DBS Foundation Brings GenAI Literacy to Seniors

As society becomes increasingly digital, how do we ensure that no one is left behind?

In partnership with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), DBS Foundation’s new initiatives set the stage for a more digitally inclusive society – one where seniors, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) are empowered and can confidently navigate the digital world, including the fast-evolving space of Generative AI (GenAI).

Expanding Financial and Digital Literacy Efforts

DBS Foundation’s strategic collaboration with the national Digital for Life (DfL) movement started in 2022. Over the two-year partnership, 150,000 beneficiaries benefited from 680 digital literacy workshops, comprising e-payment learning journeys and other community outreach events, such as “POSB Your Neighbourhood Getai”, which engaged seniors and taught them about scams through an innovative edutainment format. Through these initiatives, DBS Foundation has helped Singaporeans in gaining and deepening their digital literacy skills, such as how to use digital banking and payments and how to spot and avoid scams.

DBS Foundation had also contributed SGD 1 million, inclusive of the government’s dollar-for-dollar matching, to the Digital for Life fund. This went towards supporting digital inclusion projects by TOUCH Community Services, Guide Dogs SG and Metta School.

With a renewed commitment to the Digital for Life movement, DBS Foundation has recently extended its partnership by three years and contributed another SGD 3 million, inclusive of the government’s dollar to dollar matching, to the Digital for Life fund. With Singapore on the cusp of becoming super-aged, DBS Foundation’s funding will support projects that address ageing-related digital inclusion needs.

Empowering Seniors in the Age of AI

All smiles as a DBS volunteer helps a beneficiary with his mobile phone during a workshop.

For seniors, who make up nearly 20% of Singapore’s population, keeping up with modern tools and platforms can be daunting. According to the SG Digital Society Report 2023, only 45% of seniors are open to exploring modern technologies, compared to 65% of younger adults.

In addition, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore’s (CSA) 2024 Cybersecurity Public Awareness Survey revealed that about one in four respondents have encountered deepfake scams. With the rising prevalence of deepfakes in the digital space and their potential for misuse in scams, it is important to learn how best to stay safe in the digital space.

To help bridge this gap, DBS Foundation, in collaboration with IMDA, launched a new series of workshops, designed to introduce seniors to GenAI in a safe, accessible, and hands-on manner. The initiative kicked off at the Lions Befrienders’ Active Ageing Centre in Ang Mo Kio, where seniors engaged with a DBS-designed game to learn about GenAI and how to spot misinformation or deepfake scams online.

These sessions are designed with the needs of seniors in mind. Such sessions will be delivered in vernacular languages at convenient community locations, and supported by SG Digital Office’s Digital Ambassadors and DBS’ employee volunteers. Seniors will get to learn practical skills like generating a recipe using GenAI, planning a trip itinerary for a holiday, and identifying suspicious online content, helping them see that AI can be a useful tool in their daily lives.

Scaling Impact Through Public-Private Collaboration

IMDA’s expanded partnership with DBS Foundation represents a whole-of-society effort to uplift communities through digital empowerment.

Under this initiative, DBS Foundation, IMDA and CSA are co-developing a first-of-its kind beginners’ guide to GenAI for seniors. This guide will support seniors in learning about how GenAI can be used to improve their daily lives, as well as the potential dangers that come with GenAI and how to use GenAI safely.

A glimpse of “Gen AI Explorer”, a mini game that helps seniors to learn about the benefits and risks of GenAI in a fun and engaging manner.

Along with new learning materials, DBS Foundation plans to roll out 1,000 digital and GenAI literacy workshops island-wide over three years, with the aim of reaching over 250,000 beneficiaries. Apart from covering topics such as digital payments and scams, these sessions will also teach its participants about GenAI.

Such an impact is made possible through cross-sector collaboration between the public and private sector, where each organisation brings its unique strength and knowledge to better galvanise action in the community. IMDA and DBS work together to curate expert knowledge on digital safety and GenAI, while SG Digital Office’s Digital Ambassadors and DBS’ volunteers and community networks come together to run on-ground programmes and sessions.

Enthusiastic and excited learners try their hand at answering the trainer's questions during the workshop.

Karen Ngui, Head of DBS Foundation and DBS Group Strategic Marketing and Communications, shared, “At the DBS Foundation, we envision a future where everyone – regardless of age or circumstance – can live long and age well with dignity, purpose and joy. This requires a deliberate, collective, whole-of-society effort. We’re deeply heartened to have the support of many like-minded ecosystem partners like the IMDA, CSA, Lions Befrienders and our very own DBS employee volunteers. Together, we are well placed to make a difference and create meaningful, sustainable impact at scale.”

A Multi-Pronged Approach to Digital Inclusion

Peer and community support will also be key. A new peer-learning initiative introduced under this partnership encourages senior learners to better take ownership of their learning and encourages the sharing of knowledge with their peers.

The programme is also designed to support vulnerable seniors as DBS Foundation and IMDA work closely with community partners to reach out to isolated seniors and enable them to be a part of their communities.

Community organisations like Lions Befrienders, a long-time partner of DBS Foundation, come into play by connecting seniors who are eager to learn with such workshops and initiatives. For beneficiaries of Lions Befrienders, this support is making a real difference. From joining hands with DBS Foundation to launch Singapore’s first and largest virtual befriending initiative during the Covid-19 pandemic to now exploring the potential of digital tools and GenAI, these initiatives are helping their seniors to stay connected, informed and empowered to live independently in an increasingly digital world.

Karen Wee, Executive Director at Lions Befrienders, summed it up: “Age should never be a barrier to learning… Together, we are bridging the digital divide and ensuring that no senior is left behind in the age of AI.”