
What will innovations in artificial intelligence mean for those who live and work in Singapore? We speak to experts to find out.
Do you remember the movie, The Terminator? I used to think the idea of robots taking over the world was pure fiction when I watched it years ago. However, the latest advancements in artificial intelligence – even in Singapore – suggest this is already becoming a reality. AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Bard are just a few examples of this: they can hold personalised and efficient interactions that are remarkably realistic.
In fact, this is really just the tip of the iceberg. There are several AI systems available online that offer services such as generated art and deepfake software capable of superimposing faces and voices. It’s expected that AI will cause a radical transformation in society in the near future.
It’s no surprise that many have concerns about how this will impact the way we live and work. If AI can do whatever we do, what does it mean for humanity? Will it take over our lives completely? We chat with industry experts to find out.
The rise of artificial intelligence in Singapore: A robot barista, a virtual influencer and chatbots

The eerie and fascinating thing about AI is that it improves our lives in the most subtle ways. Curious about where you might have encountered artificial intelligence in Singapore? If you work near Raffles Place, you may have already met Ella, an AI-powered robot barista created by Keith Tan, CEO and founder of Crown Digital. Ella can produce 200 cups of coffee an hour, 23 hours a day. Talk about high efficiency!
Not only can Ella create over 300 coffee combinations, but she’s also wired for hyper-personalisation. This means you get your coffee just the way you like it. Plus, with a mobile app to order and pay, you can bid adieu to pesky queues and save precious minutes during your morning commute.
According to Keith, the purpose of AI is to enhance, not to replace. That’s why Ella is meticulously programmed to be unparalleled in efficiency, consistency, and efficacy. With Ella around, the team can focus on other aspects of the business that prioritise and elevate the human touch.
We’ve also seen artificial intelligence play, move, and work in the form of Rae, Singapore’s hyper-realistic virtual influencer. She’s obsessed with all things fashion, particularly streetwear. And despite her existing only on the digital plane, everyone wants a piece of her. She’s already completed projects with top-notch brands like Asus, Shiseido, Penfolds, and Nars.
According to Rae, she’s a true blue Singaporean and considers herself an avid digital content creator. “I am geographically boundless. That means I can go for a shoot overseas and come back for a launch party in an instant,” she says. With that kind of flexibility, it’s no wonder she’s so popular.
You may also have noticed the use of AI in customer service – think ‘Ask Bo’, AirAsia’s new chatbot that handles all online enquiries. And even smart systems that secure your home and regulate lighting and temperature.
The AI advantage: Reshaping customer service, education and business

Elsewhere, in China, AI has been a game changer for hotel efficiency especially at Microtel by Wyndham Tianjin. The hotel uses self-check-in kiosks, in-room speakers, and delivery robots that make 30 to 40 trips a day delivering water, towels, and amenities to guests.
“This reduces the need for staff to engage in such tasks so they can focus on other value-added aspects of service and operations that require a personalised, human touch,” says Carl Wee, VP, technical services APAC of Wyndham Hotels and Resorts Asia Pacific. While some worry about job security, experts believe AI can drive up brand loyalty and productivity.
“AI has given businesses a new dimension of growth, with conversational AI becoming a necessity for businesses to elevate their customer experiences,” says Rashid Khan, CPO and co-founder of Yellow.ai. His AI agent has helped Zalora serve millions of new users, powering over four million conversation sessions.
Saurabh Madan, VP and general manager of SEA, ANZ and Japan at MoEngage agrees that AI can help build a loyal customer base. With never-ending deals, upgrades, and flashier products, lifetime loyalty is a thing of the past. That’s why he’s all about hyper-personalisation, and his platform has already helped an Indonesian e-commerce platform boost repeat purchases by 43%.
The impact of AI is also being felt in the education sector, with AI-based learning revolutionising how schools deliver learning strategies and performance insights. Sandesh Shetty, co-founder of Explico, an AI-powered online learning platform based in Singapore, says AI can create a personalised environment for students, allowing them to make mistakes and receive tailored feedback without fear of judgment.
Furthermore, this technology can assist in curbing the rapid spread of misinformation online, enabling leadership teams to stay ahead of fast-paced threats, according to Wasim Khaled, co-founder and CEO of Blackbird.AI.
Navigating the blurred lines of AI usage

Plagiarism and art theft has always been a thorny subject in the creative world, and the rise of AI has only made things more complicated. Take the Lensa app, for example. It caused quite a stir when people found out it might have stolen artwork from real artists to create its artsy portraits.
And the impact of AI isn’t just limited to the creative realm. In finance, AI-powered systems can be vulnerable to cyber attacks, putting people’s financial security at risk. And in industries like media and law, relying too much on AI can lead to the spread of inaccurate or biased data, which can damage public trust.
However, local artists and art educators have a more optimistic view of the technology’s potential. The key, they say, is for humans to work alongside AI, nurturing its growth and evolution.
Winson Ho, a senior lecturer at Nafa’s School of Design and Media, believes in taking an active approach to integrate AI with the art curriculum. While Muhammad Izdiharuddin, an adjunct lecturer at Nafa’s School of Fine Art, sees potential for AI in helping artists better visualise their work.
As the technology matures, it’s crucial to maintain ethical considerations to avoid unintended negative consequences. “We need to have continuous conversations about managing the human side of this digital disruption,” says Muhammad Izdiharuddin.
Keane Tan, a UOB Painting of the Year artist, believes AI can help artists focus on new areas like highlighting the human experience and appreciating the natural world. He references artists Roy Lichtenstein and Nam June Paik, who effectively used the technologies of their time, namely commercial printing and video art respectively, to advance their creative visions.
Another UOB Painting of the Year artist, Eugene Tan, emphasises that both artists who create with AI and those who do not are equally valuable. It’s an opportunity that provides new ways of appreciating the traditional craft as well as new AI-generated works of art. He highlights that it’s awards, galleries, and curators that will have a bigger influence in curating art that highlights contemporary issues of the day.
In essence, we need to use AI responsibly – weighing the pros and cons to ensure we reap the benefits without the drawbacks.
Where do we stand in all of this?

There’s no denying that the use of artificial intelligence in Singapore is a double-edged sword – one that will present opportunities and challenges in various industries. Rashid shares that AI platforms like ChatGPT will contribute to lowering the barrier of entry for anyone who is not a professional. But, at the same time, it will raise the ceiling for output for those who are already skilled.
“AI is not about man versus machine as some of us have been brought up to think. Ultimately, doing more with less is the goal here – with chatbots tackling high volumes of repetitive queries and humans taking on more higher value tasks,” adds Malcolm Koh, director of customer experience practice at Zendesk.
Take the invention of ATMs for example. It was expected that bank tellers would be completely replaced. But they didn’t disappear; they just moved on to perform more sophisticated tasks beyond simply dispensing cash. In fact, more bank tellers were hired even as ATMs increased in number. Who says you can’t teach an old teller new tricks?
In a similar vein, the World Economic Forum predicts that while 85 million jobs will be replaced by AI by 2025, 97 million new jobs will be created in return. Think positions like machine learning engineers and data scientists.
So, will AI take over the world? Yes, but not in the way we think it will. Unfortunately (or fortunately), we won’t be out of work and sipping cocktails on Siloso beach just yet. While AI will enhance our human capabilities and plug gaps where we fall short, it’s best used in collaboration with us. It may change career trajectories and overhaul job scopes, but it won’t really affect the way we live.
Unless artificial intelligence becomes sentient… but that’s a story for another day.