Singapore Wants Banks to Use AI to Create Jobs

Singapore Wants Banks to Use AI to Create Jobs

Singapore Wants Banks to Use AI to Create Jobs

https://www.pymnts.com/news/artificial-intelligence/2026/singapore-wants-banks-use-ai-create-jobs/

Publish Date: 2026-05-20 09:48:00

Source Domain: www.pymnts.com

Here’s a summarized overview of the article with key points:

  • Government Stance on AI Adoption: Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong urged banks and financial firms to leverage AI strategically to create better jobs and train employees instead of merely cutting jobs.
  • Competitiveness Alert: Gan emphasized the need for proactive AI adoption to maintain competitiveness, warning that holding back changes could hurt workers in the long run.
  • Standard Chartered’s Job Cuts: In contrast to the government’s advice, Standard Chartered announced job cuts due to increased AI usage, highlighting a potential conflict in adopting AI for employment purposes.
  • Singapore’s Specific Challenges: DBS Group CEO Tan Su Shan pointed out that AI could be a great multiplier for Singapore’s small workforce, enabling them to accomplish more with the same number of people.
  • Public Reaction and Concern: Singapore President Halimah Yacob criticized Standard Chartered’s CEO for his remarks on job cuts, expressing concern over the clinical manner in which the issue was discussed.
  • Evolving Perception of AI: There is growing trust in AI’s ability to reduce friction in daily life, as seen with mobile banking, rather than its overt technical prowess.

This summary offers a polite and respectful condensation of the main points from various reports regarding Singapore’s approach to AI use in the financial sector.