During a dialogue with DBS Group chief executive Tan Su Shan at the Asia Future Forward conference on Oct 12, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong warned that artificial intelligence might break the “bottom rung” of the career ladder for young workers, leaving them with insufficient training.

Wong recalled his own early days as a civil servant, when he spent hours taking notes, drafting speeches and preparing slides for senior officials. He argued that those routine tasks provided a valuable apprenticeship that AI could soon render obsolete.

A Ministry of Manpower report released in April showed that among Singapore companies that have adopted AI, 6.2 per cent reported a reduced headcount and another 8.5 per cent said hiring activity had slowed.

The prime minister said the government is now studying how training and mentoring of young workers can be reinforced across all sectors, and is exploring new schemes to ensure employers keep these programmes at the forefront of their strategies.

Wong stressed that while AI can boost productivity, it must not replace the learning experiences that shape a skilled workforce. He called on companies to balance automation with deliberate mentorship, so that the next generation can still climb the career ladder.