- At AWS Public Sector Day 2025 (Singapore, Sept 30), Minister of State Jasmin Lau emphasized that the government must be tech-savvy to support citizens and businesses in the digital era.
- She argued that AI must be guided by goals and principles, with public sector leaders setting an example by using new technology responsibly.
- The concept of “bilingual AI practitioners” (individuals fluent in both the language of AI and their professional domain) was reiterated. Lau cited the Health Kaki project—a GenAI tool in public health developed by multiple agencies (MOH, HPB, Synapxe) in collaboration with AWS and Temus—which personalizes health recommendations based on behavior.
- Lau called on civil servants to “roll up their sleeves” and directly experience AI by participating in mandatory AI courses announced by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong. She stated this is not a “luxury” but a responsibility to better serve the public.
- Emphasizing that innovation must come from practice, she pointed to the AI Incubator program, where civil servants from WSG, URA, and ITE built their own AI prototypes for marketing automation, urban planning, and job matching.
- Government tools like Pair and AIBots are considered “daily companions,” freeing up human resources from manual tasks to focus on strategic thinking.
- Lau warned of the risk of AI becoming a “digital opium,” causing humans to lose initiative and judgment. She stressed: “AI helps, but let’s not lose our humanity as we rely more on technology.”
- Policy and product design must be based on human values, keeping a “human in the loop” in all systems to ensure that wisdom and empathy are not replaced.
- Singapore is testing AI agents in public services, such as at the CPF Board, where AI assists with administrative responses, allowing staff to focus on in-depth consultations.
- Lau concluded: AI is a massive wave shaping society, and each nation must choose to “be swept away or proactively ride the wave” through purposeful action today.
📌 Summary: Singapore’s AI vision focuses on “AI serves, humans lead.” The government is promoting the training of “bilingual practitioners” who are fluent in both AI and their professional domains. Minister Lau urged civil servants to “roll up their sleeves,” experience AI directly, and take mandatory AI courses. She warned of the risk of AI becoming a “digital opium,” causing humans to lose initiative and judgment, emphasizing: “AI helps, but let’s not lose our humanity as we rely more on technology.”
