Gen AI training for workers and the public to improve productivity, literacy

Workers will get to learn how to use generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) tools to build professional websites or chatbots to answer complex customer queries under the nation's expanded curriculum to ready its workforce for the new digital economy.

- Zhaki Abdullah

The public will also learn to use gen AI to, say, plan itineraries or get food recommendations, as well as identify impersonation and deepfakes, as Singapore doubles down on AI literacy for the masses.

"We want to become a nation of competent and confident AI users," said Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo in Parliament on March 7 during the debate on her ministry's budget.

"In doing so, we can maintain Singapore's economic competitiveness and retain more good jobs here," she added, noting that seizing growth opportunities in the digital economy is one of the key priorities over the next financial year for her ministry.

Mrs Teo was responding to questions raised by various MPs - including Mr Sharael Taha (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) and Ms Jessica Tan (East Coast GRC) - about the impact of AI adoption on workers here.

She added that the technology will create new jobs even while it replaces existing ones. As such, assisting workers and businesses to become more productive with the use of AI is the most important task facing her ministry, Mrs Teo said.

In line with this, a programme to equip people with the competencies needed for the digital economy is being enhanced to include AI and gen AI content.