By Kevin Shepherdson, Founder & CEO, Straits Interactive and Michael Low, Deputy Director of Curriculum Development & Digitalisation and Head of Finance & Technology Programmes at SMU Academy
The Rise of Generative AI and Job Displacement Fears
Over the past year, generative AI has rapidly evolved from a futuristic concept to a mainstream reality, with the promise of revolutionising industries with AI agents, automation, and intelligent workflows. The proliferation of AI-powered tools such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Claude, and open-source AI models has sparked both excitement and anxiety—fuelling concerns that jobs may be displaced at an unprecedented rate.
AI-powered agents are now capable of executing tasks once thought exclusive to humans: from writing reports and designing graphics to coding applications and even making strategic business decisions. Worldwide and especially in Asia Pacific, companies are racing to integrate AI into their operations, aiming to boost productivity, reduce costs, and enhance efficiency. However, this surge in AI adoption has also amplified fears about job losses, particularly among non-technical workers who worry about being left behind.
The Focus on AI Tech Talent: A Narrow View of AI Workforce Transformation
Amid this rapid transformation, much of the global and national conversation has centred on AI tech talent—highlighting the demand for machine learning engineers, data scientists, AI researchers, and software developers. Governments and corporations alike have announced initiatives to train and upskill professionals in AI programming, model fine-tuning, and advanced analytics.
Singapore, for instance, has committed to expanding its AI talent pool by tripling the number of AI practitioners. While this is a strategic move for strengthening AI innovation and technological leadership, it presents a narrow perspective on AI workforce transformation—one that prioritises technical skills while neglecting a larger segment of the workforce: non-technical professionals with deep domain expertise.
Beyond AI Engineers: The 90:10 Workforce Reality
A common misconception is that AI transformation requires an overwhelming emphasis on technical AI talent. However, in reality, only about less than 10% of the workforce consists of AI engineers and IT professionals, while 90% are non-technical domain experts in varied industries and departments like finance, healthcare, marketing, legal, education, and human resources.
Historically, software development required business professionals to work closely with programmers, as applications had to be built from scratch. In this traditional model, a good programmer was one who understood both business logic and application logic—enabling them to translate business needs into working applications.
However, Generative AI changes this dynamic entirely. With the rise of AI-powered development tools, business professionals no longer need deep coding skills to create AI-driven applications. What they do need, however, is a fundamental understanding of AI logic, the AI system lifecycle, and how to apply prompt engineering to their business case to get the most out of AI models.
The Growing Importance of Prompt Engineering and AI-Augmented Roles
Despite claims that prompt engineering will become obsolete, this skill remains a critical function in AI adoption. Critics argue that AI can now generate its own prompts, making human-crafted prompts redundant. However, this viewpoint defines prompt engineering as a mere function rather than a strategic role.
The reality is that effective AI applications require human oversight, testing, and fine-tuning (or prompt-tuning)—especially when applied to real-world business scenarios. AI models may be powerful, but without domain expertise and human intervention, they can produce misleading, biased, or impractical results.
The role of a Prompt Engineer or AI Workflow Designer is not just about crafting inputs—it is about ensuring AI delivers meaningful and responsible outputs. These professionals collaborate with developers, test AI responses, fine-tune models, and identify risks, making them essential in the era of responsible AI.
Re-Skilling the 90%: A Critical AI Workforce Strategy
Rather than fearing job displacement, business professionals should be encouraged to embrace AI augmentation. By developing prompt engineering skills and understanding AI’s decision-making logic, non-technical professionals can enhance their productivity and create AI-driven solutions within their fields.
For governments and corporate leaders, the strategy should not be AI talent vs. non-tech professionals. Instead, there must be a balance—ensuring that while AI engineers continue advancing the technology, business professionals are empowered to use AI effectively in real-world scenarios.
Singapore’s recent initiatives in AI upskilling demonstrate a step in the right direction, but more structured programs must be introduced to help domain experts integrate AI seamlessly into their work. This approach will foster a sustainable AI ecosystem, where innovation is not just driven by programmers but by business leaders, educators, healthcare professionals, marketers, and policymakers who understand how AI can transform their domains.
Straits Interactive & SMU Academy: Addressing the AI Skills Gap
Recognising the urgent need to bridge this gap, Straits Interactive and SMU Academy have launched a comprehensive suite of 12 AI-focused courses to equip business professionals with the skills to harness AI effectively. These include:
1. Advanced Certificate in Generative AI Applications Design and Prompt Engineering – A hands-on programme designed to help non-technical professionals create AI-driven solutions tailored to their industries.
2. Advanced Certificate in Generative AI Ethics and Data Protection – Addressing the responsible use of Gen AI, this course focuses on value creation, risk management, compliance, and ethical considerations.
Through these programmes, business leaders, SME owners, and professionals can learn how to build and deploy AI tools, understand AI risks, and drive innovation without needing deep technical expertise.
By focusing on practical, real-world applications of Generative AI, Straits Interactive and SMU Academy are ensuring that AI adoption is not just about coding, but about context and responsible usage. This initiative aligns with the broader vision of helping Singapore’s workforce stay competitive in an AI-driven world while closing the skills gap that prevents effective AI implementation.
AI Transformation is Not Just About Code—It’s About Context
AI’s future is not about replacing jobs—it’s about enhancing the way professionals work. The focus must shift from only building AI to applying AI effectively across industries. If the 90% of domain experts are left behind, AI adoption will remain limited, misunderstood, and misapplied.
Instead of viewing AI as a job killer, organisations and governments should see it as an opportunity to redefine workforce roles, upskill professionals, and ensure AI is responsibly and effectively deployed. The key to AI success lies not just in technical logic but in business logic—and the professionals who master both will lead the next wave of AI transformation.
