AI Nation Builders: How Singapore is Cultivating a New Generation of AI Leaders Through Education and Empowerment

Imagine a nation at the crossroads. Without a visionary strategy for artificial intelligence, it spirals into a vicious cycle where economic stagnation leads to a brain drain — the brightest minds seeking opportunities elsewhere. Skill shortages deepen, dependence on foreign technology grows, as social inequality widens and insecurity surges. The nation’s voice gets lost in the din of the global stage.

But imagine the alternative: by embracing a bold AI strategy, investing in innovation, and cultivating talent, the nation ignites a virtuous cycle of growth. The economy flourishes, attracting and retaining gifted individuals, fostering technology locally, and bridging social divides. Security is strengthened, and the nation’s brand and influence grows globally.

Thanks to the bewildering pace of change and impact of artificial intelligence technologies, nations, companies and individuals alike are confronted with an urgent need to evaluate their competitive stance in the world.

“I believe AI is going to change the world more than anything in the history of humanity. More than electricity,” said Kai-Fu Lee, AI Expert and Author.

Singapore agrees.

Singapore’s National AI Policy

In 2017, Singapore became one of the first economies to establish a national policy on AI. As a result, the often nicknamed “little red dot” has quickly and comprehensively built a powerful groundswell for AI adoption. “The National AI Strategy is a key step in our Smart Nation journey,” said former Singapore PM, Lee Hsien Loong. “It spells out our plans to deepen our use of AI technologies to transform our economy, going beyond just adopting technology, to fundamentally rethinking business models and making deep changes to reap productivity gains and create new areas of growth.”

One of the agencies established in 2017 is AI Singapore (AISG), a national program funded by the National Research Foundation and hosted by the National University of Singapore, which has built an impressive array of programs that has driven AI literacy and adoption in Singapore.

For example, AISG’s 100E program pushed businesses in the country to identify problems to solve with AI, that if approved, are funded up to SGD180,000, and provided with  a dedicated engineering team to build the AI solution. AISG’s AI Apprentice Program offers mid-career Singaporeans passionate about AI, a 9-month intensive training program focusing on real-world projects, which often leads to work in the 100E program. And their Learn AI initiative is driving AI literacy at all levels, with programs like AI for Kids, AI for Everyone, and AI for Industry, which are democratizing AI knowledge and promoting wider understanding and adoption.

Expanding AI Literacy Across ASEAN

Sengmeng Koo is the head of AISG’s Learn Ai team, responsible for driving AI education in Singapore, which he emphasizes is critical.

“We can launch all the AI programs that we want, but without the ability for our citizens and working professionals here to understand the foundation of the technology itself, many of it will just be a very top-down approach, and with nothing on the ground to sustain that. So AI literacy has been a very important part of our mission, part of Learning AI’s team for the past seven years.”

And still, Koo thought more could be done. “We have already established AI foundational courses within the whole of Singapore, from primary school all the way to tertiary,” said Koo. “We asked ourselves, can we do more? Singapore is, after all, part of ASEAN.”

And like the old adage, give a person a fishing rod, feed him for life, Koo thought that it would be higher leverage to educate the educator, which will have impact beyond the trainee.

“As we look at grooming AI literacy, we always felt that educators are the underserved community,” said Koo. “Many national programs that you see will talk about training working professionals. Let’s prep our students for the future.”

Koo then found an enthusiastic partner in tech giant, Meta, and from October 22 to 25, 2024, launched the first “AI for Good (Educator) Workshop”, flying to Singapore 75 secondary and university teachers from Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. AISG and Meta have an overall goal of training 100 ASEAN educators to be AI for Good Certified Instructors, who would then in turn be committed to conducting workshops for at least 100 students each, in their own countries, within 12 months.

Daniel Lim, Head of Public Policy at Meta said that this program is the start of a valuable network of fellow AI-literate educators for collaboration, knowledge sharing and professional development. “You’re bringing the next generation of technology, specifically AI, to all of your students and all of your learners in your respective countries,” said Lim. “And through this program, with the support of AI Singapore, all of you will eventually become thought leaders in your field.”

One of the workshop participants, John Carlo Ramos, Executive Director of the Association of Southeast Asian Teacher Education Network, said “when we teach teachers about this, there will be more multiplier effects beyond just teaching our students. Since I am training future teachers (in the Philippines), I can contextualize it, infuse some strategies, and showcase some AI tools that they can use when they teach.”

Choosing a Virtuous Cycle

The choices nations make today about AI will shape their futures—not just economically, but socially and globally. Singapore’s efforts to expand AI literacy throughout the city-state, as well as the education systems of ASEAN, demonstrate a profound commitment to cultivating resilient, tech-savvy societies that can develop human capital from within. By empowering educators and future generations, they are setting the stage, I hope, for a proactive, inclusive digital landscape where progress benefits all, positioning these nations as leaders in an AI-driven world.

ARTICLE FAQS

1. Why is a national AI strategy important for countries today?
A well-designed AI strategy can prevent economic stagnation and dependence on foreign technology by cultivating local talent, fostering innovation, and strengthening competitiveness. Without it, nations risk brain drain, inequality, and loss of global influence.

2. What has Singapore done to position itself as an AI leader?
Singapore launched a National AI Strategy in 2017, one of the first in the world, and created initiatives like AI Singapore (AISG) to drive adoption. Programs such as 100E, which helps businesses solve real-world problems, and Learn AI, which promotes AI literacy from children to working professionals, are central to this effort.

3. How is Singapore addressing AI literacy among its citizens?
AISG runs programs at multiple levels—AI for Kids, AI for Everyone, and AI for Industry—to ensure broad understanding of AI concepts and tools. This approach builds a strong foundation for both economic and social resilience by preparing citizens to adapt to technological change.

4. Why is Singapore extending AI education to ASEAN countries?
Singapore recognizes that regional cooperation strengthens collective progress. By training educators from Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines through the “AI for Good (Educator) Workshop,” AISG and Meta aim to create a multiplier effect where each trained teacher can pass on AI knowledge to hundreds of students in their home countries.

5. Why focus on training educators rather than only students or professionals?
Educators play a pivotal role in shaping future generations. By equipping teachers with AI knowledge and tools, the impact multiplies as they integrate AI into classrooms, influence future teachers, and reach large numbers of students over time.

6. What broader lesson does Singapore’s approach offer other nations?
Singapore demonstrates that AI strategies should not stop at adopting technology but extend to education, empowerment, and inclusivity. By cultivating talent early and investing in teachers, nations can create a virtuous cycle of growth, innovation, and social resilience in an AI-driven world.