Gen AI training for workers, public to improve productivity, literacy

SINGAPORE – Workers will get to learn how to use generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) tools to build professional websites or chatbots to answer complex customer queries under the nation’s expanded curriculum to ready its workforce for the new digital economy.

The public will also learn to use gen AI to, say, plan itineraries or get food recommendations, as well as identify impersonation and deepfakes, as Singapore doubles down on AI literacy for the masses.

“We want to become a nation of competent and confident AI users,” said Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo in Parliament on March 7 during the debate on her ministry’s budget.

“In doing so, we can maintain Singapore’s economic competitiveness and retain more good jobs here,” she added, noting that seizing growth opportunities in the digital economy is one of the key priorities over the next financial year for her ministry.

Mrs Teo was responding to questions raised by various MPs – including Mr Sharael Taha (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) and Ms Jessica Tan (East Coast GRC) – about the impact of AI adoption on workers here.

She added that the technology will create new jobs even while it replaces existing ones. As such, assisting workers and businesses to become more productive with the use of AI is the most important task facing her ministry, Mrs Teo said.

In line with this, a programme to equip people with the competencies needed for the digital economy is being enhanced to include AI and gen AI content.

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) is working with SkillsFuture Singapore, industry players and institutes of higher learning here to include new gen AI skills under the SkillsFuture for Digital Workplace 2.0 programme, launched in 2017 and updated in 2023.

The courses include automated screening of resumes, as well as creating high-quality content optimised for search engines.

These courses are subsidised by the Government.

“Under this expansion, workers in all sectors – be it manufacturing or retail – can learn how to use tools such as ChatGPT and Copilot,” said Mrs Teo.

“This will help them to enhance their productivity at work, even if they have no background in tech,” she added.

Meanwhile, another framework, which aims to provide the public here with the digital skills needed to carry out day-to-day tasks online, will also be expanded to include gen AI.

IMDA will work with partners to offer new content and programmes on gen AI under the Digital Skills for Life framework, launched in 2024 with the aim of educating people on how to carry out daily tasks online.

These resources will provide an introduction to gen AI, as well as educate people on the risks related to the technology, such as the spread of deepfakes and misinformation.

Such resources will teach the fundamentals of gen AI, as well as the use of common tools employing the technology to search for or generate information related to daily activities, such as planning itineraries or recommending places to eat or leisure activities.

They will also educate people on the potential risks of gen AI – such as through the spread of misinformation and deepfakes – as well as provide guidance on how to mitigate such risks and use it safely in their daily lives.

People here must learn new technologies such as gen AI to prepare themselves for the digital future, said Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Rahayu Mahzam, agreeing with comments made by Ms Denise Phua (Jalan Besar GRC) during the budget debate that such upskilling has become a “critical necessity”.

“Without this, the increasing use of gen AI around us, like how many businesses now use chatbots to deliver customer service, can feel alien and scary. To demystify gen AI, we must understand its risks and limitations, and learn how to use it responsibly,” she said, adding that the Government will continue to support less digitally savvy citizens.

Responding to questions from Workers’ Party MP Gerald Giam (Aljunied GRC) and Ms Hany Soh (Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC) about the progress of the Seniors Go Digital programme, which trains the elderly in the use of digital tools, Ms Rahayu noted the SG Digital Office (SDO) has trained more than 370,000 seniors since 2020, with 96 per cent of seniors communicating online as at 2023, up from 87 per cent in 2017.

Those interested in learning gen AI skills under the Digital Skills for Life framework will be able to do so at their own pace via videos and guidebooks, which will progressively be made available on IMDA’s Digital for Life portal at

www.digitalforlife.gov.sg

These guidebooks are available in English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil on the portal.

Printed versions in English and Mandarin are now available, while the Malay and Tamil versions will be progressively launched by end-March.

Gen AI workshops will also be conducted by SDO for others such as seniors who prefer in-person learning experience.

Those interested in such workshops can approach the Digital Ambassadors at SDO’s community hubs, found in 30 different locations islandwide, or visit the Digital for Life portal for details of upcoming workshops.