Fixing the 'bottom rung': Singapore fresh grads urged to use, critique AI to get a leg-up in employment
SINGAPORE — Where junior software developers were once hired to hammer out routine code, they are now expected to act as critical gatekeepers by auditing AI-generated drafts for security, logic and business fit.With the growing capabilities of artificial intelligence that can take over routine tasks, employers across sectors are no longer content with entry-level workers who can produce a first draft of software code or marketing scripts, business associations, schools and manpower groups told The Straits Times.Instead, being able to put AI tools to work while applying sound judgement skills is now the new basic expectation.This shift comes amid concerns from the Government about the "bottom rung" of the career ladder being broken by AI, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong earlier in October.He had also urged employers to be more deliberate in training and mentoring junior hires.Business associations and manpower groups said that employers are still keen to hire fresh graduates, but those with prior industry experience and knowledge of AI tools will have a leg-up.