AI Governance Professional - Is that a real job?

By Alvin Toh, 

As AI continues to be introduced into various workplace tools seemingly with new ones on a monthy basis, they are making their way into workplaces either through organisational implementation or individual staff usage. Some organisations may unknowingly have staff already be using free Gen Ai tools with no guidelines and that comes with certain risks.

Why are governments around the world converging on having national AI strategies and why the concern on AI risks that have regulators around the world convene a AI Safety Summit in UK in Nov 2023 and sign the Bletchley Park Declaration to agree on Ai governance frameworks and standards? And what is impact of the EU AI Act on firms this side of the world?

It might be worth looking at where AI Governance stands in the ASEAN region and in Singapore, to give the topic some context.

Regionally, six of 10 countries in ASEAN have announced their national AI strategies: 

Nationally, initiatives like Singapore's NAIS 2.0 demonstrate a commitment to fostering a trustworthy AI ecosystem, and also herald a rise in AI deployment. There’s also the New Model AI Governance Framework that is still in consultation, that is meant to address the challenges associated with Generative AI models. 

A snapshot of the objectives of the New Model AI Governance Framework for Singapore. 

Three key threads run through Singapore’s national AI strategies and where the attention and funds are directed.

1) Developing AI as a technology for economic development and growth

2) Building up capacities, such as human capital capabilities, to reap the benefits of AI applications 

3) Establishing ethical and governance frameworks for AI applications.

In light of the third imperative, it can be expected that traditional data governance roles will evolve, necessitating expertise in AI governance.

The Singapore government is active on the global stage engaging with the OECD Expert Group on AI, and the European Commission’s High Level Expert Group on AI, thus giving it the visibility and ability to influence global standards.

Guidelines such as the PDPC AI Advisory Guidelines emphasise transparency and consent in personal data usage, promoting consumer confidence by ensuring trustworthy AI systems and data protection practices are in place. 

Internationally, the new ISO 42001 specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Artificial Intelligence Management Systems within organisations. 

A quick look at the ISO 42001

Data Governance professionals who can help companies in navigating the ethical and compliance frameworks becomes crucial due to forthcoming regulations requiring more transparency and explainability from developers or deployers of AI applications, especially when these systems may be processing data of individuals across borders or in various jurisdictions. 

With such coordinated momentum from regulators globally  and Singapore’s visible commitment to development and responsible governance of AI, it would come as no surprise that professionals in data governance educated in Gen AI capabilities and its working principles  gain a significant advantage to be a trusted advisor in this transformational journey. 

Transition towards AI Governance for a future-proofed career

A recent study from Data Protection Excellence Network (DPEX) also showed a 173% jump in demand for Data Governance roles, requiring more senior level personnel for the role.

The opportunity is ripe for the rise of the AI business and data governance professionals who can navigate the value of AI, able to perform sound due diligence of its risks and provide sound advice on the relevant constraints for responsible and ethical adoption of AI for businesses.

It only takes a quick job search online to see that AI Governance jobs are on the rise. Data governance professionals would be wise to acquire new competencies, including ethics and data preprocessing, to effectively manage the complexities of Generative AI, especially in its multi-modality applications. Skilling up is imperative, and as we have always said - AI will not replace you, but the person who knows how to harness AI, and in this case, who knows how to deploy AI policies within the organisation, will.

The new generous SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme with $4000 subsidy, which targets mid-career Singaporeans aged 40 years and above to pursue a substantive skills reboot and stay relevant in a changing economy, is timely for such senior professionals to augment their skills with Gen AI and Data Governance competencies to be an asset to help companies in making digital transformation with Gen AI.