The AI Moment Has Arrived
What struck me most about PM Wong’s speech on August 17, 2025 was not just the emphasis on artificial intelligence, but the sophistication with which he framed it. Gone are the days when AI discussions centered on whether the technology would matter. Instead, Wong positioned AI as “a defining technology of our time”—not someday, but right now.
The Math Olympiad example he shared perfectly encapsulated this shift. Five years ago, AI couldn’t solve basic math problems reliably, but this year it achieved a gold medal at the International Math Olympiad. As Wong noted with characteristic understatement, “It is so complex I cannot even understand the question… but AI got it right!”
This isn’t technological theater. It’s a Prime Minister acknowledging that we’ve crossed a threshold where AI capabilities are advancing faster than most people can comprehend, and Singapore needs to position itself accordingly.
The Singaporean Approach to AI Adoption
What I find refreshing about Singapore’s AI strategy is its refusal to be swept away by either utopian dreams or dystopian fears. Instead, Wong outlined an approach that’s quintessentially Singaporean—pragmatic, measured, and focused on real-world applications.
Take the example of government call centers where AI now transcribes calls in all four official languages and automatically generates summaries in English. This isn’t flashy, but it’s transformative for the civil servants who previously spent countless hours on manual documentation.
Or consider Q&M Dental’s use of AI to analyze dental X-rays, identifying potential fillings in green, impacted teeth in red, and tooth decay in dark red—all in under a minute. Again, not revolutionary in concept, but revolutionary in impact when scaled across healthcare systems.
The Human-Centered Promise
Perhaps the most important aspect of Wong’s AI vision is his commitment that “Singaporeans will always be at the center of everything we do”. This isn’t just political rhetoric—it reflects a deeper understanding that AI adoption without human consideration is ultimately self-defeating.
The example of PSA crane operators being retrained to remotely supervise multiple cranes demonstrates this philosophy in action. Rather than simply replacing workers with machines, Singapore is redesigning jobs to leverage both human judgment and AI capabilities. As Wong noted, “It is a huge boost in productivity for the company. It also means safer and higher-paying jobs for workers. So it is a win-win for everyone.”
Educational Imperatives in the Age of AI
One of the most nuanced discussions in the Rally centered on AI’s impact on education. Wong shared the story of a teacher who discovered students using ChatGPT to improve their essays. Rather than banning the tool, the teacher “turned it into a learning opportunity” by having students critique and improve the AI-generated content.
This reflects a sophisticated understanding that the goal isn’t to shield students from AI, but to teach them to be discerning users of it. As Wong emphasized, students must learn “not to blindly trust everything the internet or AI says. But to question, reflect and form their own judgments.”
The example of Ms. Francesca Lau’s AI chatbot for Mandarin practice at Corporation Primary School shows how educators are already integrating these tools creatively. Students can now practice their mother tongue anytime and receive immediate feedback—extending learning beyond the constraints of classroom hours.
Looking Beyond the Horizon
What struck me most was Wong’s acknowledgment that “we are entering a new era driven by Artificial Intelligence” at a time when Singapore is celebrating its 60th anniversary. There’s something profound about a nation reflecting on six decades of improbable success while simultaneously preparing for what may be its most transformative technological transition yet.
Wong’s message wasn’t that AI will solve all problems or that the transition will be painless. Instead, he offered something more valuable—a framework for thoughtful adoption that prioritizes human welfare while embracing technological capability.
The Road Ahead
As I listened to Wong’s speech, I couldn’t help but think about my own recent experience with Tailscale after losing bridge mode access from Singtel. Sometimes technological limitations force us toward better solutions. Perhaps Singapore’s measured but determined approach to AI will similarly lead to discoveries we can’t yet imagine.
The National Day Rally has always been about more than policy announcements—it’s about articulating a vision of what Singapore can become. This year, that vision prominently features AI not as a disruptive force to be feared, but as a tool to be mastered in service of human flourishing.
In an era where many nations are still debating whether AI matters, Singapore is already asking the more important question: how do we use it to build a better society? That shift in focus may prove to be this Rally’s most lasting contribution.
From the latest and cutting edge AI tech, to vintage fountain pens, and anything in between. My ideas…enhanced by AI.
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