bridge the persistent gap between training and measurable business outcomes, a shift towards business-oriented, application-first AI skilling is essential. Training providers should co-develop curricula with industry partners, focusing on modular, experiential learning and practical case studies, and essential soft skills such as ethical decision-making. As a starting point, a resource guide for businesses was created in conjunction with AI Singapore, SkillsFuture Singapore and strategy consulting firm TalentKraft. This guide identifies crucial AI-related competencies required across roles from developers to end users, based on insights gathered from 30 companies. It also includes a reference workflow for companies that are intending to adopt and deploy GenAI solutions, which will empower organisations to effectively embrace and integrate such technologies within the workplace. Organisations themselves must also integrate AI training strategically into workforce development, instead of considering ad hoc upskilling only when the need arises. One way is to create role-based learning paths to tailor training to specific roles. For instance, business leaders can be trained in AI fluency, training for tech teams can emphasise learning, while human resources and legal departments need to understand the ethical use of AI across the organisation. Protected learning time can also be implemented, to ensure all employees are skilled successfully in their respective areas. Establishing mentorship programmes and in-house AI centres of excellence can further cultivate employee AI capabilities. Ultimately, organisations that achieve the greatest impact and return on AI investment are those that thoughtfully balance cutting-edge generative technologies with well-established predictive tools, and precisely align each with their strategic business objectives. Working in tandem At the broader ecosystem level, collaboration is key. Governments can play a pivotal role by defining clear national standards for AI competencies, offering targeted financial incentives and encouraging robust public-private partnerships. Singapore's AI talent initiatives, designed to foster industry-academia collaboration, exemplify this strategic alignment, and are essential to nurturing AI-ready talent pools that meet real-world business demands. Fundamentally, achieving meaningful AI adoption demands a mindset shift within organisations. Employers should embed AI as a central pillar of their strategic operations, rather than treating it as merely a technology-driven initiative. Employees, for their part, should approach AI upskilling with curiosity and adaptability, recognising AI as an empowering extension of their professional capabilities, rather than a potential threat. To truly unlock the transformative potential of AI, businesses must move beyond generic training and adopt a strategic, application-driven approach. By aligning AI training with real-world use cases and core operational goals, organisations can turn capability-building into a powerful driver of long-term, measurable success. Nicholas Lee is chair of SGTech, a trade association for Singapore's tech industry. Lim Hsin Yin is chairwoman of SGTech's AI skills and training committee.
TECHx
12-04-2025
- Business
- TECHx
GITEX ASIA Singapore to Accelerate Southeast Asia's Digital Growth
GITEX ASIA Singapore to Accelerate Southeast Asia's Digital Growth Share GITEX ASIA 2025 debuts in Singapore, uniting global tech leaders, startups, and investors to accelerate Southeast Asia's digital economy and AI innovation. Southeast Asia's digital economy continues to grow rapidly, driven by strong digital adoption and government-led investments. With the World Economic Forum projecting a US$1 trillion gross merchandise value (GMV) by 2030, the region's potential is becoming more realistic. Amplifying this momentum is the debut of GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore, marking a new chapter in Asia's digital evolution. Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and KAOUN International in partnership with GITEX GLOBAL, the event will be held at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, from April 23-25, 2025. This first Asian edition will host over 700 global tech companies and startups. More than 70% of them will exhibit in Singapore for the first time. It will also attract over 250 international investors from more than 70 countries. Under the theme 'Advancing Bold Partnerships in Asia,' the event will open doors to collaboration, market entry, and access to new capital. Industry leaders, government entities, and investors will come together to shape the future of the digital economy in Southeast Asia. Trixie LohMirmand, EVP of DWTC and CEO of KAOUN International, said GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore will not be just another tech event. Rather, it aims to be a global benchmark for digital and AI progress. She highlighted the region's culture of innovation as a key factor in creating new markets and opportunities. The event will explore eight major themes across 180 hours of content. Key topics include AI, cybersecurity, cloud, quantum computing, healthcare, biotech, green tech, and smart cities. More than 330 international speakers will share insights on the latest AI developments, telecom advances, intelligent healthcare, and cyber resilience. Countries such as the Netherlands, France, South Korea, China, India, Pakistan, and the UAE will showcase their technologies. Newcomers Vietnam and Serbia will participate for the first time, supported by the Vietnam National Innovation Center (NIC) and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce. Global companies like Ericsson, Kaspersky, Oracle, Nvidia, Fortinet, and Lenovo will also join. These firms continue to shape tech innovation across Asia and beyond. Vu Quoc Huy, Director General of Vietnam NIC, expressed excitement about participating. He sees the event as a platform to drive partnerships and push the next wave of innovation in Asia. The event is supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, SGTech, and Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE). It also partners with regional digital authorities such as UAE Cybersecurity Council, India's MEDEPC, CyberSecurity Malaysia, and the Philippines' DICT. Zhihan Yeo, Senior Director at SGTech, stated that GITEX's presence in Singapore will unlock new opportunities and support digital growth in the region. Startups will play a central role through North Star Asia. This startup-focused segment will feature 400+ companies from over 20 sectors, including AI, SaaS, green tech, and telecom. It aims to be Asia's most international startup event. The AI 100 programme, powered by Nebius, will spotlight award-winning AI startups from over 30 countries. Singapore 100 will showcase the top 100 local ventures poised for global expansion. The Supernova Challenge will highlight the world's most promising startups in a high-stakes pitch competition. Investors managing over US$200 billion in assets, including Cisco Investments, SGInnovate, Lightrock, and Rallycap, will also participate. For the first time, the event will introduce GITEX Cyber Valley Asia. This dedicated conference and showcase will unite top cybersecurity companies, national security agencies, and over 200 global CISOs. As the regional cybersecurity market is expected to exceed US$7 billion by 2029 (Statista), GITEX Cyber Valley Asia will address the increasing need for resilience. One of the key sessions, the Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI) – Crystal Ball, will bring together public and private leaders to tackle ransomware threats. GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore is set to become a major milestone in the region's digital journey. For more details, visit
