Changi's newest terminal, T4, already uses facial recognition technology to offer self-service options at check-in, bag drop, immigration and boarding.
The technology means there are fewer queues and fewer visible airport or security staff.
Luggage is dropped at unmanned booths that take your photo and match it against your passport. You are snapped again at an automated security gate at immigration - a picture that is used to verify your identity at the boarding gate.
Changi is exploring how facial recognition can be implemented in its three older terminals for automated bag drop and immigration.
The airport sees T4 as a test bed for its fifth terminal, which will be up and running in about a decade.
"Today you take passport, you show your face and you show your boarding pass," said Lee, adding it may, however, be possible to use biometrics instead.
"Then actually in future, you just take your face. You don't need your passport," he said.
Other technology trials underway at the airport use sensors to measure when an aircraft pushes back from the gate and when it takes off, data that has improved decision-making and shaved about 90 seconds off of aircraft taxiing time per flight during peak hours, said Lee.
Another programme uses artificial intelligence that gathers wind, weather and landing direction to learn to better predict flight arrival times.
With such technology, the airport is now able to estimate a flight's landing time when it's two hours away having previously only been able to make an accurate estimate 30 minutes to an hour ahead.
Lee said this helps create efficiencies in everything from gate planning to arrival queues.
He said a smart nation strategy begins at a country's airport. "You can't say you are a smart nation when you come to the airport and it's not so smart."
