Understanding Artificial Intelligence: Types of AI and Their Demand in Singapore’s Job Market

Artificial Intelligence is a specialised subset of Computer Science, capable of performing tasks historically associated with humans, such as thinking, reasoning, recognising speech, identifying patterns, writing, editing, and making decisions, among other tasks. 

AI encompasses a wide variety of technologies, including deep learning, machine learning, and Natural Language Processing, which are deployed to achieve desired outcomes. Understanding Artificial Intelligence becomes easier when you delve into its different forms. 

Businesses in Singapore are currently exploring various forms of AI, including predictive, assistive, and generative AI, to enhance productivity and customer interactions. 

Based on their strength and functionality, AI can be classified into three main types: Narrow, General, and Superintelligent AI. Read on to learn more about each of these types and their use cases in the country’s job market. 

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Understanding Artificial Intelligence and Its Types

Different industries in Singapore have adopted different types of AI, including Narrow, General, and Superintelligent AI, to fulfill their needs. Let’s delve deeper into the details below: 

Types of AI	Main Function	Examples/Tasks	Usage in Singapore
Narrow AI	Limited Tasks	Voice Assistants. Chatbots.Mail Spam Filters	Banking chatbots for grabbing recommendations
General AI	Human-like tasks	Still in the theory stage (Synthetic Cognition, Augmented Reality, and quantum neural networks for human-like tasks)	Ongoing Research
Superintelligent AI	Future Concept (Likely to surpass human Intelligence)	Emotional IntelligenceProblem-SolvingCreative Thinking	Debates, AI Policies

Narrow AI (Weak AI)

Narrow AI, often deemed as Weak AI, constitutes most of our daily tasks that we usually associate with Artificial Intelligence. It is probably called weak because it is trained to accomplish only a specific set of functions. However, it shouldn’t be forgotten that it can perform the assigned tasks at a speed that is hardly matched by manual labor. 

Here is a look at the tasks performed by Narrow AI:

• Voice Assistants
• Chatbots
• Recommendation Engines on OTT platforms
• Email Spam Filters

General AI (Strong AI)

General AI is the immediate step-up from Narrow AI, whereby it’s supposed to perform a range of human-like tasks that include: 

• Ability to understand context from minimal input
• Adapt to new environments without prior training
• Synthetic cognition
• Augmented Reality 

Notably, the existence of General AI is theoretical, as it remains a part of ongoing research. 

Also Read: Top AI Skills for Your Career Success

Superintelligent AI

Talk about the most advanced type of AI, and Superintelligent AI is what you need to know about. As a future concept, Superintelligent AI is meant to surpass human intelligence, effortlessly navigating tasks such as or related to: 

• Problem Solving
• Creative Thinking
• Emotional Intelligence
• Logic

Also Read: The Role of Generative AI in Singapore’s Financial Sector

Demand for AI Skills in Singapore’s Job Market

Thanks to the strong government push towards becoming a global AI hub, there has been a notable surge in demand for AI skills in Singapore’s job market. Right from chatbots to fraud detection to urban planning, Artificial Intelligence spans a plethora of use cases in the country. 

Here is a look at the most in-demand AI roles in Singapore:              

• Machine Learning Engineers
• Robotics Specialists
• AI Research Scientists
• Prompt Specialists
• Data Scientists

The top skills in demand are Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Generative AI, Natural Language Processing, and Robotics. Make sure you’re opting for a college with high employability. 

Also Read: The Role of AI in Business Strategy: How Singaporean Professionals Can Leverage It for Career Growth

Advance Your Career with AI and Data Science Programs in Singapore through upGrad

Want to ride the ongoing AI wave in Singapore? Want to land one of those highly lucrative AI jobs? Make sure you’re starting your journey with the right degree. Explore fully online (i.e, flexible learning format) AI courses on upGrad and get a chance to learn from global experts. 

upGrad assists you with a seamless entry into one of its partner colleges, provided you fulfill the respective eligibility criteria:

• Master of Science in Machine Learning & AI from Liverpool John Moores University
• Executive Diploma in Machine Learning and AI with IIIT-B

Depending on the programme, you will acquire top skills, including Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Generative AI, and Natural Language Processing. What more? Enjoy access to a strong network of alumni consisting of AI experts and get a chance to learn through hands-on training and case studies. 

FAQs on AI Types & Job Demand in Singapore