HR Learning Fest 2026 Executive Masterclass at Singapore Polytechnic #165

Spent the morning at the HR Learning Fest 2026 Executive Masterclass at Singapore Polytechnic on the theme:
“Work, Reimagined. People, Elevated.”

A few takeaways stood out: #165

Only 28.5% of firms in Singapore have adopted AI, while just 3.8% have actively integrated it into business processes.

Among firms adopting AI, more are redesigning roles, creating new jobs and redeploying talent than reducing headcount.

Only around 1 in 10 SMEs successfully convert skills and training investments into measurable business gains.

The key message was clear:
AI transformation is not primarily a technology challenge. It is a workforce and business strategy challenge.

One question from the session particularly resonated:

“Have we had a serious conversation about adopting AI?”

Followed by an even more important one:

“Have we had an equally serious conversation about what AI means for our people?”

Encouraging to learn more about the newly formed Skills & Workforce Development Agency (SWDA), ASEAN AI capability initiatives reaching 100,000 MSMEs, and support schemes including Job Redesign and AI grants of up to S$150,000.

Thank you to the speakers and organisers including Yen Yen Tan, Wenshan Xu, Daryl Aw, Paddy Tan, Derrick Teo, Singapore Business Federation, and the Singapore Polytechnic team for the insightful discussions.

The organisations that win in the AI era may not be those with the most AI, but those that align business strategy, workforce transformation and technology adoption the fastest.

#HRLearningFest2026#AI#FutureOfWork#WorkforceTransformation#Singapore#SME#Leadership#DigitalTransformation#ASEAN

This post is also published on LinkedIn.