As 2026 takes shape, learning AI is no longer a distant goal for Singapore professionals. It is becoming part of how people work, make decisions, and stay competitive in a changing economy.
In Budget 2026, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong outlined a clear direction. AI will shape productivity, transform industries, and influence how jobs evolve. The focus is no longer on isolated experimentation but on applying AI in practical ways across everyday work.
This shift is already visible. Across workshops, career events, and community spaces, people are showing up differently. They are not just curious about AI. They want to know how it fits into their job and their next move.
At Vertical Institute, Q1 2026 reflected that change. Our events moved beyond introductions into application. Learners explored real use cases, businesses looked at adoption more seriously, and conversations centred on outcomes.
Here is how learning AI in Singapore took shape in the first quarter of 2026.
Quick Takeaways
- In collaboration with the Lifelong Learning Institute, the Learning Neighbourhood and workshops showed strong demand for hands-on AI learning across community and professional settings
- Alumni spotlights and media features highlighted real career and business outcomes from applying AI skills
- NLB x VI workshops focused on practical AI use cases, from content creation to LinkedIn branding and workflow automation
- Career Fest, SME Smart Skills Day, and industry panels showed how AI impacts employability, business adoption, and decision-making
- IAL webinar, Lovable coding workshop, and media coverage reinforced a clear shift towards applying AI across industries and roles
Table of contents
- Quick Takeaways
- From Q4’s 2025 Momentum to Q1’s 2026 Progress
- Learning Neighbourhood @ NECDC (16 to 18 January)
- Alumni Spotlight: From Course to Career (28 January)
- NLB x VI AI Workshop Series (February – March)
- NTUC x e2i x MBS AI Career Fest (13 to 14 February)
- SME Smart Skills Day (4 March)
- Lovable AI x VI Vibe Coding Workshop for International Women’s Day (8 March)
- IAL x VI Webinar: AI Agents to Help Create Your Course Materials (27 March)
- Media Highlights: Learning AI in Action Across Singapore
- What’s Coming Next for Q2 2026?
- FAQs about Learning AI
- Continue Your AI Learning Journey
From Q4’s 2025 Momentum to Q1’s 2026 Progress
In our previous recap, we focused on accessibility. We brought learning into malls, workplaces, and community spaces to help more people get started.
Q1 2026 shows how that momentum is evolving. The questions have changed. Instead of asking what AI is, people are asking how to use it in their work and how quickly they can apply it.
This reflects a national push. In the Singapore Budget 2026 speech, the emphasis was clear. AI must move beyond pilots and into real use across roles, teams, and industries.
That shift is visible across our events. Learners are moving from testing tools to applying them in tasks. Professionals are focused on improving how they work. Businesses are paying closer attention to adoption.
What began as exploration is becoming practice. Q1 was not about introducing AI. It was about helping people use it with intent.
Learning Neighbourhood @ NECDC (16 to 18 January)
Q1 began on the ground at Our Tampines Hub with the Learning Neighbourhood, in collaboration with Lifelong Learning Institute.
The focus was practical. To let people try AI and see results fast.
At our booth, visitors explored:
- AI doll creation using prompts
- LinkedIn headshot generation
- AI tools for job search and interview prep
- Career advice from VI course consultants
These short interactions made a difference. People saw what AI could do within minutes. Many arrived curious and left with direction. This is where learning AI often starts. Not with theory, but with hands-on use that shows immediate value.
Alumni Spotlight: From Course to Career (28 January)
This session shifted the focus from exploration to outcomes. Hidayah, our Data Analytics and Data Science alumnus, shared her move from operations into data roles across healthcare and finance.
Her story gave learners a clear view of what applying skills looks like.
She covered:
- How she transitioned into a data analyst role
- Practical tips based on real work experience
- What hiring teams look for in candidates
Ray, a career consultant from Lifelong Learning Institute, also added guidance on SkillsFuture and career planning.
Together, the session answered a key question. If you are learning AI or AI-integrated data skills, how do you turn that into your next role?
NLB x VI AI Workshop Series (February – March)
Across February and March, workshops with the National Library Board, led by our various Digital Marketing instructors, showed one clear trend. People want to apply AI, not just learn it.
NLB x VI AI Workshop #1 — AI-powered Content Engine for Busy Marketers (10 February)
Led by Flame Rozario, this session was fully booked in less than an hour.
Participants learned how to:
- Turn ideas into visuals and videos quickly
- Use prompt frameworks for consistent outputs
- Speed up content workflows from ideation to publishing
Many created their first AI-generated assets during the session.
NLB x VI AI Workshop #2 — CustomGPT for Work: Creating Your Startup’s Personal AI Brain (26 February)
Conducted by Aman Singh, this session focused on building AI systems for work.
Within the one-hour workshop, attendees explored how to:
- Train a CustomGPT with business context
- Automate content and workflow tasks
- Apply AI to real business scenarios
More than 20 founders and marketers built their own AI workflows live.
NLB x VI AI Workshop #3 — From Invisible to In-Demand: Using AI to Grow Your LinkedIn Presence (10 March)
In the last NLB x VI AI Workshop series, Martin Li focused on visibility and positioning.
The session covered:
- How recruiters search for candidates
- Structuring profiles to reflect real value
- Using AI to create consistent content
25 professionals attended and began reshaping how they brand themselves online.
NTUC x e2i x MBS AI Career Fest (13 to 14 February)
At Marina Bay Sands, the focus shifted to careers and employability.
Our Generative AI instructors led sessions that connected AI to job outcomes:
- Marianna covered “What is Prompt Engineering & How To Future-proof Your Career”
- Adrian covered “Clarity Before Visibility: How AI Helps You Articulate Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn”
Attendees explored how AI supports:
- Career clarity and positioning
- Communicating skills effectively
- Staying competitive in a changing job market
The message was clear. Learning AI is no longer just about productivity. It directly affects how you get hired and grow in your career.
SME Smart Skills Day (4 March)
This session focused on one question. How do businesses move from testing AI to using it in daily operations?
The event brought together industry practitioners and decision-makers to share real use cases.
Key highlights included:
- A panel featuring Boon Peng Yeo, our Generative AI alumnus and Director at Synpulse, Parry Chua from Bryd by Slack, and Ronald Lee, our Generative AI instructor
- Discussion on how AI supports business workflows, from communication tools to client solutions
- Ronald Lee’s workshop on building your first agentic AI workflow
- Breakout discussions where attendees explored applying AI in their own roles
The room stayed active throughout. Businesses are no longer exploring AI casually. They are focused on applying it and seeing results.
Lovable AI x VI Vibe Coding Workshop for International Women’s Day (8 March)
Held on International Women’s Day, this session focused on building with AI, not just learning it.
In collaboration with Lovable’s SheBuilds initiative, participants spent the session creating real products using AI tools.
The workshop centred on the following:
- Turning ideas into working applications
- Learning how to build with AI from scratch
- Hands-on creation with guidance and support
- A space focused on women stepping into tech and building confidence
Participants did not just listen. They built. This event reinforced a simple idea. Learning AI becomes meaningful when you create something with it
Related Article: Women and AI: How One Singapore Business Owner Made AI Work for Her
IAL x VI Webinar: AI Agents to Help Create Your Course Materials (27 March)
This session showed how fast interest in AI is growing across sectors. Led by Generative AI instructor Peter Finn, in collaboration with the Institute for Adult Learning (IAL), the webinar focused on using AI agents to support course creation.
The turnout reflected strong demand, with 460 participants attending the webinar. Audience included directors, managers, and educators across different industries.
Participants explored:
- How AI agents support lesson planning and content creation
- Building simple workflows for repeated tasks
- Applying AI in training and education roles
What stood out was this: People are moving beyond basic tools. They want structured ways to apply AI in their work so they can simplify and automate their workflows.
Media Highlights: Learning AI in Action Across Singapore
Vertical Institute appeared across key media platforms this quarter, including Channel NewsAsia, MoneyFM 89.3, CNA938, GovMedia, Capital 958, and The Straits Times. Each feature showed how learning AI in Singapore translates into real career and business outcomes.
Notable highlights include the following:
- Lim Yi Ping, our Generative AI alumnus, secured a 33% salary increase by applying AI skills in work and interviews (CNA Insider)
- Martin Li, our Digital Marketing instructor, explained the “human prop” risk, how to use AI at work, and why professionals must build judgement beyond tools (MoneyFM)
- Dr Peter Finn and Koh Chee Kiong shared how seniors can build confidence and practical AI skills to use technology safely (CNA938)
- Serena Chan, our Generative AI alumna, shared how she applied AI tools in her business after completing the course (The Straits Times)
These stories point to a clear shift. Learning AI in Singapore now centres on application, proof of value, and real-world impact.
What’s Coming Next for Q2 2026?
The next quarter continues the momentum from our Q1 events, with more opportunities to apply learning AI in Singapore through hands-on sessions and community workshops.
Here’s where you’ll find us next:
- 23 April: Alumni Spotlight — Lim Yi Ping, sharing how he applied AI to build his business and career outcomes
- 21 May: LLSG PMET AI Workshop @ Sengkang Community Club — Agentic AI workshop focused on real workplace use cases
- 28 to 31 May: LLSG Learning Neighbourhood @ West Mall, Bukit Batok — bringing practical AI learning into the community
More sessions are already in the pipeline, including workshops, alumni sharings, and applied AI training across different sectors. If you want early access to more upcoming events and practical insights, keep an eye on our updates and subscribe to our newsletter.
FAQs about Learning AI
How do I start learning AI in Singapore?
Start with a real task from your work. Use AI to solve it. This approach helps you understand how AI fits into your daily responsibilities. Many learners begin by improving simple workflows like writing, research, or data analysis. As you build confidence, you can move into more complex use cases.
If you want structured guidance, Vertical Institute’s Generative AI course provides hands-on training with real scenarios so you can apply what you learn immediately.
Do I need a technical background to learn AI?
No. Most learners come from non-technical roles such as marketing, operations, HR, and finance. What matters is your ability to think clearly, ask better questions, and apply AI outputs in context. These are skills you build through practice, not coding.
Is learning AI still relevant with so many tools available?
Yes. Tools change quickly, but the way you use them stays consistent. Skills like prompting, evaluating outputs, and making decisions with AI are transferable across platforms. Employers are not looking for tool familiarity alone. They want people who can apply AI to real work.
How can professionals avoid being replaced by AI?
Focus on work that requires judgement, context, and decision-making. AI can generate outputs, but it depends on you to guide it, question it, and apply it correctly. Professionals who combine AI with domain knowledge stay relevant. A simple way to start is to use AI in your current role and improve how you work, rather than treating it as a separate skill.
How long does it take to learn AI?
You can start seeing results within days if you apply AI to your daily tasks. For structured learning, Vertical Institute’s Generative AI course runs over 21.5 hours across 7 sessions. The focus is on practical, hands-on application, so you work on real use cases instead of theory. This helps you build skills you can use immediately at work.
What AI courses does Vertical Institute offer?
Vertical Institute offers several AI-focused programmes depending on your goals. These include the Generative AI course, Generative AI Workflow Automation, and Data Science and AI. Each programme focuses on applying AI in real business contexts at different levels.
All our other courses, such as Data Analytics, UI/UX Design, Digital Marketing, and SEO Marketing are also AI-integrated. This means you learn how AI supports tasks within each field, keeping the curriculum aligned with current industry practices.
Continue Your AI Learning Journey
The Q1 events made one thing clear. Progress comes from applying AI, not just understanding it.
Across NLB sessions, SME workshops, and industry panels, those who moved fastest were testing ideas and applying AI in real work. So the next step is simple. Start with one task this week and improve it using AI.
If you want structure, explore Vertical Institute’s courses. As an approved training provider by SSG and IBF, the programmes reflect current industry needs. Every course is AI-integrated, so you apply what you learn across real business scenarios.
To keep up with new events, use cases, and practical insights, subscribe to our newsletter. The next wave is already happening. What matters is how quickly you act.
