Oral Answer · 2024-02-29 · Parliament 14
Potential Scale and Scope of Job Displacement Due To AI Adoption
An MP asked whether Singapore — the fastest adopter of generative AI in Asia-Pacific — is underestimating the AI-driven job-loss risk, whether the government will assess the scale of AI-induced job displacement, and how to incentivise firms to invest early in upskilling. The government replied that this topic will be addressed in detail at the MCI Committee of Supply debate, without directly answering the specifics — indicating the issue is still at the policy-deliberation stage, with concerns over transparency and response strategy.
Key Points
- • Concern that AI job losses are underestimated
- • Plans to assess displacement scale
- • Push firms to invest in employee reskilling
The topic will be addressed in detail at the budget debate.
Focuses on AI employment risk and training incentives.
Strengthen AI employment-impact assessment and training.
"I seek his understanding that this topic will be addressed at the Committee of Supply debate for the Ministry of Communications and Information."
Participants (2)
- Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information
- Yip Hon Weng
Original Text (English)
SPRS Hansard · Fetched: 2026-05-02
3 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Communications and Information (a) whether there are concerns that the extent of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven job losses in Singapore may be underestimated with Singapore being the fastest adopter of generative AI in the Asia Pacific; (b) whether the Ministry will be conducting assessments to evaluate the potential scale and scope of job displacement due to AI adoption; and (c) how is the Ministry engaging with stakeholders to encourage and incentivise proactive investment in upskilling programmes for their employees in anticipation of AI adoption.
The Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information (Dr Janil Puthucheary) (for the Minister for Communications and Information) : Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for raising an important question and I seek his understanding that this topic will be addressed at the Committee of Supply debate for the Ministry of Communications and Information.