AI's Impact on Work Explored at Singapore Ideas Festival and Ragan Conference

At the Ideas Festival 2026 held at Singapore Management University, a panel of researchers from SMU, the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University examined how artificial intelligence is reshaping work. They highlighted that while AI boosts efficiency, it can erode the social and emotional dimensions of jobs, noting effects on animators and visual‑effects artists and stressing the need to rethink the purpose of work in an AI‑driven future.

Separately, Fred Tan, global head of social impact at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, addressed the Ragan Employee Experience Conference, arguing that successful AI transformation requires a clear, urgent pain point for employees. He emphasized that communicators are well‑placed to uncover these pains and that cultural and emotional factors, not just technology, must be addressed for AI adoption to succeed.