Singapore Minister Urges Human Resource Development in the AI Era

Senior Minister of State at Singapore’s Ministry of Digital Development and Information, Tan Kiat How, believes the development of artificial intelligence (AI) does not reduce the role of humans. On the contrary, technological progress makes mastering the basics of technology increasingly important so that society can adapt to changes in the world of work. In his speech at the SAP Now AI Tour Southeast Asia 2026 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore on Tuesday (4/8), Tan said the current debate should no longer focus on AI’s capabilities, but rather on its impact on the world of work and the need for new skills. “What is more important is not what AI can do, but what AI changes,” Tan said. According to him, every technological revolution always changes the way we work, including the skills most needed. AI is indeed capable of accelerating software development, data analysis, and content creation, but this does not make technical expertise less important. “Technical excellence is becoming even more important. Computer science, software engineering, systems thinking, cybersecurity, and architecture remain the foundations of the technology profession,” he stated. Tan explained that AI capabilities must be balanced with a strong understanding so that humans can know how the technology works, recognise its limitations, test the assumptions it generates, and determine when human judgement is still necessary. He added that the main differentiator in the AI era is not just technical ability, but also the ability to identify problems, understand customer needs, work across disciplines, and combine technology with business understanding. “Technology determines what is possible, but humans determine what is truly valuable,” he said. Tan also assessed that the demand for technology workers continues to rise across various sectors. In Singapore, about two-thirds of technology jobs are now outside the information and communications technology (ICT) industry, such as in healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, and the public sector. “Technology is no longer just an industry, but has become a capability needed by every industry,” he stated. According to Tan, AI transformation cannot be achieved merely by adopting new technology. Organisations must also ensure that workers have the ability to utilise AI to solve real problems. “Organisations will not succeed just because they implement AI. They succeed because they are able to develop human resources who know how to use AI to solve problems that really matter,” Tan said. For this reason, Singapore is strengthening collaboration between the government, universities, businesses, and technology companies through various skills development programmes to keep the workforce relevant amidst AI-driven changes. “In the end, AI will not determine our future. The choices we make in utilising AI will,” Tan concluded.