5 Questions with Leslie Teo, economist-turned-techie

GIC’s former chief economist Leslie Teo caused a stir in 2019 when, after 12 years at the sovereign wealth fund, he quit to lead data science at tech company Grab. At Grab, he used data to answer the most pressing questions – can congestion patterns be analysed to increase the efficiency of rides? Can roads be made safer for delivery riders? Today, Teo continues to be part of seismic tech shifts. He is a senior director for AI products at AI Singapore, an organisation set up to build the nation’s capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI). In the latest edition of 5 Questions, Teo shares what it is like to make a career transition at 50, and what people are not asking about ChatGPT, but should be.

Q: Briefly share with us your educational and early career journey.

Teo: I grew up in Malaysia and studied there until Form 5, when I received an Asean scholarship to complete my A-Levels at Temasek Junior College in Singapore. This was a game-changing moment for me.