Skip to content

Is AI Going After Singaporeans' Jobs?

Picture of Edward Tho
Follow The Financial Coconut

 

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape industries worldwide, as a Singaporean, you are concerned about its impact on your livelihood.

However, experts like Kene Anoliefo, Founder of AI company HEARD, and Lauren Irving, Learning and Development Specialist at Zinnia, argue that the focus shouldn’t be on whether AI will replace jobs but rather how it will transform them.

In Singapore’s fast-evolving economy, where innovation and adaptability are key, understanding AI’s role in reshaping work is critical for individuals and organisations alike.

Let’s explore what this transformation means for Singaporeans for now and in the near term.

AI as a Transformative Tool: Boosting Efficiency and Expanding Roles

  1. Dramatic Efficiency Gains:
    • AI tools have slashed the time required for customer research studies from over four weeks to just one to two days.
    • By automating repetitive tasks such as drafting research questions, moderating interviews, and synthesising data, AI allows professionals to focus on higher-value activities like strategic insights and deeper analysis.
  2. Empowering Multifaceted Roles:
    • Anoliefo highlights how AI enables workers to take on multiple roles. For instance, a user researcher could also act as a designer, engineer, marketer, or product manager. In other words, roles with greater impact and responsibility.
    • This shift aligns with Singapore’s push for a more versatile and skilled workforce, capable of thriving in an increasingly digital economy.
  3. Real-World Applications in Singapore:
    • Companies like Spotify and Miro are already leveraging AI tools to gather product feedback, test new features, and build customer personas faster than ever before.
    • Singapore-based firms in sectors like finance, healthcare, and logistics are adopting similar technologies to enhance productivity and innovation.

Job Vulnerability and Evolution: Which Roles Are at Risk?

  1. High-Risk Jobs:
    • Jobs involving repetitive tasks, synthesising information from rote knowledge bases, or requiring minimal interpersonal collaboration are most vulnerable. Examples include customer service representatives, paralegals, and low-level online content creators.
    • These roles are particularly prevalent in Singapore’s service-oriented economy, raising concerns about potential displacement.
  2. Lessons from History:
    • Anoliefo draws parallels to the Industrial Revolution, where power looms initially displaced traditional weavers but ultimately created new roles like machine operators and factory managers.
    • Similarly, AI is expected to eliminate some jobs while creating opportunities in emerging fields such as AI ethics, data science, and robotics engineering.
  3. A Faster Transformation:
    • Unlike past technological shifts, AI’s “exponential transformation” will happen much faster, impacting industries beyond tech. For Singapore, this means rapid changes across sectors like manufacturing, retail, and even public services.

AI’s Role in Human Resources and Training: A Double-Edged Sword

  1. Revolutionising HR Practices:
    • Lauren Irving envisions AI revolutionising human resources by creating highly customised training programmes tailored to each employee’s needs. Algorithms analyse past performance, preferences, and goals to design unique learning paths.
    • AI-powered chatbots can provide 24/7 support, answering questions and offering real-time feedback. This is a boon for Singapore’s busy workforce.
  2. The Great Equaliser or Source of Inequality?:
    • While AI has the potential to make work more accessible, Irving warns that intentional investment in people at all organisational levels is crucial.
    • Without proper training, marginalised groups, including low-income and rural communities, risk being left behind, exacerbating existing inequalities.
  3. Ethical Implications:
    • AI systems often mirror the data they are trained on, perpetuating societal biases. In Singapore’s diverse society, this could disproportionately affect women, ethnic minorities, and other vulnerable groups.

Concerns and Challenges: Addressing the Equity Gap

  1. Equity Gap in AI Adoption:
    • Anoliefo raises concerns about the speed at which AI will change jobs, leaving behind those with limited access to technology.
    • Low-income and rural communities in Singapore may struggle to keep up, highlighting the need for inclusive policies and initiatives.
  2. Slow Regulation and Education:
    • Government regulation is too slow to protect affected workers, and schools and universities are not equipped to teach AI-related skills quickly enough.
    • This gap poses a significant challenge for Singapore’s education system, which must evolve to prepare future generations for an AI-driven world.

Adaptation and Collaboration: The Path Forward

  1. Embracing Change:
    • Both experts emphasise that adaptation is key. Anoliefo notes, “chaos is a ladder,” suggesting that those who embrace AI can qualify for roles they were previously unprepared for.
    • Irving advises viewing AI as a partner rather than a threat, using it to enhance value, expand capabilities, and future-proof careers.
  2. Upskilling and Reskilling:
    • Employers must prioritize upskilling and reskilling programs to help employees adapt to AI-driven changes.
    • Educators should focus on teaching adaptability, digital literacy, and critical thinking. These are the skills essential for navigating Singapore’s evolving job market.

Cautious Optimism for Singapore’s Future

  1. A New Economy:
    • Anoliefo is cautiously optimistic, envisioning AI breaking down language barriers and enabling creative individuals in Singapore to launch products from their homes.
    • Sectors like fintech, biotech, and green energy could see significant growth, creating new opportunities for Singaporeans.
  2. Shaping a Positive Future:
    • Success depends on being clear-eyed about risks, aggressive in training, and curious about AI’s potential benefits.
    • By fostering collaboration between the government, private sector, and educational institutions, Singapore can ensure balanced AI adoption and equitable outcomes.

Key Takeaways

  1. Focus on Collaboration, Not Competition:
    • The future of work involves collaborating with AI, not competing against it.
  2. Transformation Over Replacement:
    • AI is transforming jobs by handling routine tasks, allowing workers to focus on higher-value activities.
  3. Evolving Education and Training:
    • Traditional education and training methods must adapt to keep pace with AI’s rapid transformation.
  4. Organizational Responsibility:
    • Success requires both individual adaptation and organizational investment in training.
  5. Addressing Equity Issues:
    • Ensuring equitable access to AI tools and addressing issues related to gender, race, and technology access is crucial for balanced adoption.

Let us know what you think about this topic, and what do you want to hear next.

You can now be our community contributor and make a pitch to have your favourite personality be on our show.
Join our community group and drop us your insights on this topic.

 

Stay ahead in your financial journey! Sign up for our newsletter to receive insights, tips, and strategies from The Financial Coconut
,

Let us know what you think of this post