Use AI to keep jobs, boost healthcare and curb climate change: President Tharman

Artificial intelligence (AI) can enable displaced workers to find new meaningful jobs in other sectors after their previous jobs are disrupted by rapid technological developments, said President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

- Osmond Chia

Speaking at the opening gala for the fifth Asia Tech x Singapore annual tech conference on May 27, Mr Tharman noted the need for systematic training involving governments and the industry to level up displaced workers' skills.

"If there are some people displaced in one sector because of creative disruption, how do they get deployed, not just into flipping burgers, but into new jobs in other sectors," said Mr Tharman, urging the audience to think about productivity more broadly.

"It's productivity for the workforce at large... to maximise our potential to create good jobs for everyone who wishes to be in the workforce," he said.

Speaking at The Fullerton Bay Hotel, Mr Tharman said that AI is driving productivity in factories, call centres and banks, but the progress is not necessarily translating into more jobs that ensure the workforce is productive.

Productivity for human society is one of three areas he cited where global consensus can be attained to maximise the good of AI, and minimise the risk of AI harms.

In his half-hour speech to policymakers, tech leaders and industry guests, Mr Tharman said the other two areas are in healthcare and climate change.