# OpenAI for Singapore FDE Bootcamp

- Date: 2026-10-16
- Added: 2026-10-16
- Who: AI Singapore (AI research and talent-development organisation) · AI Singapore
- Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHQGmc1Gcc0
- sgai: https://sgai.md/videos/v121/
- License: sgai-authored content (summaries, translations, analysis) is CC BY 4.0 — attribute and link to sgai.md. Verbatim source text (Hansard, speeches, transcripts, policy documents) remains © its original rights holders and is reproduced for reference only. Terms: https://github.com/meltflake/sgai/blob/main/DATA-LICENSE.md

## Why it matters

AI Singapore leverages OpenAI's FDE framework to cultivate talent, revealing that Singapore's enterprise-grade AI deployment capability still depends on standards defined by overseas model vendors

## Summary

A three-day bootcamp where AI practitioners learned Forward Deployed Engineering. Participants learned to translate business needs into practical AI solutions for real-world challenges.

## Full text

© AI Singapore — reproduced for reference only.

[music] >> The forward deploy engineer is is a new opportunity [music] for Singaporeans and especially our AI apprentices [music] and AI engineers. What we bring to the table is our 8-9 years of of running the apprenticeship [music] program and our engineers are here, our apprentices. But I think there's a lot to share and to learn from each other together with the other participants of the boot camp. From this boot camp, what [music] we hope to get out of it really is to understand Open AI's point of view of what [music] it takes to be a FDE. Then this will allow us to fine-tune our apprenticeship program to make sure that it's aligned to the industry needs and our apprentices graduating through the program can potentially be hired by organizations as FDEs.

>> So as part of our broader Open AI for Singapore initiative, upskilling local AI talent is a big priority and this FDE boot camp is one of the our initial steps towards achieving [music] that goal. AI Singapore is clearly very deeply rooted in the Singapore AI ecosystem >> [music] >> and we very much value the partnership that we have here. So over the last few days we've had a number of productive exchanges [music] with the AI engineers and AI apprentices from AI Singapore who undertake very similar forward deployed work in their day-to-day lives as well. [music] But there are minor differences and things we can learn from each other in terms of how we tackle the different stages of a deployment.

I was quite impressed by the mix of soft and hard skills that the AI engineers and AI apprentices from AI [music] Singapore displayed across the course of the boot camp. For example, applying empathy to how they solved the problems that they were presented [music] with, to think about the stakeholders, what they want to achieve and how to make their lives better, and then marrying that with deep technical skills to be able to then actually build solutions that yeah, provide a lot of value to the stakeholders [music] in the problems that they were presented with. >> Over the past 3 days, it's been really interesting to hear how AI apprentices about the FD role.

[music] And it really gave me a deeper appreciation about what we do here at Singapore, and how we train apprentices, and [music] how it's really about the client and and their purpose and what they're trying to do on top of the technology and the solutions that we built. AIP, we teach apprentices to really learn how to cut through the noise, to really try to find the right problem to solve instead of just building for the sake of it. So, during the project phase, we I encourage this process by really getting them to work very closely with the clients to constantly take feedback in, and to work on the solution in a very iterative process and constantly refining it on all the feedback. This boot camp has really validated what it means to be a great FD. Uh we look forward to training the next generation of FDs.

>> Many of the skills that I've learned throughout the boot camp is what I've been exposed to in AIP, and it's really cool and encouraging [music] to see how it comes together and how it plays to be an FD. >> In AIP, I'm working on an industry project with an engineering firm. That experience has helped me in several ways for this boot camp. Firstly, the discovery aspect [music] where we had many touch points with the client, and from there we had to develop [music] a solid understanding of the domain and understanding what needs to be verified and how it needs to be verified before we could design a solution [music] that best fits them. And finally, throughout the project, we have been iterating and refining the solution based on their feedback.

Each of these [music] aligns with what an FD does, and it's an extension of what I've been doing in AIP. >> I have had AIP seniors who have moved on into this [music] FD role, and that reassures me that the skills that I've learned in AIP is transferable and valuable to eventually become an FD. Over the past 3 days, I've gained further exposure to what an FD does, and this is definitely a career path that I'm interested in. >> [music] >> Hey. >> [music]