NTUC partners Alibaba Cloud and ST Telemedia to bring AI skills to 1,000 enterprises and workers

NTUC, through its affiliated association Tech Talent Assembly (TTAB), has partnered with Alibaba Cloud and ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) to help up to 1,000 enterprises, developers, and students in Singapore gain practical skills in generative and agentic artificial intelligence (AI).

The initiative was announced on 26 May 2026 at Alibaba Cloud’s first international Qwen Conference, held at Marina Bay Sands.

The partnership combines access to enterprise-grade AI tools with hands-on training and implementation support, helping organisations move beyond early experimentation to practical deployment.

It is designed with workers in mind, particularly those in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-career roles, who may have limited resources or confidence to adopt AI independently.

From awareness to application

Participants will receive access to a suite of AI tools developed by Alibaba Cloud.

These include Qwen and Wan – large language and video generation models used for content creation, data analysis and multimodal tasks – as well as Qoder, an agentic coding platform designed for software developers, and QoderWork, a desktop-based AI agent that can carry out complex, multi-step workflows on a user’s computer without constant manual input.

Alongside tool access, the initiative offers hands-on workshops and guided implementation support to help participants apply AI across real business functions, from operations and customer engagement to software development and knowledge work.

Participating organisations will also have access to an online AI infrastructure readiness assessment developed by STT GDC to evaluate their current capabilities and identify priority areas for adoption.

Putting workers first

The initiative sits within NTUC’s broader AI-Ready SG effort, launched in February 2026, which brings together training, career guidance and job redesign to help workers apply AI in their day-to-day roles.

NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Desmond Tan, who delivered the opening address at the conference, said the partnership reflected Singapore’s principle of AI adoption that works for workers, not ahead of them.

“This reflects a growing effort by partners to work with the Labour Movement to better support workers, including youths and PMEs, with the skills, guidance and confidence to take on opportunities in the AI economy.

“Through NTUC’s AI-Ready SG initiative, we will continue working closely with our partners to pool resources and strengthen impact on the ground, so that workers receive tailored guidance and support every step of the way,” he said.

TTAB President Maxim Tint said the focus was on making AI practical and tangible for workers rather than keeping it aspirational.

“For workers, AI should not just be a buzzword. It must translate into real opportunities at work: stronger skills, greater job resilience, and the confidence to take on new roles as technology reshapes the way we work.

“At TTAB, our focus is simple: to ensure workers, especially tech professionals, can benefit from AI in ways that strengthen employability, support career growth, and help every tech professional stay future-ready,” he said.

Rollout and reach

The programme starts in June 2026.

Of the up to 1,000 places available, up to 200 NTUC and TTAB members will be eligible to participate.

The remaining places will be progressively opened to participants under IMDA’s Digital Enterprise Blueprint-Alibaba Cloud Digital Accelerator Programme, and to ecosystem partners including SGTech, the Singapore Computer Society, Digital Defenders Alliance Singapore, and the Institutes of Higher Learning.

Alibaba Cloud Singapore and Thailand Country Managing Director Andy Lee said the initiative reflected the company’s broader purpose in the region.

“Our mission at Alibaba is not only to explore the frontiers of AI but to ensure its capabilities are harnessed for the greater good.

“This ties in with our strategy in Singapore to support the National AI Strategy in building AI for the public good, by deepening real-world deployments, growing local talent and ecosystem partners, and contributing to a safe and trusted AI environment,” he added.

Tech professionals interested in accessing the initiative can find out more about TTAB membership.