Singapore government worried AI may break 'bottom rung' of career ladder for young workers: PM Wong
“AI will replace all of that routine work, but we should be careful not to automate away the learning that comes from it,” says Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong expressed concern on Oct 12 that artificial intelligence (AI) may be compromising the "bottom rung" of the career ladder for young workers by limiting their opportunities for training and mentoring. During a dialogue at DBS Group's Asia Future Forward conference, Wong spoke about the potential impact of AI on the learning process that young workers traditionally gain through routine work, such as taking notes, drafting speeches, and preparing slides for their superiors.
Wong emphasized the importance of not automating away the learning that comes from such tasks. The government is exploring new schemes to encourage companies to pay attention to training and mentoring young workers. A recent Ministry of Manpower report found that among Singapore companies that adopted AI, 6.2% reported reduced headcount and 8.5% reported lower hiring activity.
Most companies reported redesigning jobs, creating new AI-related roles, or redeploying workers to new positions. Wong stressed the importance of harnessing AI for productivity benefits while ensuring employers continue to nurture the next generation.
Written by urgent.news from CNA - Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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