Singapore will soon require all public servants to take an artificial intelligence (AI) literacy course, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong has announced.
Speaking at the Public Service Leadership ceremony, Mr Gan said the move is designed to ensure officials can use AI “effectively and thoughtfully” as the technology becomes central to everyday work.
Leading by example
Mr Gan described AI as “one of the defining technologies of our time” and stressed that the public service should not just keep pace with change, but set the standard.
“Leaders must be open to using AI in their own work and guide their teams to do the same,” he said.
AI already in use
Around one-third of Singapore’s 150,000 public servants already use an in-house AI tool called Pair. More than 16,000 custom bots have also been developed to automate tasks and improve responsiveness.
The government hopes that with more training, staff will be able to apply AI more meaningfully to improve public services and strengthen regulations.
Why this matters
While AI offers opportunities to boost efficiency and innovation, experts caution that it also comes with risks. Algorithms can be biased, systems can make mistakes, and decisions driven by AI may lack transparency.
By giving public servants a stronger grounding in AI, Singapore aims to ensure they can spot these shortcomings and use technology responsibly. The training underlines the message that human judgement must remain central in governance.
