# How SNTUC’s Siow Shong Seng is setting the tone for an AI-ready workforce in Singapore with Microsoft 365 Copilot > Source: > Published: 2026-07-31 16:18:59+00:00 SINGAPORE – Siow Shong Seng is elbows-deep exploring the latest features of Microsoft Copilot 365, having set up Copilot Cowork to automate several tasks for him. The chief transformation and technology officer at Singapore National Trades Union Congress (SNTUC) gets daily updates on tech trends, the labor movement’s appearances on social media, and the economy and jobs. “I set up these agents to run by themselves. It saves me from typing out the same prompt every day,” he said. He has also built an agent in Copilot, to test how AI can help industrial relations officers (IROs) find information on labor laws, guidelines, procedures and review employment contracts to support NTUC members. IROs manage relationships between employers and workers, representing groups of workers to handle employment and workplace disputes. “These officers handle a lot of administrative work. For example, if there’s a work dispute between the workers they represent and their employers. So I created an industrial relations officer agent that pulls information from set sources like SNTUC, the Ministry of Manpower, and other government agencies,” he said. “This agent is a template, to give my team ideas on building a production version.” SNTUC represents over 1.4 million workers in Singapore’s unique tripartite system where unions, employers and government collaborate to develop labor policies, balancing worker protection with economic competitiveness. This makes Siow an unofficial example-setter for workers navigating new ground in the AI-forward island state. “SNTUC is supporting workers and we’re trying to drive AI adoption to make our workers more prepared for the AI world,” said Siow. “So, we have to make sure we are using that (AI) ourselves.” That AI usage includes Microsoft 365 Copilot, which was first tested by 50 staff members in January 2025 and rolled out a year later to SNTUC’s 1,300 employees. Siow, who’s primarily responsible for driving digital transformation and strategy within the SNTUC, was part of the initial group of Copilot users. He observes that the AI assistant has rapidly evolved and improved since then. Today, he lauds Copilot’s ability to create and integrate work across apps like Outlook and PowerPoint, instead of him having to copy and paste answers from prompts like before. The AI assistant helps him research an issue and set a framework for his team to flesh out, be it via a Word document or PowerPoint slide. He also uses it to prepare for his many meetings – to summarize the agenda and gather intelligence for a constructive discussion. Meanwhile, his team uses Copilot to help translate technical solutions for a layperson audience or ideate visuals for presentations. “It’s not perfect but it can do a very nice first cut. That’s what people need to understand, it will not be 100%,” he said. “You still need a human to review and validate the model’s output.” Providing AI tools to his colleagues is just a first step for Siow. As chief transformation officer, he needs to make sure staff use the technology. “My biggest fear was that the tool will not be utilized,” he said. “So, together with Microsoft and my internal team, we spent a lot of time making sure we have constant enablement and constant connection with the staff. It’s all about engagement.” This includes sending weekly emails to everyone on tips and tricks for getting the most out of Copilot, such as interesting prompts and features. So far, the feedback is positive, with colleagues welcoming best practice ideas and adapting them for their own needs. About 93% of staff are using Copilot, while about 74% are using it on a weekly basis. The next step, says Siow, is to get them experimenting with agents. “We hope people use Copilot more, not just in a basic way but to also start looking at how to embed it in their workflow using agents,” he said. “That’s how they can help themselves, help the organization and ultimately help our members and the companies we are working with.” Does Siow have any advice for those still unsure where to begin with AI? He suggests starting with its business value, not the technology. “Focus on where you want to reduce friction, improve responsiveness, or strengthen decision-making, and apply Copilot and agents there first,” he said. “If you can use the AI tool to reorganize and streamline your business model or processes, that’s probably where you get the biggest value.” *Top image: Siow Shong Seng, chief transformation and technology officer, Singapore National Trades Union Congress (SNTUC)*. *Photo: Singapore National Trades Union Congress (SNTUC). Image background generated with Microsoft Copilot.* *Lim Ai Leen reports on AI for Microsoft Source, focusing on how it’s improving lives in Asia. Ai Leen was formerly associate foreign editor at The Straits Times in Singapore and still pens an occasional weekend column. Contact her on LinkedIn.*