AI Bilingualism Becoming Increasingly Vital Across Industries: IMDA

Why It Matters

A bilingual AI workforce equips Singapore’s industries with the skills to adopt AI responsibly, giving the nation a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving Asian AI landscape.

Key Takeaways

• Non‑tech AI roles growing 3‑4× faster than tech sector jobs.
• IMDA pushes “AI bilingualism” – combine domain expertise with AI skills.
• AI fluency programs launched for legal, accounting, and other professions.
• Governance, safety, and ethical frameworks guide Singapore’s AI adoption.
• Sector‑specific curricula will be continuously updated for rapid AI changes.

Summary

At the ATX summit, IMDA’s chief executive warned that AI‑related positions in non‑tech industries are expanding three to four times faster than traditional tech jobs, underscoring the urgent need for a workforce that blends domain expertise with AI know‑how.

He outlined Singapore’s national AI strategy, anchored by four mission areas—healthcare, finance, advanced manufacturing, and connectivity—while emphasizing that AI benefits must diffuse across all sectors and company sizes. To achieve this, IMDA is rolling out “AI bilingualism” programs that teach AI fundamentals to professionals in legal, accounting and other fields, co‑designed with industry bodies.

The agency also highlighted its governance work, including a model governance framework for agentic AI, and stressed that curricula will be sector‑specific, regularly refreshed, and supported by post‑course resources to keep pace with rapid technological change.

With a bilingual AI workforce and clear guardrails, Singapore aims to secure a leading position in Asia’s AI race, driving productivity gains while ensuring responsible, ethical deployment of the technology.

Original Description

The head of Singapore's digital watchdog says tech roles in non-tech industries are growing three to four times faster than those in the tech sector itself. This surge makes the fusion of domain expertise and AI skills an urgent priority for companies. Beatrice Yap speaks to IMDA's chief executive to find out more.