[Bigiron]

Dear PM Wong ;

With reference to this NDR YouTube :
https://youtu.be/pEwKft9xEUI?si=3tpjTGhzdMcIFoys

 Thank you for that insightful overview of our strategy for the new AI era. Your vision is one of confidence and proactive adaptation. I’d like to explore some of these themes a bit more deeply.

Theme 1: On the Nature of Job Disruption and Reskilling

Question 1 : You shared the inspiring story of Vinoth, who successfully transitioned from logistics to a high-tech data engineering role. You framed this as a model for our workforce. But this was a highly motivated individual moving into a highly skilled field.

- How does this model of reskilling apply to a worker in their late 50s whose entire career has been in a role that requires manual dexterity or human interaction, skills that might not easily translate to a data-driven job?

- What does a 'good job' look like for them in this new era?

Question 2 : You highlighted the incredible speed of AI's advancement—from failing basic math to winning an Olympiad in just five years. If technology is evolving that quickly,

- how do we ensure our national training programs, like SkillsFuture, can keep up? 

-Is there a risk that we might be training people for skills that are already on the verge of becoming obsolete by the time they complete their courses?

Question 3 : Your speech assures us that for every job that disappears, new ones will be created. Historically, this has been true. However, some economists argue that AI is different—that it's a tool for automating cognitive tasks, not just manual ones. 

-What if this time, the rate of job displacement outpaces the rate of new job creation?

- Does the government have a contingency plan for a future where there simply aren't enough new, high-quality jobs for everyone who needs one?

Theme 2: On the Societal and Ethical Dimensions

Question 1 : You focused on AI as a powerful economic tool for productivity and competitiveness, which is clearly a national priority. But as a 'defining technology of our time,' AI also carries profound social and ethical weight. 

-What are the core principles that will guide Singapore to ensure that as we become an AI-powered nation, we also become a more just, fair, and cohesive one?

Question 2 : AI systems learn from the vast amounts of data we produce, which often contains hidden human biases. As we use AI in government call centers, and as companies use it for hiring and services,

- what specific safeguards are we developing to prevent these systems from unintentionally discriminating against certain segments of our population and deepening existing societal divides?

Question 3 : You mentioned that AI is now 'accessible to many people.' This also means it's a tool that can be used to create highly convincing misinformation and deepfakes at an unprecedented scale.

- How do we balance the push for widespread AI adoption with the need to protect our public discourse and the very trust our society is built on?

Theme 3: On Wealth Distribution and Inequality

Question 1 : You described the advancements at our port and airport as creating a 'win-win for everyone'—boosting company productivity and creating safer, higher-paying jobs. It's an ideal outcome. But looking at the broader economy, 

-can you elaborate on the mechanisms that will ensure the vast financial gains from AI productivity are shared widely, rather than being concentrated in the hands of the companies that own the technology?

Question 2 : Globally, there is a significant debate about AI leading to a new wave of wealth inequality. If a company can replace 1,000 workers with a single AI system, the value of that labor accrues to the company's owners, not the workers. Beyond reskilling, 

-is the government considering any broader policies—perhaps in taxation or ownership models—to ensure the fruits of this technological revolution don't just flow to the very top?

Theme 4: On National Strategy and Radical Uncertainty

Question 1 : You've outlined a robust national strategy. However, the foundational AI models are being developed and controlled by a handful of non-Singaporean tech giants. 

- How does Singapore maintain its strategic autonomy and ensure our national interests are prioritized when the core technology is developed elsewhere? 

- How do we avoid simply becoming a consumer of technology built with other nations' values and objectives embedded within it?

Question 2 : Mr. Wong, a leader's role is to provide a clear and confident vision, which you have certainly done. But many experts in the field admit that the ultimate, long-term impact of AI is radically uncertain. As you look beyond the immediate plans, 

- what is the single biggest uncertainty about this AI era that you believe Singapore must prepare for? 

- How do we build a society that is resilient not just to the changes we can predict, but to
 the truly fundamental disruptions that we cannot yet foresee?