Does it make sense for organizations to continue on their digital transformation journey without AI? 

Organizations across Asia Pacific are in different stages of their digital business transformation journey, some for more than a decade, while some embarked on it more recently. 

Meanwhile, AI is set to transform industries over the next decade. Generative AI is rapidly transforming Southeast Asia’s technological landscape, disrupting norms, automating processes, and surpassing conventional technology tools for businesses in the last year or two. 

Tech Week Singapore – to be held 9-10 October 2024 – is bringing together experts, innovators and thought leaders from around the world to empower knowledge-sharing and facilitate industry partnerships. This year, among them will be AI leaders. 

With AI – especially generative AI – disrupting much of business and personal lives, what role is AI playing in digital transformation for organizations? DigiconAsia has the privilege of finding out more from Laurence Liew, Director of AI Innovation, AI Singapore.

Is digital transformation still meaningful today for organizations in Asia if AI is not involved?

Liew: Digital transformation remains valuable, but its impact will be significantly amplified when AI is integrated. AI is a powerful tool and technology and when an organization is digitally ready, and AI-Ready (as described in our AI Readiness Index https://aisingapore.org/airi), the company’s transformation can be much more effective and transformational. In our 100 Experiments (100E) programme, we have helped many companies and agencies that are digitally ready, to work on and deploy AI systems which allow them to fundamentally change their business value proposition, so much so that their competitors are “left in the dust”.

The age of AI – especially Generative AI – is upon us. How does this change the digital transformation journey for organizations?

Liew: AI has been around since the 1950s, and in fact when I started my career in AI back in the 1990s, companies like Singtel, SPH, PSA, Changi Airport Group were already big users of AI. Generative AI is just another form of AI that solves several interesting use cases. The key takeaway is that while digital transformation can be pursued independently of AI, integrating AI into the process unlocks its full potential, leading to more impactful and transformative outcomes.

Singapore being an example of an early adopter of AI in business transformation, what are the most significant areas of AI-driven transformation?

Liew: Our industry AI programmes such as 100E and AI Apprenticeship Programme (AIAP) have had many successful stories such as:

Other key findings include:

  • Public Services:AI is enhancing customer service interactions, optimizing resource allocation, and improving decision-making in government agencies.
  • Healthcare:AI is revolutionizing diagnostics, treatment planning, and patient care, leading to more accurate and efficient healthcare delivery.
  • Finance: AI is being leveraged for fraud detection, risk assessment, and personalized financial services, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of financial institutions.
  • Transportation and Logistics: AI is optimizing routes, predicting demand, and enhancing safety in the transportation and logistics sector, leading to improved efficiency and cost savings.

What role do you foresee AI playing in the future of Singapore and the rest of the APAC region?

Liew: AI is a technology that engineers who work closely with the business can leverage to create useful applications, powerful business transformation and even new business models. It is not magic. It is not going to become sentient. As a tool:

  • Widespread AI Adoption: AI will continue to be deployed into many industries, from manufacturing and agriculture to retail and entertainment.
  • New Skillsets and Job Roles: All professionals are expected to know how to use these AI tools, just like how all of us use email, Word, PowerPoint for presentation and Excel for basic computation. Professionals should experiment and pick up the skills to use these tools. You need to PLUS-SKILL i.e. add AI skills to your existing knowledge. You only need to spend a weekend watching some YouTube videos or doing a 2-3 hours course on GenAI to start your journey to become proficient in using these tools. The professionals I am referring to are from Admin, HR, Marketing, Sales and Management and not programming AI and GenAI systems – which would require a different mindset, skillsets and training.
  • Economic Growth and Innovation: AI will drive economic growth by enabling new business models, improving productivity, and fostering innovation.
  • Societal Impact: AI can address pressing societal challenges, such as healthcare accessibility, environmental sustainability, and education.

As AI continues to evolve, there will be increasing focus on its responsible use and sustainability of the technology in the long term. These conversations can be facilitated through industry events like the upcoming Tech Week Singapore, where AI Singapore will be one of several headliners delving into the topic of AI and digital transformation across Asia. These efforts will ultimately propel economic growth and ensure that both Singapore and APAC remain at the forefront of AI innovation.