PM Lawrence Wong’s AI Vision: What a ‘People-First’ Approach Means for Singapore’s Workforce

This article is written in English for readers in Singapore. Chinese and Japanese translations are available on our website. 

Singapore’s New AI Vision — Beyond Technology, It’s About People

At the Singapore FinTech Festival 2025 and during the National AI Strategy 2.0 update, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong reiterated that Singapore’s success in artificial intelligence will depend not just on data or compute power — but on people.

His “People-First AI Vision” calls for a national approach that ensures AI innovation creates opportunity, not inequality.

Key focuses include upskilling every worker, strengthening digital trust, and fostering collaboration between humans and intelligent systems.

This marks Singapore’s shift from “AI for Efficiency” to “AI for Empowerment” — making it essential for employers and professionals to understand what that means for the 2026 workforce.

1️⃣ From Automation to Augmentation

PM Wong emphasised that AI should complement, not replace, human capability.
Under the new framework, government agencies and SkillsFuture Singapore will co-develop training roadmaps so that AI tools enhance roles — from finance and healthcare to manufacturing and recruitment.

💡 Implication for HR:
Companies must audit workflows and identify where AI can assist decision-making, not eliminate roles. Building AI literacy across teams will help maintain job confidence and innovation readiness.

2️⃣ Upskilling 2.0: A Whole-of-Society Effort

The National AI Strategy 2.0 (NAIS 2.0) introduces a “Digital Skills for All” roadmap, integrating AI fundamentals into adult education and workplace training.

It extends SkillsFuture credits and encourages employers to fund AI micro-learning, data ethics, and prompt-engineering courses.

💡 Implication for professionals:
Future career mobility will depend on adaptability and continuous learning, not just technical expertise.

💡 Implication for companies:
Budget for structured learning hours, mentorship, and AI literacy programmes for non-tech roles by 2026.

3️⃣Building Digital Trust and Responsible AI

PM Wong’s speech underscored Singapore’s role as a trusted global AI hub, with the Model AI Governance Framework (2025 update) reinforcing fairness, transparency, and accountability.

💡 Implication for employers:
Adopt ethical-AI practices — document model decisions, train staff on data privacy, and use AI only where governance standards are clear.

💡 Implication for HR:
Establish an internal AI-use policy that covers hiring, performance evaluation, and employee data handling.

4️⃣Human-Centric Design in the Workplace

Singapore’s AI policy ties innovation to worker well-being and inclusivity.
AI will be deployed to reduce routine workload, improve workplace safety, and personalise career development pathways — not just to boost profits.

💡 Implication for business leaders:
Measure success through both productivity and people outcomes — retention, satisfaction, and skill growth.

💡 Implication for employees:
View AI as a co-pilot that enhances creativity, not a competitor.

5️⃣ Global Collaboration, Local Opportunity

NAIS 2.0 also strengthens international partnerships — from the AI Verify Foundation to regional talent exchanges — positioning Singapore as a hub for AI governance and applied research.

💡 Implication for companies:
Expect more cross-border projects requiring bilingual, tech-literate, and compliance-savvy professionals.

💡 Implication for jobseekers:
AI fluency plus cultural intelligence will define competitiveness in global teams.

How Reeracoen Supports a People-First AI Workforce

At Reeracoen Singapore, we help clients and candidates prepare for Singapore’s AI-powered future through:

• Skills-based hiring frameworks that identify human potential beyond technical credentials
• AI-ready talent matching tools aligned with ethical-use principles
• Upskilling advisory connecting employers with SkillsFuture and digital-skills partners
• Market insights from the Reeracoen × Rakuten Insight APAC Workforce Whitepaper 2025

Our mission is to empower people — because technology works best when people thrive first.

 

💡 FAQ — Singapore’s AI Policy & Workforce Implications

Q1. What is Singapore’s latest AI policy about?

The National AI Strategy 2.0 (2025) focuses on using AI responsibly to raise productivity, protect jobs, and expand learning opportunities for all.

Q2. How does “People-First AI” differ from earlier initiatives?

It shifts focus from automating tasks to augmenting human capability, emphasising trust, inclusion, and fairness.

Q3. Which sectors will see the biggest changes?

Finance, healthcare, manufacturing, education, and recruitment — all adopting AI to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and experience.

Q4. How can companies get started?

Begin with internal AI literacy training, small-scale pilots, and governance frameworks before scaling up transformation programmes.

 

💼 For Employers: Consult Reeracoen on AI-Driven Workforce Planning

👩‍💼 For Jobseekers: Explore AI-Enabled Career Paths in Singapore

 

✅ Final Author Credit
By Valerie Ong (Regional Marketing Manager)
Published by Reeracoen Singapore — a leading recruitment agency in APAC.

 

🔗 Related Articles

• [From IQ to AQ: Building Adaptability in 2026 Teams]
• [Navigating Economic and Tech Signals in 2025: What Singapore’s Job Market in AI, Data, and Finance Reveals]
• [Upskilling in the Age of AI & Green Jobs: Why Singapore Must Prepare Now]

📚 References 

• Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s keynote at Singapore FinTech Festival 2025 – People-First AI Vision (Prime Minister’s Office, Nov 2025)
• National AI Strategy 2.0 (NAIS 2.0) – Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO)
• SkillsFuture Singapore – Digital Skills for All Framework 2025
• Model AI Governance Framework (Third Edition, Infocomm Media Development Authority – IMDA, 2025)
• Reeracoen × Rakuten Insight APAC Workforce Whitepaper 2025

 

 

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