Leaving no one behind will determine success of Smart Nation 2.0

A decade in technology is a lifetime given the scale and speed in which innovation happens. 

And so, it comes as no surprise that Singapore has announced an update to its Smart Nation policy, first unveiled in 2014.

Smart Nation 2.0 (SN2.0), acknowledges that artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI (GenAI) has brought about a tsunami of change in the way Singaporeans live, work and play. 

As Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong, said while announcing the launch of the updated policy, AI and GenAI are “once-in-a-generation technologies”, like steam power or the internet, that touch every industry and every aspect of life.

AI has been a hot topic not only in policy circles but also among ordinary citizens.

Though less in the limelight, other equally disruptive technologies like quantum computing and augmented or virtual reality are also ushering in a paradigm shift in the way we use technology.

As a result, we live in exciting times, but we also live in dangerous times.  

Given the disruptive nature of technology, it presents risks along with the opportunities. In the wrong hands technology can wreak havoc.

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Scams like the ones that have hit customers of banks, cyberattacks like WannaCry which crippled millions of computers around the world, attacks on infrastructure, and fake news have become a part of our daily lives – thanks to the same technologies that have given us so much convenience. 

Vision document 

This is where a policy like SN2.0 comes in.  

It is not only a vision document on the next steps in Singapore’s digital journey but also a roadmap that lays out the way forward to navigate a world full of opportunities but where dangers lurk in every corner.

That is the reason SN2.0 focuses on growth, community, and trust, rather than just on building hard infrastructure which was the priority in SN1.0. 

SN2.0’s success will be judged by how much it can adhere to the three focus areas while developing a technology-driven society that is inclusive, safe and leaves no one behind. In many respects, the challenges today are even more daunting than they were in 2014. 

Singapore’s SN1.0 initiative was a vision to build better, more meaningful, and fulfilled lives for Singaporeans, enabled by technology – many of which were in nascent stages of development.  

In that respect, it was ahead of its time compared to other urban centres, which embarked on “smart city” journeys with far more limited ambition and scope, restricted as they were to RFID-enabled “smart” parking lots, digital water and electricity metres and rudimentary transport apps. 

As PM Wong said, the Republic had to harness technology systematically and not in a piecemeal fashion, in a coherent and comprehensive way. 

Digital inclusion 

Success is there for everyone to see. 

Singapore ranks first in the world for digital inclusion. Its digital economy contributed 17.3 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2022, up from 13.3 per cent in 2017. About 99 per cent of government services can be completed online.  

The country has invested heavily in the digital economy, society, government, and security. It uses digital technologies to raise citizens’ quality of life across domains, ranging from healthcare, education, and infrastructure.  

National projects like Singpass and e-payment networks have brought about incredible convenience and were crucial safety nets during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

With physical and digital infrastructure in place, the way forward is to focus on the impact of technology and create an environment for innovation, safety, and inclusion.  

To this effect, SN2.0 has allocated an additional S$120 million investment in “AI for Science” to enhance the digital capabilities in the workforce, enterprises, research and development, and the government.  

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The focus is also on making ordinary citizens more AI literate so that they are not overwhelmed with the digital services that GenAI can enable. 

Empowering citizens 

SN2.0 seeks to educate and empower citizens so that they can go online safely and confidently in a positive digital environment. 

This will go together with designing more accessible and inclusive digital products and services and expanding outreach to equip more Singaporeans with digital skills for life. This will also include building a more positive, civic-minded culture online, co-creating digital solutions together with citizens, and strengthening digital channels for citizen engagement. 

Online harms such as scams, cyberbullying, misinformation, and disinformation are challenges that need to be taken seriously. 

According to a 2024 survey by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), about three in four Singaporeans have encountered harmful online content such as cyberbullying, content inciting racial or religious tension, and violent content. 

The SN2.0 looks to tackle these with a new Digital Infrastructure Act, to be introduced next year. There will also be a new agency for online safety and assurance, backed by a new law to improve the protection of victims of online harms. 

There is also the challenge of technology-induced isolation that leads to mental health concerns and online polarisation. Most importantly, the division between the haves and have-nots can be magnified by digital exclusion, which can worsen socioeconomic inequalities and deepen social divides. 

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On top of this, rapid changes in technology can lead to job disruptions, impacting the livelihood of citizens. Some feel that technology is changing too quickly and in ways that do not help them.

SN2.0 will need to address all these concerns, not just by enacting new legislation but with a soft touch, education, and inclusion. Singapore’s policymakers need to be adept in blue-sky thinking to solve problems that they cannot predict yet. 

While SN1.0 was an ambitious and challenging undertaking with no example to follow and no assurance of success, SN2.0 will be equally challenging. 

Building hard infrastructure is a relatively easier exercise because it is quantifiable. In comparison, the soft infrastructure that fosters growth, community and trust will be much more difficult. It must be a collective effort. 

Laws and regulations can deter and punish harmful, negative conduct but the aim should be to ensure everyone makes good choices and acts responsibly.  

As the SN2.0 documents explain, there is a need to go beyond a narrow focus on digitalisation and conduct a critical review of the impact of technology on society. 

SN2.0 must remain a “living document”, both in letter and spirit. If that can be achieved and no one is left behind, the next 10 years of Singapore’s Smart Nation journey promises to be even more exciting than the previous decade.