AI adoption is on the rise in Singapore, with 52% of workers in the country using the technology in their jobs, according to a new workforce index from Slack.
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The use of AI has grown in various industries globally, but there is still some confusion about how to properly use the technology at work.
In Singapore, 52% of employees use… artificial intelligence In their jobs, according to Slack Workforce Indexwhich surveyed more than 17,000 workers in 15 countries in August, including 1,008 in Singapore.
The demand for AI talent in the country has grown. There was a 4.6-fold increase in AI-related job postings in the city-state between September 2023 and September 2024, according to actually.
But despite the high demand for AI talent in Singapore, 45% of employees in the country feel uncomfortable admitting to managers that they use the technology for workplace tasks.
For those who reported feeling this way, the main reasons included fear of being seen as “incompetent,” “lazy,” or “a cheat,” according to the Slack report.
“Workers are excited about AI, but aren't sure how to use it in the workplace, and this uncertainty stands in the way of broader AI adoption,” Christina Janzer, senior vice president of research and analytics at Slack, said. CNBC Make it.
Much of the onus today has been placed on workers to learn about AI. It is important that leaders not only train employees to use AI, but encourage employees to talk about it and experience AI publicly.
Christina Janzer
Senior Vice President of Research and Analytics, Slack
“Today much of the burden has been placed on workers to understand AI,” Ganzer said. “It is important that leaders not only train workers to use AI, but encourage employees to talk about it and experience AI in public.”
Companies should also make time and space for this experience, and encourage employees to share what they've learned with colleagues for inspiration, she said. They can also lead by example by openly demonstrating how they use technology in their own jobs.
Additionally, employers must provide guidance on which AI tools are “certified and trusted” to use in their businesses, and what tasks those tools can be used for, Ganzer told CNBC Make It.
“Without clear guidance, workers are confused about when it is socially and professionally acceptable to use AI at work — and keep its use under wraps,” Slack reports.
Despite the uncertainty, employees in Singapore are still seeking to improve their AI skills. In fact, 88% “feel an urgent need to become AI experts,” according to the report. However, the majority of workers (63%) in the country spent less than five hours in total learning how to use AI.
Ultimately, “employers will need to resolve the gap in training and clarity on AI guidelines, as existing employees and new professionals entering the workforce will gravitate to more supportive workplaces,” according to Slack’s research.
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