In this episode of the Innovation and Governance podcast, Reuben Ng discusses AI, risk, resilience and the human side of innovation.
Professor Reuben Ng is an Associate Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, and Lead Scientist at the Lloyd’s Register Foundation Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk. Before entering academia, Professor Ng spent 16 years in government and consulting. Among other roles, he worked at Singapore’s Prime Minister’s Office, where he helped advance evidence-based policymaking through data analytics and Singapore’s Smart Nation strategies. He has won several prestigious awards, and is a sought-after speaker and author.
The conversation ranges from AI-driven job insecurity to digital governance, surveillance, ethics and empathy. Throughout the episode, one question runs through the discussion: how can societies embrace technological change without losing sight of the people who carry its risks?
Ng challenges simplistic narratives about AI replacing jobs, warning that “AI washing” can become a convenient excuse for deeper economic and institutional shifts. He also explains why innovation must be co-created with citizens, why governments need to balance opportunity with safety, and why the future of AI should keep humans firmly in the loop.
This is a timely discussion on how to build smarter societies without becoming less human.
The Innovation and Governance podcast is hosted by Peeter Vihma, a researcher at the Ragnar Nurkse Department of Innovation and Governance. The podcast is also available on Spotify.
