Key Takeaways
- Purposeful AI use must complement, not replace, core thinking skills.
- Teachers are central to shaping ethical and creative use of AI.
- Digital inclusion ensures everyone benefits — regardless of age or ability.
- Parents and educators share responsibility for AI literacy and safety.
- Ethics frameworks help schools guide responsible integration.
At the AI for Education forum, Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State for the Ministry of Digital Development & Information, shared Singapore’s vision for a future where technology serves people — not the other way around. Her message was clear: while AI can be a powerful amplifier for learning and innovation, its use must be intentional, inclusive, and ethical.
“Without intentional integration, we risk undermining critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are fundamental to learning,” she said.
Rahayu emphasised that education remains central to this mission. Teachers are being equipped with new resources and frameworks to guide students in the safe, responsible, and creative use of AI. From coding workshops to classroom experiments with generative tools, schools are becoming laboratories for exploring what meaningful AI learning looks like.
Across Singapore, initiatives led by the National Library Board (NLB) and partner institutions are turning this vision into reality. Interactive exhibitions and “AI curiosity corners” invite students and families to experiment with AI-generated images, storybooks, and even augmented reality experiences that bring Singapore’s history to life. The goal: to inspire curiosity and connect communities through technology.
Digital inclusion, Rahayu noted, is at the heart of Singapore’s Smart Nation journey. Programmes such as Digital for Life ensure that seniors, persons with disabilities, and students with special needs have equal access to the tools and skills needed to thrive in a digital world.
“We must ensure that every citizen has the means and confidence to harness technology for learning and living,” Rahayu said.
To support this, parents are being offered simple resources to understand how AI works — from how bias appears in AI systems to how to have conversations about online safety at home. The Ministry of Education’s AI Ethics Framework for Education also provides schools with clear guidance for integrating AI responsibly, focusing on safety, transparency, and digital wellbeing.
Ultimately, Rahayu’s message was one of balance. Technology can enhance creativity and opportunity, but it must be grounded in human values. As Singapore continues to pioneer AI education, her remarks remind us that the true goal is not just to build smarter machines — but smarter, kinder, and more resilient people.
