SINGAPORE: There has been no shortage of headlines, LinkedIn posts, and workplace presentations warning that artificial intelligence is coming for everyone’s jobs. From tech workers and administrators to customer service staff, employees are constantly being told that AI will soon be capable of doing what humans do, only faster and cheaper.

However, one Singaporean employee is not buying into the hype.

Posting on the r/asksg forum on Wednesday (Jun 3), the worker said they are becoming increasingly frustrated with the endless claims that AI is on the verge of replacing large numbers of employees. In their view, the reality inside many workplaces looks very different from the glossy promises being made by executives and consultants.

“Maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but I’m getting tired of hearing ‘AI will replace jobs’ every other week,” they wrote. “AI is nowhere near as good as bosses think it is.”

They then shared, “My company has been pushing AI quite heavily. Every meeting somehow comes back to AI. All departments are expected to use AI. We’re all expected to ‘embrace AI.’”

The problem, however, is that the technology itself does not appear nearly as revolutionary as management makes it out to be.

The employee said the AI tools being rolled out across the company still make far too many mistakes to be trusted on their own.

“Half the time we’re still manually checking its work,” they said, adding that there are occasions when the system produces completely wrong answers.

“It misses obvious details and creates more work because we have to fix its mistakes. And whenever we point this out, management’s response is basically: ‘It’s still improving.’Okay, but then why are employees being told they can be replaced by something that’s still being developed?”

“Maybe AI will eventually get there, I don’t know, but right now, it feels like companies are treating AI as both the future that will replace workers and a work-in-progress that still needs workers to constantly babysit it. Am I the only one seeing this contradiction?”

“Your way of thinking is totally wrong.”

In the discussion thread that followed, quite a few users said they could relate to the original poster’s frustrations.

One user argued that many managers are simply following the trend without fully understanding the technology themselves.

“That’s the problem.  A lot of bosses only ‘think’ AI is great because their fellow bosses tell them it is. I, for one, work in a company where the bosses have no idea how AI works. They are all cluelessly telling staff to use/implement AI without knowing what it really is.”

“It’s a recipe for disaster that has already happened twice before in two previous dot.com booms, but now even worse due to the haemorrhage of real human talent thanks to AI so competently taking over our jobs.”

Another user said, “Those who are retrenching workers already know that; they’re merely using it as a legitimate excuse to get rid of the people they’ve always wanted to get rid of. Ground staff think management are fools, but they’re just shrewd.”

However, others in the thread pushed back on that view.

One told him, “Your way of thinking is totally wrong. AI doesn’t replace ‘a person.’ It can replace maybe 10-50% of the work a person does, depending on what job you’re talking about. So this means one employee can now do things faster or increase output/productivity by 30%, maybe.”

Another remarked, “AI definitely improves efficiency and output of skilled workers. Companies might be able to cut a few jobs due to the increased output of a few workers.”

A third added, “No contradiction. AI will replace fresh graduates because it’s still better than having to deal with some hormonal 20-year-old. It will still need experienced hires to shepherd it along until it improves enough to do better than the experienced. Over time, it will do better than the 5-year employee than the 10-year one.”

In other news, a man has shared online that his sister and brother-in-law have been keeping their distance from his parents after they allegedly demanded an “extravagant Guo Da Li package”, complete with large angbaos, during the couple’s wedding preparations.

In a post published on the r/askSingapore subreddit on Monday (May 11), the man explained that his family used to get along very well with his sister’s husband before wedding planning began.

Read more: Man says his parents demanded ‘extravagant Guo Da Li’ from brother-in-law, now he refuses to let them see his sister: ‘You sold your daughter off’

This article (‘It just creates more work’: Singaporean employee says AI is ‘nowhere near as good as bosses think it is’) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean worker has shared that he quit his job despite having no backup plan, saying he simply “refused to suffer anymore” after months of misery at work.

In a post shared on a local forum on Wednesday (May 20), the man said he had been feeling “very unhappy, even sad” for the past few months, as he constantly stayed up late finishing work until his “health and relationships” started to fall apart.

According to him, he pushed through the exhaustion because he believed the sacrifices would eventually lead to a promotion. 

However, instead of rewarding his efforts, the management allegedly “constantly berated” him.

“The new boss who came in has no reprieve, but the team seems ok with the new rhythm. I absolutely know this is the DUMBEST decision I can make, but I choose myself, and I cannot see myself suffering another 6 months if I need to consider rotation.”

Although he acknowledged that resigning without another role secured was risky, the worker said he had managed to build up around two years’ worth of savings from bonuses over the years, giving him some financial breathing room for now.

Still, he stressed that he could not afford to remain unemployed indefinitely due to his financial responsibilities.

“[My] financial commitments are: housing loan about S$1.2K/month with CPF, to also pay parents’ allowance & insurance costs + special occasion meals, which I have buffered—but I cannot stop working in case of any mishaps because they’re old. DINK. 7 YOE.”

He ended the post by asking others who had taken similar risks in their careers for advice, writing, “Anyone with any advice who has gone against the grain and still made it through, and possibly what sectors/roles may be suitable, will be helpful. My skill sets are rather generic. This includes writing, managing stakeholders, and delivering projects, and realising I am maybe not so good at managing bosses.”

“I hope you find something better.” 

His post quickly resonated with many Reddit users, particularly workers who said they had also struggled with burnout, toxic management, and deteriorating mental health.

One commenter wrote, “Hey, hi-5! Same here. I’ll tell you what, I think this was 100% the right decision. Mental health comes 1st.”

Another said, “Second this! This is the right decision and not dumb at all. The job market and economy might be bad, but nothing can compare to your well-being and mental health in the long run.”

A third shared, “I resigned without a job lined up a few years ago, also on health grounds. You don’t need validation from anyone regarding this decision. You made an assessment and pulled the trigger for your own good.”

Several other Reddit users also chimed in with words of comfort, encouragement, and practical advice as the post author prepares for the next chapter of his life.

One individual told him, “Well, I hope you find something better. Leaving an old place paves new opportunities for you. Don’t listen to any negativity; you made the right decision. Finding a job is two ways, right? Not just you, desperately looking for a job. Likewise, there’s a company/team looking for you, too. You just have to grind a little in this job market and find smart, not just brute force.”

Another advised, “Spend some time with parents and spouse while you’re job hunting. Money matters, but don’t forget to use this break to build memories too.”

In other news, a domestic helper recently took to social media to share her heartbreak after deciding to leave the family she had worked for over the past four years because her employers allegedly refused to increase her S$650 salary despite repeated promises.

In an anonymous post in the SINGAPORE TRANSFER (No Fees/SD), DIRECT HIRE & NEW HELPER Facebook group, the helper said she had become deeply attached to the family after caring for their three children and managing nearly every aspect of the household since joining them.

Read more: Maid leaves after employers refused to raise her S$650 salary: ‘Leaving them is painful, but I have to think about my child’s future’

This article (SG worker walks away without another job, says toxic work culture pushed him to the brink) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean worker is questioning what protections locals really have after he and most of the Singaporeans in his team were recently laid off.

In a post on the r/asksg forum on Wednesday (May 20), the employee said he had been working at a big tech company since graduating about five years ago and was assigned to one of the backend teams, which, according to him, was made up of “half local, half foreigner from you know what country.”

Like many people his age, he said he genuinely believed he was set for life. After all, he had followed what society told him to do, which was to study hard, do things well, keep his head down, and deliver results.

However, after being blindsided by the layoff news, he admitted he no longer knows what to believe.

“I don’t know what to feel anymore,” he said. “What bothers me most is looking around my team and realising that almost every Singaporean on my side got cut.”

“Some of us were fresh grads who spent years building our careers here. One colleague literally just started a family and recently committed to a BTO. Another was supporting ageing parents. We are just normal Singaporeans trying to build stable lives here.”

Feeling somewhat betrayed by the system, he asked: “What exactly is the Singaporean worker being protected for? They promised us that we would be protected; that’s how they get votes. But is that what is really happening?”

“And before anyone says ‘just upskill’, many of us already did everything right. Good schools, good internships, long hours. I don’t know what the answer is anymore, but I know a lot more locals are feeling this quietly than people realise.”

“It’s not something new, especially in the current market”

In the comments, one Singaporean Redditor said situations like this are exactly why more locals have become “cynical” about the supposed path to success.

“Locals are told to study hard, upskill, serve NS, buy BTO, support parents, and trust the system. Then, when layoffs come, they suddenly discover the company’s loyalty is to cost, headcount politics, and global manpower flexibility. No need to blame individual foreigners. The real anger should be at the policy and corporate structure that lets companies take Singapore’s benefits while treating Singaporeans as optional.”

Another stated, “The writing was on the wall for the past few years. Many tech jobs here will likely be gone in a decade.”

A third Redditor shared a similar view, saying, “Sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately, AI is coming for lots of jobs that were previously immune to layoffs, especially in tech and other white-collar functions such as finance, legal, analytics, etc.” 

They added, “As to why an employer would selectively terminate Singaporeans and spare the others baffles me, especially a big tech company that is very careful in ensuring it does not violate any laws, DEI, or other parameters. If you see a pattern, then it may be worth notifying the authorities.”

Not everyone in the discussion, however, sympathised with the original poster’s frustration.

Some commenters urged him not to dwell too much on the retrenchment.

One said, “Everyone gets laid off at least once in their life, everyone. Only those super lucky people never face it. This is a fact of life. You can do everything right and still get laid off. I would advise you to get your head on straight and stop feeling sorry for yourself. You will go down dark roads that will be very difficult to recover from.”

Another wrote, “Getting laid off the first time, you would feel angry and resentful. But do note that it’s not something new, especially in the current market. I came across a person who got laid off three times in a row. These are uncontrollable circumstances, so don’t harp on it. Move on to something new and hopefully better.”

In other news, a Singaporean woman shared on social media that she ended up creating a detailed 3D sunlight simulation of her future home after her family and friends became unusually concerned about how much sunlight the unit would receive throughout the day.

Posting on Reddit’s AskSingapore forum on Friday (May 15), the woman said that after she and her partner secured a unit, people around them began asking highly specific questions about its lighting conditions, such as how many hours of sunlight the flat would get, which rooms would receive the strongest natural light, what time the sun would hit certain areas of the home, and even which exact direction the unit was facing.

Read more: ‘How much sun will the flat get?’ — Singaporean goes as far as creating a 3D simulation after repeated questioning about future home

This article (Singapore worker says layoffs left him questioning the promise of stability for locals) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.