Focus on mega trends rather than predicting the next big thing: PM Wong

With industry trends moving so quickly, predicting the next big growth industry is almost akin to guessing the next big stock in the stock market very hard, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

- Ng Wei Kai

Rather than trying to anticipate the next big thing to emerge in the coming years, those who position themselves to ride the mega trends that will shape the world will be in a good position for the future, he told about 900 students from Singapore's universities, polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education at a dialogue on July 2.

A key mega trend set to be a world game changer is digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI), PM Wong said at the event, which was held at Singapore Management University (SMU).

Young people should familiarise themselves with AI tools, even if computer science is not their cup of tea, he said.

"You can be a lawyer, you can be in finance, you can be an accountant, an architect, you can be a designer - you will have to start using more and more technological tools, including AI tools," he said.

One does not have to be a programmer to be able to use tech tools effectively, especially as AI advancements are already making AI more accessible, such as on WhatsApp, he added.

Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, earlier this year launched an AI chatbot that the mobile messaging app's users can "talk" to like with any other contact.

Two other mega trends are sustainability and the rise of Asia, said PM Wong.

As more companies everywhere start thinking about decarbonisation, they will need people with knowledge in this area, while those with a better understanding of Singapore's neighbours will find their skills in demand as employers look to grow their operations in Southeast Asia.