Why older workers with deep domain expertise have a unique advantage in the AI era, how companies can fix the "broken rung" for fresh graduates. 

Synopsis: On Wednesdays, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

Ten years ago, the message to the workforce was: "Learn to code." Today, the mandate has shifted to learning AI and prompting chatbots. But as the goalposts move again toward autonomous AI agents that can take over complex workflows, is the Singaporean workforce ready?

In this episode, assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong explores the realities of the AI transition with her guests: Laurence Liew, director of AI innovation at AI Singapore, and Koh Chee Kiong, deputy CEO of WizVision. The 66-year-old recently took up a course in Gen AI and uses AI agents at work.

The discussion delved into why older workers with deep domain experience actually have a unique advantage, how to fix the broken rung for fresh graduates entering an AI-assisted corporate world, and why adopting AI is much less daunting—and much more conversational—than you might think.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:04 Why workers have a bigger advantage over fresh graduates with Gen AIs

8:05 Gen AI understands broken English

9:53 How young professionals can build industry judgment if AI automates entry-level work

17:39 AI has been implemented since decades ago, and will continue to be deeply integrated in work flows by 2035 

21:12 Debunking the plumber myth: Why blue-collar jobs aren't AI-proof

Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Host: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg) 

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

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