The Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution is rapidly reshaping the way we live, work, and solve problems. Amid this technological transformation, however, a significant gap persists in the public’s understanding of AI and its implications for the future workforce. This was the central point of discussion at the Straits Times Education Forum 2024, held on 8 March 2024, in partnership with the Singapore Management University (SMU) and in support of SkillsFuture. The event brought together luminaries like Ben King, Country Managing Director of Google Singapore; Prof Lim Sun Sun, Vice President, Partnerships and Engagement of SMU, Assistant Professor Jerrold Soh from SMU Centre for Computational Law; and Tan Kok Yam, Chief Executive of SkillsFuture Singapore, to explore the profound changes AI is expected to bring.

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The forum started with a captivating dialogue between Straits Times’ associate editor for newsroom strategy, Jeremy Au Yong, and Sophia, Hanson Robotics’ most advanced humanoid robot. The interaction served as a vivid illustration of the capabilities of AI and the exciting possibilities for human-robot collaboration on the horizon. This was followed by a panel which discussed the transformative potential of AI on the workforce and the enduring value of human skills, offering useful perspectives and strategies for the changes ahead. Here are four takeaway points from the discussion. 

Three principles for navigating the unpredictable AI revolution

Ben King, Country Managing Director of Google Singapore, acknowledged the genuine concern over AI rendering human jobs obsolete, but he emphasised that this is not the whole story. As seen in previous technological developments for the mobile phone, which led to the emergence of app developers, data analysts, on-demand services and much more, the AI revolution will also come with the creation of new jobs and changes to existing roles. While no one can accurately predict what these jobs will entail, Mr King suggested adopting three principles as we navigate these uncharted waters:

a) Anticipate the replacement of highly repetitive tasks by AI 

b) Prepare for a dramatically different labour market 

c) Embrace lifelong learning to remain adaptable and seize new opportunities

Highlighting the third principle as especially pertinent, Mr King explained how resources like Google Cloud and Skillsfuture courses are designed to help the public expand their knowledge base and tap into the opportunities that exist across the digital economic landscape. Pointing to advancements in healthcare diagnosis and journalism as examples, he urged the audience to view AI as an assistant, not a competitor, in their current roles.

AI’s perceived impact should should be carefully managed to maximise the benefits it can bring

Assistant Professor Jerrold Soh, Deputy Director of SMU’s Centre for Computational Law highlighted the importance of managing not only the actual impact of AI, but people’s perceptions of how AI would impact their jobs. This was because misconceptions about AI’s potential impact could have serious real-world consequences on the kind of university courses people choose to take, products that companies build, and research that gets funded. He explained that it is common for people to overestimate the short-term possibilities of new technology while underestimating the advantages of AI in the long term, citing the example of Professor Geoffrey Hinton who in 2016 made a bold statement to stop training radiologists given his prediction that AI would render them obsolete in five years. This advice, if followed back then, could have crippled healthcare systems internationally.

Asst Prof Soh therefore urged individuals to shift their focus from fearing job extinction to developing a clear understanding of AI and how it can (and cannot) be applied in their current work, even if that might seem daunting. Drawing from his own experience as a law and economics student with no formal training in AI, he said that, after diving in to learn the subject by himself, he “learned that AI is just like any other specialist field - law, medicine, finance - it all sounds very fancy and scary until you find out how it’s made. Then, suddenly, it’s very friendly and approachable."

Humans will always have an important role, even as AI unlocks new possibilities

When discussing the fear that AI will replace human workers entirely, Asst Prof Soh highlighted the concept of the ‘Automation Paradox’. This paradox suggests that automating tasks actually creates new jobs. These jobs focus on supporting and managing the increased productivity brought about by AI, such as training data for AI systems or ensuring their fair implementation.

He explained that as long as AI is about designing machines that act and think like humans, there will always be a need for human input, since machines trained solely on machine outputs will just learn to be like machines

Tan Kok Yam, Chief Executive of SkillsFuture Singapore, echoed this sentiment by sharing the maxim that as long as there are problems to be solved to get the technology to work, there will be jobs. He expressed optimism about the possibilities AI can bring to sectors like Education. Due to AI’s ability to achieve personalisation at scale, and hoped to see teachers transform their teaching process by using AI to learn about each student’s unique needs and then develop an individualised learning approach for them. 

Balancing new skills and timeless competencies in the age of AI 

Mr Tan also highlighted three types of skills worth nurturing in the age of AI. The first is the development of what he calls “smart user soft skills” which refers to one’s ability to conceptualise and ideate how AI can be effectively implemented in specific domains. The second refers to skills in the physical realm, like eldercare and childcare, that have proven to be notoriously difficult to automate given the need for a human touch. The final skillset is understanding the technology at a deep enough level that the individual can gauge its limitations and potential to enhance existing professions. 

Ultimately, all three panellists emphasised that timeless skills like creativity, collaboration, communication and creative problem-solving will continue to play a vital role in human talent, alongside attributes like empathy and leadership. 

As shared by Mr King, “AI will augment what humans do uniquely well. They won’t necessarily replace us because they’re not competing. Humans are bringing creativity, empathy and critical thinking to work and AI can really supplement and be assistive here”.