Singapore firms increasingly rely on AI agents, employees shift to managing bots

Singapore companies are scaling up the use of agentic artificial intelligence, turning digital assistants into routine collaborators that can analyze papers, crunch data and perform tasks in minutes. Employees are now tasked with “AI agent manager” duties, directing these bots and reviewing their results to ensure accuracy. At EY, senior assurance manager Ong Zhi Chuan reports that an AI-driven analysis that once took two hours now finishes in three minutes, yet EY’s assurance head Lee Wei Hock warns that regulators still demand human oversight because AI hallucinations are intolerable.

Human professionals must retain judgement and accountability, according to Lee. HR executive Audrey Chan says firms are reshaping job descriptions and upskilling staff rather than cutting positions, with AI proficiency becoming essential across functions. A SAP survey of 200 Singapore firms shows 92% are testing or using agentic AI, with AI currently handling about 27% of tasks and expected to rise to 47% within two years. SAP’s managing director Eileen Chua calls the shift a move toward “AI bilingualism,” where workers combine domain expertise with AI fluency.