At Least 10,000 Students to Be Trained in Physical AI over Next 5 Years

CNA (Channel NewsAsia)
CNA (Channel NewsAsia)Apr 3, 2026

Why It Matters

The effort cultivates a home‑grown workforce for autonomous systems, ensuring Singapore remains competitive in the rapidly expanding physical‑AI market and mitigates future talent shortages.

Key Takeaways

  • Singapore targets training 10,000 students in physical AI
  • National Robotics Program funds hands‑on projects from primary to university
  • Industry partners like LionsBot provide real‑world robot immersion experiences
  • Curriculum emphasizes common‑sense AI, security, and trustworthiness for robots
  • New job roles emerging: AI security engineers and trustworthiness specialists

Summary

Singapore is launching an ambitious talent‑building effort to equip at least 10,000 students with physical AI skills over the next five years, leveraging the National Robotics Program.

The initiative spans primary schools to universities, offering hackathons, outreach, and hands‑on robot projects. Companies such as LionsBot and another unnamed robotics firm are delivering industry immersion, teaching common‑sense perception, AI security, and trustworthiness. The program anticipates new roles like AI security engineers.

“We need students who can solve real‑world problems, not just theory,” said a program spokesperson. LionsBot’s rollout of team challenges and the secondary‑school month‑long projects illustrate the push to embed robotics in curricula.

By marrying public funding with private expertise, Singapore aims to create a pipeline of talent ready for the autonomous‑machine economy, strengthening its position in the global AI race and addressing future workforce gaps.

Original Description

Singapore aims to train at least 10,000 students over the next five years to prepare youths for a future shaped by Physical AI - intelligence embedded in robots, drones and other autonomous machines. Supported by the National Robotics Programme, students from primary to university will gain hands-on experience through outreach, hackathons and projects. Alxis Thng with more.

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