Only by mastering AI will you not be made obsolete by AI

Shin Min Daily News, 只有掌控AI 才不被AI淘汰

(Translated title and summary)

An 83-year-old female boss refuses to admit she is old. Keeping pace with the times, she has adopted AI, leading her office supplies company to the forefront of the era, because she believes that only by mastering AI will one not be made obsolete by AI.

Evergreen Group founder Tay Siew Inn (83) started her business in 1973. Originally, she ran a bookstore. Later, seeing greater potential in the stationery market, she gradually shifted towards providing office stationery. Today, it has expanded into a one-stop office supplies company.

Mdm Tay shared that over the years she has been keen on introducing new technologies and has been even more proactive than her employees.

“In the past, to take customers’ orders, someone had to be stationed by the telephone, and efficiency was not very high.

After the internet became widespread, we set up our own website in 2000, allowing customers to complete their orders directly online.”

As social media and online shopping platforms have flourished, under Mdm Tay’s leadership Evergreen Group has successfully expanded its online business, promoting its products while at the same time reaching more customers.

Last year, with the support of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME) and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Evergreen Group began adopting AI-driven business management systems, which helped improve efficiency and productivity. It is estimated to have saved half of the operating time.

“With the help of AI, the company’s invoice process has already been automated. The next step is to use AI to automatically generate quotations based on customers’ needs. At the same time, AI can also compare suppliers’ prices and then automatically generate quotations.”

However, adopting new technology has not been entirely smooth. Mdm Tay recalled that when the company first set up its website more than 20 years ago, some employees were strongly resistant, thinking that customers were not accustomed to placing orders online. When the AI system was introduced, there were also some dissenting voices. Fortunately, among the company’s more than 20 employees, most ultimately supported this plan, and she did not give up because of resistance.

“Only by mastering AI will one not be made obsolete by AI. AI tools are like our think tank, providing us with suggestions, but in the end experienced employees are still needed to make judgments.”

Strong demand for instructors

Regarding the challenges faced in promoting and developing AI courses, Ms Tammy Tan, Chief Communications Officer of Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), pointed out that there is strong demand for qualified AI instructors, and such talent is highly sought after in the industry. For example, the depth of courses designed by universities, as well as whether students are able to use sufficient resources and high-quality AI tools, are all factors for consideration.

Heicoders Academy co-founder Kong Yu Ning (35) also mentioned that arranging instructors is not easy. He pointed out that because the courses they offer are relatively difficult, training capable instructors is indeed quite challenging.

More people enrolling in AI courses

From April last year to January this year, SUTD Academy organised 125 AI-related courses, training nearly 3,700 people. Among them, 36 were executive-level AI courses tailored for senior management, attracting 800 participants from government agencies, academia and private enterprises. The numbers are four times that of the previous year.

Ms Tan, CCO of SUTD said in an interview that the Academy plans to launch more AI-related training courses in the future, including stackable programmes and postgraduate courses, as well as train-the-trainer courses aimed at instructors.

Heicoders Academy co-founder Mr Kong also said that the number of students enrolling in AI-related courses increased three to four times from 2024 to 2025.

“We started offering courses to enterprises earlier this year, leveraging corporate word-of-mouth for promotion. Currently, reservations are already full until January next year.”

He pointed out that as of now, about 70% of this year’s AI course participants are professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs), among whom are decision-makers, department heads and team leaders. Usually one or two people sign up first, and later bring their colleagues to participate together.