The People Who Built Tech Are Warning Us
These aren’t random Twitter takes. These are the people who created the AI revolution — and they’re all saying the same thing.
“It’s wonderful that the jobs are related to tradecraft, and we’re going to have plumbers and electricians and construction and steelworkers. Everybody should be able to make a great living. You don’t need to have a PhD in computer science to do so.”
— Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA (worth $3.6 trillion), Davos 2026
Huang called AI data centres “the largest infrastructure buildout in human history” — saying tradespeople will command six-figure salaries. Source: Fortune
“Probably none of us will have a job. There will come a point where no job is needed. You can have a job if you want one for personal satisfaction, but the AI will be able to do everything.”
— Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla/SpaceX/xAI, January 2026
Musk declared “we have entered the Singularity” and predicted work becomes optional within 10-20 years. Source: Fortune
“There are no more blank checks. Every investment must make economic sense. We will build what our customers need, when they need it, and earn their trust through consistent execution.”
— Lip-Bu Tan, CEO of Intel, July 2025
Intel cut 22% of its workforce — 21,400 jobs in one round, on top of 15,000 the year before. The company that powered the PC revolution is fighting for survival. Source: Fortune
Three of the most powerful tech leaders in the world are saying the same thing: the old playbook is dead. If even Jensen Huang — the man selling the shovels in this gold rush — is telling students to consider becoming electricians, you need to pay attention.
157,000 Jobs Gone: The Layoffs Are Real
These aren’t projections or hypotheticals. These are actual people who lost their jobs in 2024-2025 as companies restructured around AI.
This Is Different From Every Previous Revolution
The Industrial Revolution replaced manual labour. The Internet disrupted retail and media. But AI is the first technology that targets high-skill, white-collar work — the exact careers parents tell their children to pursue.
Goldman Sachs estimates 300 million jobs globally will be affected by generative AI. Not factory workers. Not delivery riders. Lawyers, programmers, financial analysts, content writers, radiologists.
Source: Goldman Sachs, “The Potentially Large Effects of Artificial Intelligence on Economic Growth” (2023)
72% of Singapore Gen Z Are Worried
If you’re anxious about AI and your future career, you’re not alone. The data shows most young Singaporeans share your concern.
of Singaporeans fear AI replacing jobs
Reeracoen Singapore Workforce Survey, 2025
of SG Gen Z worry AI will eliminate their jobs
Deloitte Gen Z and Millennial Survey, 2025
But here’s what’s really interesting — you can see this fear reflected in polytechnic cut-off points. When fewer competitive students choose a course, its COP rises (it becomes easier to get in). Look at what happened between 2025 and 2026:
| Course | Poly | 2025 COP | 2026 COP | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information Technology (C85) | NYP | 16 | 26 | +10 |
| Applied AI & Analytics (S30) | SP | 9 | 8 | -1 |
| Computer Engineering (S53) | SP | 13 | 20 | +7 |
| Information Technology (T30) | TP | 20 | 18 | -2 |
| Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics (T62) | TP | 16 | 14 | -2 |
How to read this: A higher COP means fewer competitive students are choosing that course — the “market” of students is voting with their applications. NYP Information Technology’s +10 jump is dramatic — that’s the market speaking. But notice that Applied AI & Analytics at SP stayed highly competitive (COP 8). Students aren’t fleeing tech entirely — they’re fleeing generic IT and moving toward AI-specific skills.
The Impossible Choice
Every student collecting their results faces a version of this dilemma. Let’s be honest about both sides.
Path A: Chase the Dream
HIGH RISK / HIGH REWARDComputer Science, Law, Finance, Data Science — the prestige courses Singapore parents love.
Path B: Play It Safe
LOWER RISK / STABLE DEMANDTrades, healthcare, education, social work — the roles AI struggles to replace.
“[AI is] the largest infrastructure buildout in the history of mankind. And guess what? You can’t build data centres with Python scripts. You need electricians, plumbers, construction workers, HVAC technicians. These people will make a great living.”
— Jensen Huang, NVIDIA CEO, Davos World Economic Forum 2026
University Courses That Are Hardest for AI to Replace
Not all university courses are equally exposed to AI disruption. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 projects that 170 million new roles will be created globally by 2030, even as 92 million are displaced. The courses that survive — and thrive — share common traits: they require physical presence, human empathy, ethical judgment, or creative vision that AI simply cannot replicate.
Here’s what’s available at NUS, NTU, and SMU — and why these fields have strong staying power in the AI era.
Healthcare & Medicine
AI Risk: Very Low | Demand: Growing fast (Singapore’s ageing population)
Healthcare is the gold standard of AI-resistant careers. A doctor cannot examine a patient through a screen alone. A nurse cannot hold the hand of a dying patient’s family member through a chatbot. AI can assist with medical imaging, drug discovery, and diagnosis suggestions — but the physical examination, surgical skill, patient trust, and life-or-death ethical decisions remain irreplaceably human. Singapore’s healthcare sector is projected to grow 30% by 2030, driven by an ageing population.
5-year programme. Highest overall employment rate (97%). Physical examinations, surgical training, bedside manner — none replaceable by AI.
Joint programme with Imperial College London. Team-based learning, early clinical exposure from Year 1.
Precise manual dexterity + patient interaction. AI can assist with imaging but can’t perform root canals.
Direct patient care, wound management, emotional support, crisis response. Severe national shortage — demand will only grow.
Why AI can’t replace this: Physical touch, real-time judgment under pressure, patient trust, ethical decisions about life and death. AI is a powerful diagnostic tool — but the doctor is still the one who looks you in the eye and says, “Here’s what we’re going to do.”
Social Work, Psychology & Education
AI Risk: Very Low | Demand: Critical need (mental health crisis + ageing society)
Singapore’s mental health crisis is real — 1 in 3 youth aged 15-35 reported depression, anxiety, or stress symptoms (IMH 2024 study). These are fields where human connection isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s the entire point. A therapist who truly understands your cultural context, a social worker who shows up at 2am for a family crisis, a teacher who recognises that a quiet student is struggling — no algorithm can do this.
Crisis intervention, community outreach, family counselling. Requires deep empathy, local knowledge, and cultural sensitivity. Fieldwork from Year 2.
All 3 universities offer strong psychology programmes. Leads to clinical psych, counselling, HR, or UX research. SMU’s psychology programme is particularly applied, with practicum placements.
Teachers are nation-builders. Classroom management, mentoring, motivating teenagers — AI can be a teaching aid, but it can’t replace the teacher who inspires you. Guaranteed job placement via MOE bond.
Why AI can’t replace this: Emotional intelligence, cultural context, ethical judgment, crisis response. These roles exist precisely because humans need other humans during difficult times. A chatbot can’t hold space for grief.
Architecture, Design & Urban Planning
AI Risk: Low | Creative vision + physical space understanding
AI can generate renders and floor plans, but it cannot walk through a site, feel how sunlight hits a corridor at 3pm, understand why a hawker centre’s layout works for the community, or design a building that responds to Singapore’s tropical climate and cultural identity. Architecture and design are where creative vision meets physical reality — and that intersection is stubbornly human.
Singapore’s built environment needs architects who understand tropical design, sustainability, and community needs. Studio-based learning, site visits, hands-on model building.
Human-centred product design, physical prototyping, user research. You design for real people with real bodies in real spaces — AI generates images, designers solve problems.
Critical for Singapore’s City in a Garden vision. Climate-responsive design, biodiversity planning, community spaces — requires site knowledge and ecological understanding.
Why AI can’t replace this: Physical site understanding, creative vision rooted in cultural context, material knowledge, and the ability to design spaces that make people feel something. AI is a powerful rendering tool — architects will use it, not be replaced by it.
Environmental Science & Sustainability
AI Risk: Low | Demand: Singapore Green Plan 2030 driving massive growth
Climate change is the defining challenge of your generation — and it cannot be solved by algorithms alone. Environmental scientists do fieldwork in mangroves, monitor coral reefs, test water quality, advise on green building standards, and shape national policy. Singapore’s Green Plan 2030 aims to plant 1 million more trees and reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. That takes people on the ground, not just models in the cloud.
Interdisciplinary — combines science, policy, and economics. Fieldwork in Singapore’s nature reserves and urban ecosystems.
Climate science, atmospheric research, sustainability. NTU’s campus is one of the greenest in the world — your lab is the environment itself.
Why AI can’t replace this: Fieldwork, local ecological knowledge, policy advisory that requires community engagement. AI can model climate data — but someone needs to wade into the mangrove and count the species.
Law — AI-Enhanced, Not AI-Replaced
AI Risk: Medium (junior research) to Low (advocacy/advisory) | Demand: Stable
Law is a nuanced case. AI can already draft contracts, summarise case law, and flag relevant precedents faster than any junior associate. That’s the bad news. The good news? Court advocacy, client counselling, negotiation, and ethical judgment are profoundly human skills. The lawyer who argues in front of a judge, reads the room during mediation, or guides a grieving family through probate — that lawyer isn’t going anywhere. AI will become a powerful tool in every lawyer’s toolkit, but it won’t replace the lawyer.
Highest starting salary of any undergraduate degree in Singapore. NUS Law graduates are in demand across private practice, government, and in-house counsel.
Smaller class size, strong moot court culture, emphasis on practical advocacy skills. SMU Law’s seminar-style teaching builds argumentation skills AI can’t replicate.
The smart play: Study law, but learn to use AI legal tools (Harvey, CoCounsel) from Day 1. The lawyers who thrive in 2030 won’t be the ones who ignore AI — they’ll be the ones who use it to do 10x the work while focusing their human skills on advocacy, strategy, and client relationships.
Business — But Only with Domain Expertise
AI Risk: Medium (generic) to Low (specialised) | Depends on how you combine it
A generic business degree that only teaches you spreadsheets and presentations is vulnerable. But business combined with deep industry knowledge — healthcare management, sustainability consulting, fintech regulation, supply chain resilience — that’s a different story. The CEOs, founders, and consultants of 2030 will be people who understand both the business and the domain, and who can lead teams through uncertain territory. AI can’t do that.
All 3 universities offer strong business programmes. SMU’s interactive pedagogy builds communication and leadership skills. NUS and NTU offer double degree options with Engineering, Computing, or Science.
Basic bookkeeping will be automated. But audit advisory, forensic accounting, and regulatory compliance require human judgment, client trust, and ethical oversight. SMU Accountancy is consistently top-ranked.
The key insight: A business degree alone is a commodity. A business degree + specialisation in healthcare, sustainability, or emerging tech = a career AI can’t touch. Choose your double major or minor wisely.
Every Generation Faced This — But AI Is Different
“People always say technology will destroy jobs, and it never does.” That’s partially true — but the speed and scope of AI disruption is unprecedented.
Industrial Revolution
1760s–1840sMachines replaced manual labour in factories and farms. Millions of workers feared mass unemployment. Luddites literally smashed machines in protest.
Internet Revolution
1990s–2010sE-commerce transformed retail. Amazon upended bookstores. Netflix forced Blockbuster to shut down. Travel agents, print journalists, and photo developers were massively disrupted.
AI Revolution
2022–presentYOU ARE HEREAI targets high-skill knowledge work: coding, legal analysis, financial modelling, medical diagnosis, content writing. The exact careers your parents told you to pursue.
The critical difference: Previous revolutions gave workers decades to adapt. AI is giving you 5-10 years — roughly the length of your university education and first job. That’s not a reason to panic. It’s a reason to choose wisely and stay adaptable.
Our Honest Take: Chase Your Dreams — With Eyes Wide Open
After looking at all this data, here’s what we truly believe at SGSchoolKaki.
Six Things We Want You to Know
The crisis is real — don’t dismiss the statistics
157,000 layoffs. Goldman Sachs’ 300 million estimate. Falling tech hiring. Don’t bury your head in the sand — look at the numbers, understand what’s happening, and plan accordingly.
But humans have always adapted — and proactive adapters thrive
Every technological revolution created more jobs than it destroyed — eventually. The people who thrived weren’t the ones who hid. They were the ones who learned, pivoted, and stayed curious.
Chase what you love AND develop AI-complementary skills
Don’t abandon your passion for law, medicine, or tech. But pair it with skills AI can’t replicate — critical thinking, emotional intelligence, physical problem-solving, creativity, and ethical judgment.
Contribute to the planet — humanity needs you
Climate change, ageing populations, mental health crises, community building — these challenges need human hearts and hands. AI can help, but it can’t replace human compassion and local knowledge.
Live in harmony with nature — AI frees us for more meaningful work
If AI handles the routine, maybe that’s not a curse — it’s an opportunity. An opportunity to do work that matters, to spend time with people we love, and to live more intentionally.
You’re choosing a first step, not a forever career
The average person will change careers 5-7 times. Your university course is a starting point, not a life sentence. Stay curious, keep learning, and don’t let fear paralyse you into inaction.
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. Whatever course you choose — choose it with awareness, not anxiety. The future belongs to the adaptable.
Frequently Asked Questions
AI is already displacing jobs globally — 157,000 US tech workers were laid off in 2025 alone. In Singapore, 53.5% of workers fear AI replacing their jobs (Reeracoen 2025 survey). While AI won’t eliminate all jobs, it will fundamentally transform roles in law, finance, programming, and content creation. The key is to develop skills that complement AI rather than compete with it.
No course should be completely avoided, but students should be aware that purely technical roles (basic coding, data entry, routine legal analysis, simple financial modelling) are most vulnerable. The key is to pair any course with AI-complementary skills like critical thinking, creativity, human empathy, and physical problem-solving.
Yes, but with a shift in focus. Polytechnic data shows NYP Information Technology COP rose from 16 to 26 (fewer top students choosing it), while Applied AI & Analytics at SP remained highly competitive at COP 8. The field is evolving — students who combine CS with domain expertise (healthcare, climate, robotics) will thrive.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang said at Davos 2026 that tradecraft workers — plumbers, electricians, construction workers — will command six-figure salaries building AI data centres. He called it “the largest infrastructure buildout in human history” and said you don’t need a PhD in computer science to make a great living.
Approximately 157,000 US tech workers were laid off in 2025. Major cuts included Intel (21,400 jobs under new CEO Lip-Bu Tan, plus 15,000 in 2024), Amazon (30,000+ since Oct 2025), Meta (4,200 in 2025), and dozens of smaller firms. Fresh graduate hiring in tech dropped by over 50%.
These remain strong career paths but are not immune to AI disruption. Junior legal research, routine diagnostics, and basic financial analysis are increasingly automated. The key advantage of these fields is their human element — court advocacy, patient care, client relationships. Students should enter these fields prepared to work alongside AI, not compete against it.
Plan Your Next Step
Whatever path you choose, make it an informed one. These tools can help.
A-Level Calculator
Calculate your UAS/rank points and see which university courses match your results.
University IGP Guide 2026/2027
Compare indicative grade profiles across NUS, NTU, SMU, SUTD, SIT, and SUSS.
Polytechnic COP Guide 2025
Full cut-off points for all 5 polytechnics — see which courses are getting more or less competitive.
JC Subject Combination Guide
Choosing JC subjects? Understand which combinations keep the most doors open.