NDR 2026: Singapore won’t leave workers to fend for themselves when embracing new tech - Singapore will introduce autonomous vehicles gradually, helping affected taxi and private-hire drivers retrain for new jobs to manage technological disruptions. - The Government embraces new technology like AI to boost small businesses and healthcare, while ensuring safety and support for workers during transitions. - Prime Minister Lawrence Wong highlights risks of AI misuse, urging global cooperation on safeguards, with Singapore committed to building coalitions for practical technology rules. AI generated SINGAPORE – Even as Singapore scales up its use of autonomous vehicles to meet the country’s growing transportation needs, the Republic will help taxi and private-hire drivers affected by the self-driving shift to retrain and move into new jobs, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. “That is how we manage the impact of technological change on jobs,” said PM Wong on Aug 23 at the National Day Rally. “Through every major technological shift, we have embraced change on our own terms, built new capabilities and emerged stronger. We have done it before. And we will do it again,” he said at the event held at the Institute of Technical Education’s Ang Mo Kio headquarters. He was outlining Singapore’s approach to new technologies – seizing the opportunities they present and managing the disruptions that they bring. And should there be risks to Singaporeans and society, the Government will put safeguards in place. Singapore will not hold back on new technologies just because they are disruptive, he said. At the same time, the country will not leave affected workers to fend for themselves. “We support our workers through the transition. We will ensure that every worker shares in the fruits of Singapore’s progress,” he added. One new technology that Singapore has embraced is self-driving vehicles. Driverless shuttle trials