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Business Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Business Times
Protecting workers before AI widens digital divide
While artificial intelligence (AI) is all the rage these days, there is no need for Singapore to 'rush headlong' into AI without first understanding its impact on workers. Such was the message from Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at an SG60 conference on Jul 29. Amid fears of AI replacing jobs, especially entry-level ones, the prime minister's nuanced take is refreshing and should offer some reassurance. He said pioneers of cutting-edge technologies do not necessarily become industry leaders, and that economies only reap the real benefits of a technology when there is broad-based adoption – the latter is what Singapore should pursue. Yet, PM Wong also acknowledged concerns about jobs. Even if every new wave of technology over the millennia ends up killing some jobs and creating new ones, history may not guide our future, he said, given how much more powerful AI is. 'I would say that even as we think about broad-based adoption of AI – which we have to do because we have no choice, we have to harness technology – we also have to think equally hard about applying technologies like AI in a meaningful and deliberate manner that creates jobs for Singaporeans,' he said. Last month, a piece in the Financial Times similarly advocated being a 'second mover' in situations of high uncertainty and risk, arguing that 'what you lose in speed, you gain in information'. This presents a difficult balancing act. While a deliberate strategy is wise, the ground is already shifting as global companies rapidly deploy AI. Therefore, the need to protect and reskill workers is an urgent response to a transformation that is already underway. The force of AI is unstoppable, particularly among multinational companies, many of which also operate in Singapore. For example, over three quarters of McKinsey employees now use its proprietary AI tool to create PowerPoint slides, Bloomberg reported in June. As AI tools produce work once done by junior staff, Spanish economist and politician Luis Garicano suggests AI could destroy the economics of professional development. 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 He argues that companies have long relied on entry-level roles to function as a self-funded training ground, creating a sustainable talent pipeline. By automating these tasks, AI dismantles the system. This creates a 'supervision threshold', where workers skilled enough to supervise AI thrive by leveraging its power, while those below this threshold compete directly with it, facing wage pressure and obsolescence. In other words, if AI is allowed to cut entry-level roles – which it is starting to do – we could end up with a profound digital divide. In April, a United Nations report sounded a similar warning. While AI is on course to become a US$4.8 trillion global market by 2033, its benefits may remain in the hands of a privileged few 'unless urgent action is taken'. Up to 40 per cent of global jobs are at risk, the report estimated, but government investment in reskilling, upskilling and workforce adaptation may help enhance employment opportunities. Garicano said any viable solution would need to satisfy three economic constraints: first, compress the time required to reach the supervision threshold; second, public policy must create new incentives for private-sector investment in training; third, prepare workers for the possibility that the supervision threshold will continue rising.
Borneo Post
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Chinese adults head back to school at sundown to chase passions
Trainees practice classical dance at a cultural center in the Xiangjiang New Area, central China's Hunan Province, July 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) CHANGSHA (Aug 13): After taking up Chinese painting classes, 52-year-old Yang Li began dressing in brighter colors and plating meals so artfully that her son said they looked like a painter's palette. A white-collar worker in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, Yang enrolled in a local night school this May, trading her usual evenings of housework for hours spent painting in the classroom. 'It unlocks a second life for me,' she said. 'It has taught me patience. Now I'm willing to pause for a falling leaf and take time to admire a flower from every angle.' With a growing number of night schools now offering courses in video editing, musical instruments, artificial intelligence and more, Chinese adults are heading back to classrooms after work to explore new interests and reconnect with themselves through lifelong learning. Meituan, a Chinese e-commerce platform, has reported a surge of over 78 percent in online discussions about night classes since the beginning of 2025, with comment sections now filled with course suggestions, learning tips and personal stories mostly from the hobby-driven learners. Wang Haodong, a 24-year-old community worker, learns to play the guitar at night. 'The affordable classes are a great gift to young people like me. When I lose myself in music, the day's stress disappears,' he said. While some people attend night schools to pursue hobbies, others enroll to keep up with the rapidly evolving society. A teacher (C) instructs trainees Chinese painting and calligraphy at a cultural center in the Xiangjiang New Area, central China's Hunan Province, July 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) Witnessing the rise of automation and digital transformation in the factory workshop, former industrial worker Yang Baohua, 46, signed up for a course in AI training. Here, he has learned to use AI for writing documents and creating PowerPoint, and is gradually starting to learn basic coding. 'Studying AI sparked my interest. I'll keep learning and aim for an AI trainer certification to find a better job,' he said. Trainees practice ukuleles at a cultural center in the Xiangjiang New Area, central China's Hunan Province, July 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) In Changsha, the price for a single session ranges from 30 yuan (4.2 U.S. dollars) to 60 yuan, and teaching materials are provided free of charge. Classes run on weekday evenings, leaving weekends free. 'The popular courses are filled within minutes,' said Tan Ting, director of a night school in the city, adding that such schools are quickly becoming a vital part of the education system. Statistics show that over the past two years, various night schools in Changsha have offered courses benefiting over 100,000 participants. Courses are regularly updated based on student feedback, with new classes added and less popular ones phased out. A teacher (C) teaches guitar playing at a cultural center in the Xiangjiang New Area, central China's Hunan Province, July 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) In Shanghai, night schools offer more than 2,300 classes in the upcoming autumn term across more than 600 venues. Night schools are also common in other cities such as Shenzhen, Nanchang and Nanjing. Market research firm Frost & Sullivan predicts that China's adult education market will hit 1.04 trillion yuan by 2027, fueled by rising incomes and a surging demand for lifelong learning. Du Yizhu, an assistant researcher at Chongqing University, noted that modern life's fast pace has fueled a strong demand for nighttime public education. 'Night schools allow individuals to embrace their hobbies in a high-quality yet affordable way,' Du said. – Xinhua adults China education passion
Scoop
2 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Auckland Teens Flex Digital Muscle At Tech World's Olympics
Press Release – ACE Training Finn McGregor and Dominic Colaco both achieved top ten results worldwide, ranking 7th in PowerPoint and 10th in Microsoft Word respectively. Alongside teammate Karthik Padma, the trio represented New Zealand among 190 finalists selected from over one … ACE Training | 8 August 2025 Three Avondale College students have earned global recognition at the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championships in Florida—a high-profile competition often dubbed the 'Olympics of the tech world.' Finn McGregor and Dominic Colaco both achieved top ten results worldwide, ranking 7th in PowerPoint and 10th in Microsoft Word respectively. Alongside teammate Karthik Padma, the trio represented New Zealand among 190 finalists selected from over one million entrants across the globe. They were also among the competitions youngest competitors. 'Most of the others were in late high school or early university, which made being there feel even more awesome,' said Dominic, 14. Held at the Hilton Orlando, finalists were tested not only technical expertise but also creative problem-solving – tasked with developing solutions for Limbitless Solutions, a nonprofit that designs prosthetics for people with limb differences. 'They gave us a set of criteria, but left it vague enough that we could interpret it creatively,' said Finn. 'That made it really interesting.' During a nail-biting wait for results, the lucky students also had the opportunity to visit Universal Studios and toured NASA's Kennedy Space Center, where they saw the Atlantis space shuttle. The entire experience has given the team a boost in confidence and a clearer sense of what future competitions may involve. 'We can now pass that intel back to [Avondale's Innovation Technology teacher] Mr Prasad to help train the next cohort of Avcol students,' said Dominic. Zeph Morgan from ACE Training, one of Avondale's training provider partners, praised the students' efforts: 'These students put in the work to build their digital skills and well deserved their time in the world's spotlight. We have been cheering them on from the sidelines and couldn't be happier for them.' Background ACE Training in Hamilton is the New Zealand solution provider for Certiport. We support the education sector with growing digital skills through Certiport learn material, practice tests and certification exams, giving students the opportunity to gain internationally recognised certifications to assist them with their career paths. Certiport presents Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) competitions at both national and world levels. Three students from Avondale College, who we partner with, recently competed at the World MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) Championship as a result of their superior skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint during the National competition. About ACE ACE is one of New Zealand's most established training companies with over 35 years of specialist training expertise. We've upskilled more than 450,000 Kiwis, delivering personalised services that ensures our clients' training investments are in safe hands. Our mission is to make technology accessible and user-friendly, driven by our 'better every day' philosophy. This keeps us focused on what truly matters to our people and clients. With dedicated training centres in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, and Christchurch, along with our self-paced, online options, ACE delivers applications, technical training, and certification to world-class standards.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Auckland Teens Flex Digital Muscle At Tech World's Olympics
Three Avondale College students have earned global recognition at the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championships in Florida—a high-profile competition often dubbed the 'Olympics of the tech world.' Finn McGregor and Dominic Colaco both achieved top ten results worldwide, ranking 7th in PowerPoint and 10th in Microsoft Word respectively. Alongside teammate Karthik Padma, the trio represented New Zealand among 190 finalists selected from over one million entrants across the globe. They were also among the competitions youngest competitors. 'Most of the others were in late high school or early university, which made being there feel even more awesome,' said Dominic, 14. Held at the Hilton Orlando, finalists were tested not only technical expertise but also creative problem-solving - tasked with developing solutions for Limbitless Solutions, a nonprofit that designs prosthetics for people with limb differences. 'They gave us a set of criteria, but left it vague enough that we could interpret it creatively,' said Finn. 'That made it really interesting.' During a nail-biting wait for results, the lucky students also had the opportunity to visit Universal Studios and toured NASA's Kennedy Space Center, where they saw the Atlantis space shuttle. The entire experience has given the team a boost in confidence and a clearer sense of what future competitions may involve. 'We can now pass that intel back to [Avondale's Innovation Technology teacher] Mr Prasad to help train the next cohort of Avcol students,' said Dominic. Zeph Morgan from ACE Training, one of Avondale's training provider partners, praised the students' efforts: 'These students put in the work to build their digital skills and well deserved their time in the world's spotlight. We have been cheering them on from the sidelines and couldn't be happier for them.' Background ACE Training in Hamilton is the New Zealand solution provider for Certiport. We support the education sector with growing digital skills through Certiport learn material, practice tests and certification exams, giving students the opportunity to gain internationally recognised certifications to assist them with their career paths. Certiport presents Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) competitions at both national and world levels. Three students from Avondale College, who we partner with, recently competed at the World MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) Championship as a result of their superior skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint during the National competition. About ACE ACE is one of New Zealand's most established training companies with over 35 years of specialist training expertise. We've upskilled more than 450,000 Kiwis, delivering personalised services that ensures our clients' training investments are in safe hands. Our mission is to make technology accessible and user-friendly, driven by our 'better every day' philosophy. This keeps us focused on what truly matters to our people and clients. With dedicated training centres in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, and Christchurch, along with our self-paced, online options, ACE delivers applications, technical training, and certification to world-class standards.
NBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Good News: Singles use PowerPoint presentations to search for love
In New York City, an event called 'Pitch and Pair NYC' is combating dating app fatigue by having people pitch their close single friends to eligible bachelors and bachelorettes using PowerPoint presentations. NBC News' Hallie Jackson has the story.
