In his speech, MP Jamus Lim (WP-Sengkang) echoed similar sentiments.
“Certain skills that we may have until recently thought were future-proof such as coding or writing well, or statistical analysis may quickly become devalued when AI tools can do the jobs just as well, if not better, for a fraction of the cost and time involved,” he said.
“It is soft human skills – originality and critical thinking, empathy and teamwork, leadership and communication – that will be ever more important. These are not as easily replicable by AI.
“These are not skills well captured by certifications alone, rather they are nurtured through an emphasis on developing such ability in the classroom, even when they may not be formally evaluated.”
Describing the AI transformation as one which ranks among “the most profound” of them all, MP Christopher de Souza (PAP-Holland Bukit Timah) said that Singapore would have to be careful about how it treads the line between AI innovation and adoption, while continuing to support citizens and livelihoods.
The key to making AI enable, rather than replace jobs, is to allow people to “find their passion” with new responsibilities that require “uniquely human abilities”, he said.
He cited the United Kingdom as an example, saying that about 7 million existing jobs in the UK could be affected by AI over the next 20 years, but about 7.2 million jobs could also be created.
“What we must ensure as a government is that no one slips through the cracks,” he said.
“To assure every Singaporean that as we become an AI-enabled society, everybody will have that opportunity to learn and grow and none of us need fear being replaced,” he added.