The first quarter of 2025 saw significant developments in Singapore’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) landscape, underscoring the nation’s commitment to becoming a global hub for AI innovation and integration. These updates highlight Singapore’s focus on education, infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and policy-making to ensure AI benefits businesses and society at large.
During the CNBC Converge Live conference held in Singapore in March 2025, Minister for Digital Development and Information, Josephine Teo, emphasised Singapore’s strategic investment in workforce training. This global conference gathered over 700 prominent business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and decision-makers to discuss the future of AI and digital transformation.
Minister Teo explained that Singapore’s approach involves bolstering both pre-employment and continuing education to prepare workers for an AI-driven future. By equipping individuals with the necessary skills to effectively utilise AI tools, Singapore aims to empower employees to contribute meaningfully to their organisations. This initiative aligns with the government’s broader commitment to fostering a digitally competent workforce.
One of the major initiatives expanded during this period is the SkillsFuture for Digital Workplace 2.0 programme. The updated programme now includes AI and Generative AI (GenAI) modules, offering workers hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies. By incorporating practical sessions into the curriculum, this programme enables participants to gain confidence in using AI tools for day-to-day business applications.
The TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA), another cornerstone of Singapore’s workforce development framework, has also seen significant enhancements. TeSA now extends its support to both fresh graduates and mid-career professionals by providing access to AI-related training. The programme aims to ensure that individuals across all career stages can stay relevant in an increasingly AI-centric economy.
Minister Teo acknowledged the dominance of the United States and China in the global AI landscape but stressed that Singapore is pursuing its own unique path. The nation’s strategy focuses on building the required infrastructure, fostering strategic partnerships, and driving practical applications of AI technology.
This approach underscores Singapore’s ambition to be a leader in the innovative use of AI while tailoring its initiatives to suit the nation’s specific needs and challenges. The emphasis on infrastructure ensures businesses have the resources they need, while partnerships enable knowledge sharing and collaborative growth.
“The lack of interoperability is a great impediment to business expansion. It is also difficult to ensure that citizens of each of these jurisdictions are protected to a comparable degree.”
