Are you concerned that robots might be coming for your job? With Artificial Intelligence (AI) advancing at lightning speed, many Singaporeans are asking tough questions about their future in the workforce.

In this episode, host Liang Kaixin sits down with Dr Laurel Teo, Senior Research Fellow and Head of Society and Culture at IPS, and Jonathan Sim, Lecturer at the NUS Learning & Development Academy, to explore the realities of AI’s impact on jobs and share practical strategies for thriving in an AI-driven world .

They kick off by separating hype from headwinds: while recent high-profile layoffs were not all AI-driven, the rapid uptake of tools like ChatGPT sends a clear signal that the nature of work is about to change dramatically. The guests also discussed where AI will hit hardest and where humans remain indispensable. Tasks rooted in pattern-matching — literature reviews, coding syntax, X-ray diagnosis — can be largely automated, whereas decision-making, judgment, cultural sensitivity and artisanal craftsmanship remain human domains.

On the topic of the future of work in the age of AI, both guests argue that success hinges on skill sets such as input mastery (crafting precise prompts, curating high-quality data and framing the right questions) and human soft skills (creativity, critical thinking, adaptability and the ability to tell compelling stories). They also explored how organisations might need to rethink entry-level roles and how schools and universities can adjust their curriculum so that students are better prepared when they seek employment in the near future.

About our Guests: 
Laurel Teo 
Senior Research Fellow & Head, Society and Culture at IPS
Laurel studies how people think, feel, and behave in organisations. Her research interests focus on the Future of Work and how technological changes influence individual, interpersonal and intergroup dynamics in the workplace. She hopes that her research can help make the workplace — whether physical or virtual — a fairer and happier one where people can thrive at what they do best. 


Jonathan Sim 
Lecturer, NUS Learning & Development Academy
Jonathan Sim is Lecturer of AI and Philosophy at the NUS Learning & Development Academy and the Department of Philosophy, where he teaches both the Philosophy of AI and Computing and Chinese Philosophy to undergraduates and working professionals — and he is exploring how the future of work and education will transform with AI. He is also Fellow at the NUS Teaching Academy, exploring new challenges that AI poses to education, and ways to use AI to enhance teaching and learning.

Find Out More: 

• https://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/ips/news/details/are-singaporeans-ready-for-the-future-of-work
• Less-educated Singaporeans at risk of falling behind as jobs change: IPS study

For more on AI and its impact on work in Singapore, visit IPScommons.sg or follow @IPS_sg on Instagram and TikTok.