Augmenting Intelligence: Shaping the Future of Work in South-East Asia

Artificial intelligence (AI) is disrupting not only the jobs traditionally classified as manual and routine, but also—and more profoundly—the specialized cognitive roles once seen as safe from automation. This threatens the traditional ladder of social mobility in both advanced and emerging economies. As AI reshapes both high-skilled and low-skilled jobs, the question becomes: how can societies strengthen the middle of the labor market?

This paper proposes a new strategy: an augmented-intelligence approach to job creation. Instead of simply automating tasks, this approach uses AI to enrich essential, practical work such as logistics, maintenance, care, and customer service. These roles are not disappearing, but they remain low skilled and offer limited pathways for progression. By embedding intelligence into these jobs—and enhancing the opportunity for human judgment, adaptability and decision-making—we can elevate their value and rebuild a strong, inclusive middle.

Written as a collaboration between the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and Singapore’s Institute for Adult Learning, this paper applies the augmented-intelligence lens to three Southeast Asian economies, each with their own unique challenges:

• Singapore is an innovation leader but must confront the socioeconomic risks of automating high-skilled tasks and offshoring.
• Viet Nam has strong ambitions for AI adoption, but its success depends on inclusive strategies and better coordination across sectors.
• The Philippines has laid out a comprehensive digital roadmap but needs targeted policies and infrastructure improvements to bridge existing digital divides.

Contents

• AI Is Disrupting Labor Markets—and Mobility
• How Three Southeast Asian Countries Could Apply an Augmented Intelligence Approach
• A New Approach to People Strategy for the Age of AI
• Achieving Shared Prosperity in Southeast Asia