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AI-First Nation – A blueprint for policy makers and organisation leaders.
  • What We Have Learned About Putting AI to Work — In Government, In Classrooms, and In People
    Insights | 100e | ai4sme | aiap | learnai | strategy

    What We Have Learned About Putting AI to Work — In Government, In Classrooms, and In People

    ByLaurence Liew April 30, 2026April 30, 2026 Reading Time: 7 minutes

    This week, I was part of a panel in a UK government AI learning journey on AI, and separately I was also asked to comment by a publication on the same subject. I sat down to write the responses and realised something. The answers weren’t really about Singapore. They were about patterns we’ve seen across…

    Read More What We Have Learned About Putting AI to Work — In Government, In Classrooms, and In PeopleContinue

  • AIAP, 100E, IDC Award. What do you do? AIAP
    Insights | 100e | aiap

    “Yes, But What Do You Do?”

    ByLaurence Liew December 3, 2025December 3, 2025 Reading Time: 5 minutes

    “You are an AI engineer… what do you do?”
    If your answer involves PyTorch, data cleaning, or model deployment—you have missed the point.
    That is your task. Not what you do.

    Read More “Yes, But What Do You Do?”Continue

  • Collage of AIAP Pitch, AIRI's AI maturity stages and 100E.
    100e | aiap | Insights

    The AI Confusion is Real. Our Execution is Not.

    ByLaurence Liew November 27, 2025February 17, 2026 Reading Time: 4 minutes

    You hear the statistics. High failure rates. Implementation costs averaging $1.9 million. A workforce largely unprepared for the shift. When you examine global averages, these observations hold water. The confusion is palpable. The costs are substantial. However, we must not confuse a lack of discipline with a lack of potential. At AI Singapore, we have…

    Read More The AI Confusion is Real. Our Execution is Not.Continue

  • AIAP briefing at The Big Board.
    aiap | 100e | Insights | strategy

    How We’re Future-Proofing AIAP: Staying Seven Years Ahead in the AI Talent Revolution

    ByLaurence Liew June 1, 2025June 1, 2025 Reading Time: 6 minutes

    Seven years ago, when we launched the AI Apprenticeship Programme (AIAP), people questioned our approach. Real-world projects over academic theory? Skills over degrees? Training passionate self-learners instead of computer science graduates? Today, watching the global tech industry scramble to adapt to AI-augmented workflows, I can confidently say: we were not just ahead of the curve…

    Read More How We’re Future-Proofing AIAP: Staying Seven Years Ahead in the AI Talent RevolutionContinue

  • Create an image symbolizing Singapore's AI ecosystem that blends traditional ASEAN cultural elements with modern technology. Show a stylized Singapore skyline where traditional buildings seamlessly transition into futuristic structures. In the foreground, include diverse groups of people collaborating around holographic AI displays showing both Singlish text and various Southeast Asian scripts. Add symbolic elements representing AIAP apprentices and 100E projects, with knowledge flowing between generations - children, working professionals, and mentors. The scene should convey balance between state guidance (represented by orderly infrastructure) and innovation (shown through glowing AI interfaces). Use warm colors with blues and greens to represent both technological advancement and cultural preservation, creating a harmonious vision of an AI-First Nation that honors historical roots while embracing the future.
    aiap | 100e | aiadvisory | Insights | learnai

    AI-First Nation: Bridging Prof. Wang Gungwu’s Deep Insights with AI Singapore’s Programmes

    ByLaurence Liew April 8, 2025May 17, 2025 Reading Time: 5 minutes

    When I started with AI Singapore in 2017, my mission was simple – to help 100 companies build AI solutions through our 100 Experiments (100E) programme. Today, that mission has expanded into creating a comprehensive AI ecosystem that positions Singapore as a leading AI-First nation. Recently, I came across Prof Wang Gungwu‘s work, articles, books…

    Read More AI-First Nation: Bridging Prof. Wang Gungwu’s Deep Insights with AI Singapore’s ProgrammesContinue

  • The Art of Finding the Right AI Use Cases for SMEs
    strategy | 100e | ai4sme | aifn book | Insights

    The Art of Finding the Right AI Use Cases for SMEs

    ByLaurence Liew February 25, 2025May 17, 2025 Reading Time: 6 minutes

    When SMEs approach me about adopting AI, they typically ask: “What AI use cases can I use in my business?” While it seems like a straightforward question, finding the right AI application is not a one-size-fits-all exercise. It’s more art than science, requiring an understanding of both the business context and AI readiness. Beyond the…

    Read More The Art of Finding the Right AI Use Cases for SMEsContinue

  • Comparing training DeepSeek R1 to Frying that perfect plate of hokkien mee
    strategy | 100e | aiadvisory | aiap | Insights

    DeepSeek V3 $5.6M is like your $5 plate of Hokkien Mee

    ByLaurence Liew February 4, 2025May 17, 2025 Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Discover the untold story behind DeepSeek’s $5.6M AI model training. While the final cost dazzles, the real investment lies in years of R&D, infrastructure, and top-tier engineering talent. Learn how innovation under constraints redefined efficiency and why this breakthrough caught many off guard. Dive into the hidden costs of AI development now.

    Read More DeepSeek V3 $5.6M is like your $5 plate of Hokkien MeeContinue

  • Singapore’s Journey from Local Innovation to Global Impact with the AI Apprenticeship Programme (AIAP)
    aiap | 100e | strategy

    Singapore’s Journey from Local Innovation to Global Impact with the AI Apprenticeship Programme (AIAP)

    ByLaurence Liew January 29, 2025June 23, 2025 Reading Time: 6 minutes

    “Discover how Singapore’s AI Apprenticeship Programme (AIAP) transformed AI talent development, bridging the skills gap with real-world projects and creating a global blueprint for innovation. Learn how this model is driving measurable impact worldwide.”

    Read More Singapore’s Journey from Local Innovation to Global Impact with the AI Apprenticeship Programme (AIAP)Continue

  • LLM-Powered Treatment Plans: A New Era in Dental Care
    aiap | 100e | aiadvisory

    LLM-Powered Treatment Plans: A New Era in Dental Care

    ByLaurence Liew July 23, 2024May 17, 2025 Reading Time: 6 minutes

    Discover how Q&M Dental Group and AI Singapore are revolutionizing dental care with their AI-powered Treatment Plan module, combining advanced technology with personalized patient care for better outcomes.

    Read More LLM-Powered Treatment Plans: A New Era in Dental CareContinue

  • AI4SME: Questions you need to ask your “AI Solution Provider”
    strategy | 100e | ai4sme

    AI4SME: Questions you need to ask your “AI Solution Provider”

    ByLaurence Liew July 9, 2024May 17, 2025 Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Discover how SMEs can evaluate AI solution providers and assess their competency through expert-backed questions. Learn to identify qualified partners for successful AI implementation in your business.

    Read More AI4SME: Questions you need to ask your “AI Solution Provider”Continue

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Table of Contents
  • Hidden Technical Debt of ML Systems
  • Is your AI Solution Provider AI-Competent in the Age of AI4SME?
  • Conclusion

About AI-First Nation

AI-First Nation shares battle-tested strategies from Singapore's AI transformation journey. Based on real-world experiences building national AI programs and training hundreds of AI engineers, this blueprint helps organizations and nations successfully navigate their AI transformation.

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