PM Wong to speak at May Day Rally on helping workers adapt to evolving roles due to AI, new tech

SINGAPORE – More details on helping workers adapt to changing roles in the face of new technologies will be shared by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during his May Day Rally speech on May 1.

In a post on social media platform X on April 30, PM Wong said: “With AI and new technologies, job roles will evolve. But one thing does not change: our commitment to support every worker – to adapt, upskill and move forward with confidence.”

The May Day Rally will start at 9.30am, with PM Wong slated to deliver the keynote speech.

He had, in February, unveiled a record $154.7 billion Budget which, among measures to support families and individuals, will also provide more support for firms to stay competitive and make a national push to tap the potential of artificial intelligence.

During his Budget speech, Mr Wong devoted a section to new policies covering businesses, workers and students to harness AI as a strategic advantage.

Mr Wong acknowledged in his speech the deep concerns from the rapid advancement of AI, but said that Singapore must face the anxieties squarely and invest in it deliberately and with discipline.

AI-related announcements during PM Wong’s Budget speech included the set-up of a new National AI Council, which he would chair, and to incentivise Singaporeans to learn and pick up AI-related skills through SkillsFuture courses and other tools.

During the subsequent Budget debate, Mr Wong had promised that widespread AI adoption would not result in jobless growth, after lawmakers fleshed out scenarios where various segments of Singapore’s workers could be left behind or made unemployed by AI adoption.

This included how AI would automate away jobs traditionally done by fresh graduates, creating a “broken rung” in work experience.