NTUC LearningHub launches academy to help professionals acquire skills to harness gen AI
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(From left) AI Singapore director of AI innovation Laurence Liew, NTUC LearningHub chief core skills officer Amos Tan, NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng, NTUC LearningHub CEO Jeremy Ong, and Murdoch University's pro vice-chancellor of transnational education and Singapore dean Peter Waring at the March 6 launch.
PHOTO: NTUC LEARNINGHUB
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SINGAPORE – NTUC LearningHub launched an academy on March 6 to equip professionals, managers and executives with the skills to stay relevant as artificial intelligence (AI) disrupts the job market.
Three existing courses focusing on critical thinking, design thinking and creative thinking have been refreshed with generative AI (gen AI) content, said chief executive Jeremy Ong.
Participants will use gen AI to assess industry trends and evaluate business scenarios to enhance their ability to analyse complex problems and make strategic decisions.
NTUC LearningHub associate trainer Johnny Yap conducted a critical thinking class on March 6 at NTUC Trade Union House attended by working professionals, to demonstrate how to provide effective prompts to a pre-trained large language model.
He asked the bot for solutions to resolve the conflict between two parties at work.
The model suggested a meeting with both parties to discuss the issue calmly, noting that this might help clarify misunderstandings and pave the way for a resolution. It also asked Mr Yap how he felt about the approach.
Mr Ong noted that AI is transforming the workplace by driving quick decision-making
“However, while machines can be faster and more cost-efficient, the human mind to simply think remains invaluable,” he added.
NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng said the impetus of technology disruption in society is very real for working people and that Singapore could get left behind if businesses do not help workers stay relevant with new technologies.
“If you have not noticed, DBS last week announced that they will essentially let go of 4,000 jobs in the bank. Thankfully, it will be through natural attrition, but nevertheless, 4,000 temporary contract jobs, because gen AI will replace those jobs,” he noted.
DBS had said that the 4,000 staff are spread across 19 markets.
“What would we have to do to ensure Singaporeans in those fields continue to thrive? If DBS is doing that, I’m sure many other banks will also have the same impetus to manage their costs and forge the best possibilities for their businesses.”
Mr Gary Lee Jun Rui, a hybrid data specialist at UOB, told The Straits Times that the critical thinking skills course taught him how to overcome certain difficult situations by applying the skills.
Mr Lee said he deals with large data sets in the bank, and stakeholders approach him with requests. He talks to them to better understand their needs and leverages critical thinking skills to advise them on the relevant data points they should look at.
Mr Laurence Liew, director of AI innovation at AI Singapore, said the skills that NTUC LearningHub is pushing can help individuals build up the ability to prompt a large language model with the right questions so that it “gets the work done for you”.
“The key message is: How do you get AI to work for you?” said Mr Liew.
