The smallest gears can drive the most complex machines—just look at how Singapore is leading the way on the global stage in artificial intelligence (AI) implementation. The small south-east Asian country has already committed S$1bn ($767mn) over the next five years to AI development as part of its National AI Strategy 2.0. In the private sector, tech giants are matching this ambition with large investments of their own—companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have all announced large-scale programmes dedicated to accelerating AI adoption in Singapore.

The latest Global AI Index by British news outlet Tortoise Media, one of the most comprehensive indices with over 100 indicators, ranked Singapore third in the world in terms of AI investment, innovation and implementation, behind only the United States and China. 

This is no coincidence. Digital innovation is a key driver of Singapore’s economy and is critical to creating new jobs and business opportunities. Given the strategic importance of AI, the country is looking to build its AI capabilities and credibility by increasing investments and expanding its network of international collaborations.

Investing in the future

Singapore’s S$1bn ($767mn) commitment to AI spending will enable the country to increase its competitiveness in the AI space. The funds will be used to secure advanced chips crucial to AI development and deployment, support leading companies in setting up AI centres of excellence and fund training and upskilling programmes to triple AI talent in Singapore by 2029. 

Besides financial backing, successful AI adoption requires collaboration. As such, Singapore is stepping up partnerships with major tech firms to boost AI adoption in businesses and equip workers with the necessary skills. 

“Bringing together the public and private sector is crucial—the private sector has specific expertise and the government’s role is to complement it by establishing good infrastructure,” says Cindy Ngiam, director for startup ecosystem and community at Enterprise Singapore, a government agency supporting the growth of Singapore enterprises. “In collaboration with the private sector, we want to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) develop AI skillsets.” 

One example is Enterprise Singapore’s partnership with Microsoft. The partnership allows local SMEs to use the tech giant’s AI tool Copilot, which can summarise data and create content, at subsidised rates. Announced in May 2024, the initiative is set to benefit more than 1,000 SMEs.

Local companies are also working directly with tech giants on AI implementation. In May 2024, OpenAI announced its collaboration with local ride-hailing firm Grab to incorporate generative AI technology into its app. The partnership is OpenAI’s first in south-east Asia and could see Grab building customer support chatbots which can understand and resolve user problems, and enhancing mapmaking automation and accuracy. 

“Partnerships with both public and private sectors are critical to ensuring AI's safe development and broad benefit distribution,” says Sandy Kunvatanagarn, head of policy for APAC at OpenAI. “Our collaboration with Grab, the leading superapp in south-east Asia, shows how companies in Singapore are building on OpenAI’s technology to deploy advanced AI solutions.”

Kunvatanagarn is speaking at Tech Week Singapore in October, an annual conference that gathers industry leaders, speakers and exhibitors to discuss and showcase the latest developments in tech.

In addition to implementing AI technology, many international corporations are investing in Singapore’s talent base, aiming to strengthen their regional headquarters and expand their presence in Asia.

In April 2024, American graphics processing unit manufacturer Nvidia partnered with the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) to launch the new SIT Centre for AI. The centre will help develop students’ competency in AI, by giving them opportunities to work on developing real-world AI applications. This will in turn strengthen the pipeline of AI talent coming out of SIT.

A hub for thought leadership

Singapore’s commitment to collaboration has created an environment conducive to developing state-of-the-art technology while also addressing the technical, societal and ethical challenges of AI implementation.

Events like Tech Week Singapore provide the global AI community with valuable knowledge sharing opportunities. Running from October 9 to 10, the 2024 edition features the Big Data and AI World Asia conference, focusing on enhancing data quality and developing scalable data solutions. Google Cloud is hosting workshops on the latest AI trends, while visitors can explore "Country Pavilions” showcasing innovations from local companies. 

“[These] panel discussions and workshops shed light on cutting-edge AI research and best practices, ensuring that attendees gain valuable insights and stay ahead of industry trends,” says Andy Kiwanuka, managing director of CloserStill Media (Asia Pacific), organiser of Tech Week Singapore.

The Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (Switch) is another annual event on the tech calendar. Organised by Enterprise Singapore and MP Singapore, this year’s edition runs from October 28 to 30 and features panel discussions, cutting-edge technology exhibitions and a startup competition.

“Switch serves as a global platform to gather corporates, industry leaders and government representatives to talk about emerging developments for AI. This includes its applications across industries such as healthcare and climate technologies,” says Ngiam, also director for the Switch Programme Office. “Some of these conversations may be exploratory now, but we need to start somewhere, and provide new pathways for companies to start implementing these new solutions.”

Beyond hosting a robust pipeline of global AI and tech events, Singapore is proactively establishing a transparent and secure environment for responsible innovation. On May 30, 2024, Singapore’s deputy prime minister, Heng Swee Keat, launched the country’s Model AI governance framework for generative AI at the Asia Tech x Singapore conference.

Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority and AI Verify Foundation formulated the new guidelines in consultation with over 70 organisations, including tech giants like Microsoft and Google. Regionally, Singapore also led the development of the Asean Guide on AI Governance and Ethics.

“Beyond fostering AI ethics and ensuring data privacy, these regulations create a stable environment for AI innovation and position Singapore as a thought leader in the global AI community,” says Kiwanuka. “This encourages continued investment in the technology and helps attract top global talent who gravitate towards environments that prioritise ethical standards and data privacy.”

He adds: “Singapore’s stability and geographical location make it an ideal hub for global businesses and AI innovation. Combined with a strong reputation for hosting high-quality, well-organised events, it is no surprise that Singapore is a hotspot for some of the world’s most prestigious tech events.”