Yah Lah But #870: Vivian Balakrishnan Tells UN It’s Too Late On AI & Why Does Primary 1 Involve Property Agents?
Sep 28, 2026
Singapore’s foreign minister argues that pausing AI is no longer realistic, while calling for international safety rules and stronger cooperation. The discussion also tackles the Primary 1 admissions race, where property agents, school proximity and alumni links expose the widening divide between families with different levels of money, time and connections.
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AI Moved From Side Issue To UN Priority
- Vivian Balakrishnan’s UN speech gave AI far more attention than the previous year, reflecting how quickly it has become a central international issue.
- Singapore framed three priorities: obey international law, reform institutions, and create rules for new frontiers such as AI.
Singapore Uses Strategic Ambiguity In Diplomacy
- Singapore’s diplomatic position criticises harmful outcomes without publicly assigning blame, preserving room to work with opposing sides.
- Balakrishnan used the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to argue that disruption harms everyone, regardless of which side they support.
Diplomacy Works Through Repeated Relationships
- Diplomatic meetings can look symbolic or ineffective, yet repeated personal contact builds trust that enables future cooperation.
- The hosts compared diplomacy to dating: relationships develop across many encounters rather than through one decisive pitch.