Singapore (VNA) – Singapore is working towards a future in which accountants, receptionists, nurses and lawyers are not only proficient in their professions but also adept at using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to solve real-world workplace problems.
This ambition will be realised through the new National AI Impact Programme (NAIIP), which aims to train some 100,000 workers to be AI-savvy by 2029. Over the next three years, about 10,000 enterprises will also be equipped with AI capabilities.
Speaking during her ministry’s budget debate on March 2, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said that AI know-how, domain expertise and the human touch form a powerful combination. Not everyone needs to become an AI engineer, she noted, but individuals can become “bilingual” in AI and their respective fields to solve problems within their domains.
To help more non-tech workers acquire AI capabilities, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) will expand its TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) initiative to include tailored programmes for the accountancy and legal professions initially, before extending to other sectors such as human resources. Launched in 2016, TeSA has supported more than 24,300 mid-career workers in transitioning into tech roles such as cybersecurity and cloud computing, while helping the existing tech workforce stay relevant.
AI fluency programmes for the accountancy and legal sectors will be developed in partnership with professional bodies including the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants, the Singapore Academy of Law and the Singapore Corporate Counsel Association. Scheduled to commence in the first half of 2026, these programmes will train accountants to apply AI in financial reporting and compliance monitoring, and lawyers to leverage AI for research, document review and contract management. The objective is to enable professionals to redesign workflows for greater efficiency and more effective problem-solving.
Participants will also learn about responsible AI use and data governance. Minister Teo emphasised that while AI may excel in speed, human domain knowledge remains essential to guide and assess outcomes.
Beyond workforce training, NAIIP will also support businesses. A newly released Singapore Digital Economy Report showed that AI adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises rose from 4.2% in 2023 to 14.5% in 2024, while adoption among large enterprises increased from 44% to 62.5%.
However, Teo cautioned that if AI follows the trajectory of previous technological waves, only a small group of leading firms may surge ahead, leaving smaller, resource-constrained businesses behind. To narrow this gap, IMDA will roll out an advanced Digital Leaders Programme (DLAB) to strengthen leadership capabilities through practical AI projects. Meanwhile, the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) will raise the proportion of supported solutions incorporating AI from 30% to 50%.
Singaporean officials believe that broadening AI capabilities is not only about boosting gross domestic product (GDP), but also about fostering entrepreneurship, safeguarding livelihoods and ensuring sustainable community development./.
