S'pore must find a way forward that keeps people together in age of AI: Jasmin Lau

AI is already here, and Singapore must find a way forward that keeps people together and stay in control of AI, Minister of State (MOS) for Digital Development and Information Jasmin Lau said in Parliament's Budget debate on Feb. 24.

Lau, who is also MOS for Education, also said that while AI has become pervasive, it cannot replace deep, human connections.

Worries about AI are not misplaced

Discussing the pervasiveness of AI, Lau quipped that she's tried to reduce screen time for her children by telling them that screen time is bad, according to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

The method achieved some success, but Lau admitted that her children will inevitably interact with and learn about AI as they grow older.

"They may ask, 'What is the point of striving to learn and becoming good at something if AI can do it so much faster?'" Lau commented.

She went on to say, "Let's not sugarcoat this. AI is here, AI is not arriving. AI is not five years away, but it's already reshaping industries, changing how some tasks are being done, and it is moving faster than most forecasts predicted even three years ago."

However, Lau recognised that AI's pervasiveness can be frightening.

"So, when young Singaporeans tell me that they worry that what they are learning today in school will be obsolete by the time they graduate, I do not brush that aside. They are reading the situation clearly," she commented.

Lau said, "Singapore's job, and this includes my job, is to make sure that we as humans remain in control of how AI is used, and not let it dictate our values."

AI cannot replace human connection

Some things cannot be replaced by AI, and among those are "genuine relationships" and "deep human connection".

"In my dialogues with young Singaporeans, many can see clearly how AI makes their lives more convenient, but when I ask them, "Well, what do you do with the time freed up?" They pause.

Some will murmur sleep. Some say League of Legends, and a few say they will spend more time with their families. But the pause is telling.

Convenience is not the same as connection. The things that make a life feel worth living — being known and loved by a real human, building something and celebrating achievements with other people, showing up for people when it's hard — AI cannot replicate these."

Such human connections and capacities will differentiate us from machines in an automated world, Lau remarked.

Staying in control and adopting AI

The need for human accountability and the development of robust AI governance frameworks will also remain a need.

"AI can generate lots of options, but it cannot own the consequences," she explained.

As the world adapts to AI, Lau posited that Singapore is not "starting from scratch" as Singapore's education system has produced people who learn and re-learn.

Singapore will also continue to build on existing initiatives, such as SkillsFuture, to keep learning and re-skilling accessible.

On the business front, Lau, who is a co-chair on the Economic Strategy Review committee for technology and innovation, shared that the government will create lower-risk, structured ways for SMEs to experiment with AI adoption.

Finding a way forward together

Rounding off her speech, Lau returned to the topic of AI, education and children.

"As AI continues to evolve, we will need to review what education means for our children," she commented.

"AI will force us to sharpen the focus of education on what truly matters," she continued.

While AI will undoubtedly cause disruption, Lau said that "we must find a way forward that keeps our people together" and "intentionally decide" what AI should be used for.

"This is how we can build not just a smarter economy, but a wiser and a more confident society ready for the journey ahead," Lau concluded.

Top image via MDDI / YouTube, Canva