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https://www.zaobao.com.sg/forum/views/story20260221-8601452?utm_source=android-share&utm_medium=app
2026-02-21
By Wang Bide
Editorial Consultant, Lianhe Zaobao
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Learning AI need not be overly utilitarian, constantly thinking about how it can add points to your job or career. As long as it connects to daily life in some small way, proves a little useful, or gives you insights to share with friends, or helps you avoid falling out of step with society and technology — that already counts as a return.
Before the Chinese New Year, I had dinner with a civil servant friend. When AI came up in conversation, he said with a hint of guilt that he suspected the press releases his department’s public relations colleagues sent to the media had all been polished by AI. Without the slightest guilt, I replied, “When our reporters handle your AI-‘assisted’ press releases, AI may also be lending a hand here and there — summarising key points, translating, revising sentences, and so on.”
“In that case it’s PR + AI versus reporters + AI. Maybe in the future, AI will just interface directly with AI. As for PR officers and reporters…” We both smiled knowingly before finishing the sentence.
A few days later, the topic of AI was brought into Parliament and elevated to the level of “a great undertaking of national importance” — one of the six key themes in this year’s Budget. It has since become a high-frequency term in the news and a hot topic over coffee breaks.
Welcome to the world of AI — and the workplace…
In the past, every epoch-making technological breakthrough would spark excitement and anticipation. This time is different. The benefits of AI are palpable, but so too are the growing concerns and uncertainties — issues involving safety, fairness, and many other aspects of human welfare — all still lacking solutions. As for official regulation and oversight, lag is evident everywhere, no matter the country.
For ordinary workers, of course, the most immediate concern is whether their rice bowl will remain intact. This threat has been discussed repeatedly in recent years in search of mitigation measures, but it seems Murphy’s Law applies — what you fear most tends to come true.
The year before last, the full-time employment rate of local university graduates was 79.5%, down 4.6 percentage points from 2023. Yet the economy grew by a fairly robust 4.4% in 2024. A strong economy but harder job searches — might this have something to do with the widespread adoption of AI and automation?
A multinational “Talent Barometer” survey released last month (ManpowerGroup) produced even more astonishing figures. It reported that in Singapore right now, nearly 40% of employees worry that AI-driven automation could cost them their jobs within six months. The proportion who believe this could happen within two years reaches 58% — more than half. One can imagine the intense anxiety of counting down either six months or two years, especially if you are the sole breadwinner of your family.
Profitable Yet Still Laying Off Staff — Something Once Unheard Of
In April last year, after US President Trump announced “Liberation Day” tariffs, global stock markets plunged. I told a colleague who rarely buys stocks that he could consider entering the market. When he asked what to buy, I said the safest bet was local bank stocks, such as DBS. He acted, and less than a year later he had gained nearly 50%, occasionally grinning and thanking me. In truth, I am a layman with no time for research. I made that suggestion casually because I had just read an interview with DBS Group’s then-CEO Piyush Gupta, who said that due to the introduction of AI, 4,000 contract staff (nearly one-tenth of the group’s workforce) would be gradually laid off over three years. He added that in his 15-year tenure as CEO, he had never encountered the challenge of being unable to create new roles. Multiplying 4,000 by an imagined average annual salary of around $60,000, I calculated savings — or additions to pre-tax profit — of $200 million to $300 million a year.
This example illustrates that companies do not necessarily lay off staff only when losing money; they may do so even while making profits. Abroad, this operational model is even more common. News of layoffs at major corporations appears frequently — something unheard of before the advent of AI.
Of course, directly equating layoffs with AI adoption would be overly simplistic. Circumstances vary across industries and companies. The motivations behind layoffs are usually complex; AI is likely just one factor, not the whole story. Some companies are simply moving ahead early or following others’ examples. An article published last month in Harvard Business Review cited a survey of 1,006 global executives responsible for AI transformation. It found that most workforce reductions or hiring freezes were based on expectations of AI’s potential rather than direct causality — only a small minority involved AI already replacing humans and proving more effective.
Thus, various optimistic arguments persist. Some say AI cannot replace humans unless you “lie flat” and refuse to acquire AI skills. Others argue that while certain jobs will disappear, new roles — unimaginable today — will be created. These viewpoints are familiar and not entirely wrong. The issue, however, is not that AI will completely replace human workers — that is unlikely — but whether it will render a significant portion redundant, unable to find employment, leading to hardship, despondency, even resentment. If that happens, the AI revolution could end in dystopia, even destruction — a future dominated by a small technological elite while the masses become “useless people.” (This scenario is not the focus of this article and will not be elaborated upon.)
Silicon-Based Robots: Faster, Better, Cheaper — Completely Crushing Carbon-Based Humans?
One key trend today is the integration of intelligence with humanoid robots. On Chinese New Year’s Eve, many viewers witnessed robots performing martial arts on China’s Spring Festival Gala. Even simple somersaults are beyond many of us. But those were brief stage spectacles. Out of sight, far greater numbers of robots have already been deployed on factory assembly lines, quietly engaged in production, while others have entered service sectors. That is where the most profound, tectonic shifts are occurring.
In a discussion, a colleague emphasised the need for self-improvement, suggesting that the strongest “moat” is increasing one’s own value — not cleaning floors personally, but directing and supervising 10 AI robots to do so. Yet as the conversation progressed, we realised that this “supervisor” might not be a carbon-based human either, but another, more powerful silicon-based AI directing 10 or even 100 AI workers. Does this thought discourage or even despair?
AI technology is advancing at astonishing speed. Just two or three years ago, the world marvelled at large language models’ eloquence. Today, AI not only generates content and media but also performs tasks — many different tasks — like assistants or managers, even acting as doctors, lawyers, accountants, programmers, and more. In some companies’ HR departments, the first entity to read your AI-assisted résumé is also AI, not a human — perhaps even the first-round interviewer is a robot. Such agentic AI armies pose one of the greatest threats to cognitive and knowledge-based roles.
Beyond agentic AI, recent reports speak of “analytical AI” and “decision-making AI.” In the near future, perhaps Mr. or Ms. AI could even become a CEO or board member. It sounds far-fetched, but many tech leaders are seriously predicting or envisioning it. Then there is the chilling possibility of AI developing self-awareness. Recently, rumours suggested that on a social media platform used only by agentic AIs called Moltbook, they had created their own religion and theology. I remain sceptical, believing such claims stem from too much science fiction. Yet many things that exist today once appeared only in science fiction.
The world is unpredictable, but one thing is certain: AI, combined with digital tools and automation, can perform an increasing range of tasks. Moreover, they are model employees — never complaining about long hours, demanding work-life balance, requesting annual raises, or filing complaints about discrimination or bullying. Nor do they have unions. Initial investment may be costly, with maintenance expenses, but once fully deployed, over time their cost-performance ratio surpasses that of living humans.
Less Anxiety, More Enjoyment — Learning AI Need Not Be So Utilitarian
At the national level, we have resolved to compete vigorously on the AI track. Several Budget announcements — subsidising AI courses for citizens, granting corporate tax relief, building AI parks — all point to this vision.
Two points highlight the state’s “must-win” determination. First, this year the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s projected expenditure is $11.1 billion, nearly 70% higher than last year’s actual spending — an unprecedented increase. Second, the establishment of a National AI Council led personally by the Prime Minister to coordinate and advance the entire AI agenda and strategy. I joked that this resembles a “whole-of-nation system,” but it is understandable. As a small country, without such resolve, competing with major powers or negotiating cooperation would be difficult.
The question is: while the nation may achieve its goals, and individual companies may thrive, what about each person?
Fortunately, the nation stands with us. The Prime Minister has said that during the transition, “no one will have to face change alone.” The statement is firm and reassuring.
Before setting out, however, we must overcome anxiety. “We must face this head-on and not be ruled by fear. If we hesitate and stagnate out of anxiety, we will fall behind the rapidly evolving world.” The Prime Minister’s “we” applies to both nation and individual. As mentioned earlier, nearly 40% fear losing their jobs within six months. A sense of crisis is acceptable — it can motivate — but the so-called “six months” may simply be self-inflicted fear. And again, Murphy’s Law: the more anxious and withdrawn you become, the worse your performance at work, increasing the likelihood of being placed on the layoff list. Or if you are still studying, constantly worrying about choosing the wrong subject and learning useless knowledge — can you truly focus and earn the A+ you deserve?
Those already in the workforce often struggle with how to begin learning AI — which courses to take, which “portable” soft skills AI cannot replicate. Advice is abundant, so I will not elaborate. I only wish to emphasise enjoyment. A friend of mine particularly likes Doubao; he even categorises its chat functions — one designed specifically for arguing, which he says helps release stress and vent anger. To me, that too is a form of emotional value.
Perhaps learning AI need not be so utilitarian, constantly calculating career benefits. If it connects to daily life, proves slightly useful, provides insights to share, or prevents you from falling out of step with society and technology, that already counts as a return. I even believe this is a more desirable and effective mindset for learning AI.
Some older individuals worry about language barriers, but that is unnecessary. Many AI products are multilingual; Doubao’s “mother tongue,” for instance, is Mandarin. AI is also an excellent learning tool — for example, helping with foreign languages. Once you discover benefits, curiosity grows, leading to further discovery and a positive cycle.
The nation has made its choice: AI is the path to development and even survival. As individuals, are we not the same? Whether you like it or not, there is no option to withdraw or resist.
The AI tide rolls on, wave after wave replacing the previous. Remind yourself to rise to the challenge — do not become a former wave left stranded on the shore.
The author is an Editorial Consultant at Lianhe Zaobao.
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