Finding the human edge in the age of AI

Text: Sadia Roohi and Christine Teh

With artificial intelligence (AI) becoming increasingly adept at learning, what should humans focus on learning instead? This was the question at the heart of discussions among 250 alumni attendees at NTU Alumni Learning Day held in mid-March.

At the opening plenary of the event, Professor Boh Wai Fong, NTU’s Vice President (Lifelong Learning & Alumni Engagement), remarked that technology will continue to advance, and that humans must keep pace.

(From left) Prof Boh Wai Fong moderated the opening plenary featuring alumni panellists Mr Desmond Tan, Carolyn Choo and Steven Lim.

Prof Boh said: “The real risk is not what technology cannot do, but what it can do well enough to replace us. This makes it essential to stay informed, adaptable, and prepared. Rather than viewing them as superior, we should see them as tools while guarding against over-reliance that could erode our critical thinking. The key question each of us should ask is: how can I add value in ways that technology cannot?”

The event’s guest-of-honour, Mr Desmond Tan, Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office and Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress, concurred that in today’s workplaces, the challenge is not just understanding AI outputs, but also explaining them.

“AI can generate text, but it cannot build trust. A worker might use AI to analyse risk or forecast demand. But it still takes a human to say it,” said Mr Tan in his keynote speech.

It was a full house at the second NTU Alumni Learning Day 2026.

Two alumni entrepreneur speakers at the plenary session shared use cases of AI in their business operations.

AI is complementing the skill sets of employees in the hospitality industry, according to Carolyn Choo, CEO and Managing Director of Worldwide Hotels Group. “Human connection is still very important. It’s about ensuring that mundane tasks are done more effectively so that our people have more time to build meaningful connections and deliver the best guest experiences.”

AI can be categorised into three levels of security, said Steven Lim, a tech entrepreneur and founder of RSTN Consulting Group. “At the low end, systems operate within clearly defined boundaries. At the medium level, AI may be granted broader organisational access and permissions, making human oversight essential. A ‘human-in-the-loop’ approach is critical to ensure transparency and control, including the ability to monitor what autonomous agents are doing. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure AI augments human decision-making and not replaces it.”

Across the day, alumni attended talks across three tracks: Career Agility, Holistic Growth, and Power Skills. These included sessions on how China’s innovation ecosystem is reshaping global competition, the lifecycle environmental impact of electric and hybrid vehicles, and how AI is transforming enterprise cybersecurity.

Alumni also reflected on the role of rest and recovery in sustaining performance over time – a reminder that growth is not only about doing more, but also about knowing when to step back.

Eight professional certification courses were unveiled at the event. Offered under NTU’s SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme (SCTP) portfolio, these three to six months programmes are designed to support mid-career professionals looking to reskill or transition into new roles. Find out on NTU PACE website.

Learning as a continuum

NTU alumni attendees agreed that learning is no longer confined to a single phase of life, but continues alongside evolving careers. Hear what they have to say:

“One key takeaway for me was the importance of agility, that is, being willing to learn, unlearn and relearn as the world changes. Understanding how AI is reshaping industries also encourages me to think critically about how to use it responsibly and creatively.” Lim Jia Qian, an alumna from NTU’s School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, is now a Senior Tactical Supply Planner at Micron Technology. She obtained a master’s degree from NTU’s School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering last year.

“From the talks, I learned that in a world of constant change, our greatest strength lies in our willingness to keep learning, evolving and preparing for what comes next. In today’s fast-changing world, staying relevant means staying curious, adaptable, and open to growth.” Raj Kaushik Ananthakrishnan, an alumnus of Nanyang Business School, currently serves as Director at FRP Services Asia Pte Ltd. He also took a moment at the event to update his corporate profile photo.

Missed the event? Catch the highlights in our Facebook photo album.