As the digital landscape evolves, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a critical driver of business innovation and competitiveness. Singapore aims to lead globally in AI, presenting unparalleled opportunities for businesses to engage with and benefit from its AI ecosystem.
Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0.
Accelerating AI Adoption in Singapore
Singapore hosts over 4,000 regional headquarters of multinational corporations, many of which have invested significantly in manufacturing, R&D, and innovation. Supported by NAIS 2.0, many of these companies are advancing rapidly in AI adoption.
DBS Bank, one of Asia’s largest banks based in Singapore, estimates AI contributed an economic impact of US$370 million in 2023 alone. This success stems from DBS’s sophisticated use of AI, having developed over 350 use cases to date.
Notable examples include the CSO Assistant, which uses advanced language models and speech recognition to cut call handling times by up to 20 per cent, and DBS-GPT, a secure content generation tool for employees. These innovations demonstrate DBS’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge solutions to drive operational excellence and lead digital transformation in the AI era.
Innovation is very much a part of the bank’s DNA and core to our continual transformation. Our early start in industrialising the use of AI a decade ago has put us in a strong position to tap Gen AI to enhance the value we can deliver to our employees and customers.
Nimish Panchmatia, Chief Data and Transformation Officer, DBS Bank
Similarly, Changi Airport Group (CAG) is enhancing its security screening processes with AI. Initial trials of the Automated Prohibited Items Detection System (Apids) have shown promising results, improving both operational efficiency and passenger experience. Meanwhile, Grab, Singapore’s homegrown ride-hailing unicorn, is advancing AI integration through a pioneering collaboration with OpenAI, focusing on accessibility, customer support, and mapping.
These and other company-led initiatives suggest a broader trend in Singapore’s tech landscape, where AI adoption is driving innovation and boosting efficiency across various sectors.
Singapore was among the first countries to implement a National AI Strategy in 2019. It recently expanded this with a National AI Strategy 2.0 (NAIS 2.0), committing over USD 750 million over the next five years to boost its AI capabilities.
“Our vision is for Singapore to be a place where AI is used to uplift and empower our people and our businesses,” said Lawrence Wong, Singapore’s then-Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance – and now Prime Minister of Singapore – at the launch of NAIS 2.0 in 2023. “In our refreshed strategy, we will aim high, we will dream big, and we will set ambitious goals.”
To achieve its ambitious goals, Singapore is implementing initiatives like the AI Verify Foundation, a global collaboration developing AI testing for responsible AI. Supported by IBM, Microsoft, and Google, the foundation has launched Project Moonshot, one of the world’s first evaluation toolkits for Large Language Models (LLMs), helping businesses deploy AI responsibly.
Another initiative, the GenAI Sandbox, helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore gain hands-on experience with generative AI. Launched by Enterprise Singapore (ESG) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), both Singapore government agencies, the sandbox provides grant support and access to curated AI solutions, enabling SMEs to explore AI benefits without significant upfront investment.
Strategic Partnerships with Digital Giants
Recognizing that not all companies have the resources of industry leaders like DBS or CAG for AI adoption, the Singapore government is launching large-scale AI adoption programs. Uniquely, it partners with major tech and AI firms to ensure businesses of all sizes can access industry-leading technology and expertise.
A key partnership is the AI Trailblazers Initiative with Google Cloud, which gave more than 100 Singapore-based organizations free access to Google Cloud’s AI tools and expertise for 100 days. This enabled companies to quickly prototype and test generative AI solutions to meet business needs.
GSK, the global biopharma giant, used the initiative to develop an intelligent Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) assistant and an Investigation Report Maker. Deploying these applications at its Singapore manufacturing facility resulted in significant efficiency gains, saving thousands of man-days and improving data retrieval and report production. Meanwhile, Ai Palette, a Singapore-based startup, leveraged advanced AI tools to streamline market research and product development, cutting timelines by 90%.
Now in its second run, the AI Trailblazers Initiative continues to drive innovation and advance AI development in Singapore, underscoring its success.
Google isn’t the only tech giant collaborating with Singapore on large-scale AI adoption. In 2024, NVIDIA partnered with the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) to launch a joint AI Centre, providing companies with access to advanced AI tools and expertise to develop applications addressing real-world business challenges. One of the Centre’s early partners, SMRT, a major public transport operator, worked on a generative AI system to improve safety investigations and reporting.
Microsoft’s AI Pinnacle Program, launched in partnership with the Singapore government, offers SMEs free access to Microsoft Copilot and other advanced AI tools for up to 100 days, enabling rapid prototyping and deployment of AI solutions. Similar initiatives, such as AWS’s AI Spring Singapore and IBM’s AIA Research and Innovation Centre at the National University of Singapore, are also on the rise.
Together, these efforts accelerate Singapore’s ambition to become a truly AI-driven economy.
The Singapore Advantage
As a small country with no natural resources, Singapore relies on its talent for a competitive edge in the global economy. This extends to AI—under NAIS 2.0, Singapore aims to triple the number of AI practitioners to 15,000 over the next 3 to 5 years, building a world-class talent pool for tech companies and end-users.
The TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) plays a crucial part in this focus by offering specialized training programs and career advancement opportunities. It provides on-the-job training through the Company-Led Training Programme, supports career transitions with the Career Conversion Programme, and converts non-ICT professionals into tech experts through the Tech Immersion and Placement Programme. Additionally, TeSA collaborates with educational institutions via the TIP Alliance and upskills experienced workers through the TeSA Mid-Career Advance program, ensuring a well-prepared workforce for the digital economy.
Other initiatives highlight Singapore’s global approach to talent development. The Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass), a flexible work visa for top professionals in fields like AI, is designed to attract highly skilled talent to Singapore, allowing them to work on new ventures and share their expertise with the broader ecosystem.
Singapore is the ideal location to build Writer’s APAC HQ as we’re experiencing astronomical adoption of AI within enterprises. It already has a reputation as an innovation hub with a forward-thinking approach to AI, and the government’s actively supports businesses like Writer thrive in the deep ecosystem of customers, partners and R&D institutions.
Kevin Chung, Chief Operating Officer, COO of generative AI platform, Writer
Beyond talent, Singapore is committed to aligning AI advancement with its sustainability goals. Under its Green Data Centre (DC) Roadmap, Singapore plans to add at least 300 megawatts of additional DC capacity—essential infrastructure for AI—while collaborating with DC providers to improve hardware and software efficiency and accelerate the use of green energy. In parallel, its Green Computing programs support the development of low-carbon digital applications and green software, further integrating sustainability into AI and digital technologies.
Dynamic policymaking, standards setting, large-scale AI adoption initiatives, and talent development programs make Singapore a compelling destination for businesses looking to accelerate growth with AI.
“We truly believe that Singapore can become a globally leading AI-powered economy,” says Philbert Gomez, Executive Director and Vice President and Head of Digital Industry Singapore, a government agency focused on developing tech sector. “We started early and are well on our way to helping companies fully harness the potential of AI, and we’re always on the lookout for more like-minded partners. For those interested in finding out more, we’d love for you to come to Singapore to see our AI strategy in action.”
