Thought Leadership

Some of the world’s leaders, and leading thinkers from NUS and overseas, regularly gather and add to the rich diversity of thoughts and ideas on our campuses, in Singapore and across the globe.
Here’s what they had to share.

Chatbots could be first responder for mental health issues, but with limits

Chatbots could be first responder for mental health issues, but with limits

Speaker: Asst Prof Nur Hani Zainal 28 Oct 2025

Mental health chatbots are a useful tool, but Singapore needs clear standards to ensure safe and effective use, with a hybrid approach that includes humans who can step in when needed. Assistant Professor Nur Hani Zainal, Presidential Young Professor in Clinical Psychology at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS and Director of the Optimising Wellness Lab, weighs in on how such first responder bots can miss distress signals, and hence need to operate within clear lines and hand over to humans when a person's needs exceed the bot's limited scope.

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We can’t wait for an AI crisis before taking action

We can’t wait for an AI crisis before taking action

Speaker: Speaker: Professor Simon Chesterman | 6 July 2026

SpaceX’s investors are giving up control to buy into Musk’s vision

SpaceX’s investors are giving up control to buy into Musk’s vision

Speaker: Speaker: Prof Johan Sulaeman | 3 July 2026

Can Jurong Lake District become Singapore’s second central business district?

Can Jurong Lake District become Singapore’s second central business district?

Speaker: Speakers: Professor Sing Tien Foo | 3 July 2026

Small states are the best bet for keeping world at peace

Small states are the best bet for keeping world at peace

Speaker: Speakers: Professor Danny Quah | 1 July 2026

The old model is broken. Telcos need to reinvent themselves

The old model is broken. Telcos need to reinvent themselves

Speaker: Speaker: Asst Prof Tiffany Tsai | 24 June 2026

The triangular geopolitics of critical minerals

The triangular geopolitics of critical minerals

Speaker: Speakers: Associate Professor Gu Qingyang | 23 June 2026

The Singaporean workers who feel AI has nothing to do with them

The Singaporean workers who feel AI has nothing to do with them

Speaker: Speakers: Prof Irene Y.H. Ng, Mr Tan Zhi Han, Ms V Deepa and Mr Aaron Lim | 15 June 2026

AI companions are coming. Privacy rules are not ready

AI companions are coming. Privacy rules are not ready

Speaker: Speaker: Prof Simon Chesterman | 9 June 2026

We need to close the gap between Singapore's mental health goals and reality

We need to close the gap between Singapore's mental health goals and reality

Speaker: Speaker: Asst Prof Rayner Tan | 8 June 2026

Are we in an affordability crisis?

Are we in an affordability crisis?

Speaker: Speakers: Mr Liang Zixuan and Mr Mukund Kishore | 4 June 2026