Singapore’s AI Vision: Balancing Innovation and Trust
In a significant gathering at the 2025 ATxSummit, the Minister for Communications and Information in Singapore emphasized the nation’s commitment to responsibly harnessing digital technology. This commitment is vital as Singapore continues to navigate the complexities of artificial intelligence (AI) integration in various sectors.
Progress Since NAIS 2.0
Reflecting on advancements since the launch of the National AI Strategy (NAIS 2.0) in December 2023, the Minister noted a pivotal transition from concerns over GPU access to fostering meaningful AI adoption across both industry and government. This shift is characterized by a move from supply-side enablement to a focus on demand-side capability building, a central pillar for achieving long-term digital resilience.
Industry Investments and Initiatives
Industries in Singapore are increasingly investing in AI transformation teams, retraining employees, and integrating innovative technologies into their operations. Encouraged by significant productivity and efficiency gains, numerous companies have established AI Centres of Excellence, a move that is further supported by government initiatives.
Singapore’s strategy is uniquely positioned to blend private ambition with public support, enabling real-world deployment of AI technologies. This balance is critical in ensuring inclusive growth and promoting responsible innovation.
Key Initiatives: SEA-LION and MERaLiON
Among the notable initiatives is SEA-LION (Southeast Asian Languages in One Network), an open-source language model developed in collaboration with regional partners. This innovative project aims to enable culturally aware AI across over 1,200 dialects. Additionally, the launch of A*STAR’s MERaLiON (Multimodal Empathetic Reasoning and Learning in One Network) 2.0 at the Summit expands these efforts to encompass multiple regional languages and various inputs such as speech and tone, making AI solutions accessible to approximately 450 million people.
The newly formed MERaLiON Consortium will include both public and private entities, including prominent organizations such as DBS, Grab, and ST Engineering, highlighting the importance of collaboration in driving experimentation and shared learning across different domains.
Public Sector Adoption of AI
In the public sector, AI tools have become integral to operations, with 50,000 civil servants utilizing a secure in-house version of ChatGPT and creating over 16,000 custom bots. These initiatives are complemented by hackathons and training platforms that foster a problem-solving mindset and enhance AI literacy across various government agencies.
Significant investments have been made, including the identification of 300 AI use-cases by the Home Team, supported by over SG$ 400 million in allocated funds, which includes SG$ 100 million dedicated to Embodied AI for high-risk operations like search and rescue.
AI Governance and Compliance
Singapore’s commitment to AI governance remains a consistent theme in discussions. The Minister reiterated that good governance is essential for fostering innovation. The country’s frameworks, such as AI Verify and the Model AI Governance Framework, are continually updated to address emerging risks, including data leakage and misinformation. These frameworks offer clarity and assurance to businesses, promoting wider adoption of AI technologies.
The updated AI Verify framework has been aligned with the US NIST framework, facilitating compliance for businesses operating in both jurisdictions. Furthermore, legislative safeguards, such as laws against AI-generated deepfakes in elections, highlight Singapore’s pragmatic approach to mitigating AI risks. Investments in research through the Digital Trust Centre and other safety hubs further bolster the nation’s AI safety science.
Global Contributions and Collaborative Efforts
On a global scale, Singapore actively contributes by sharing best practices at international forums such as Digital FOSS and ASEAN. The recent hosting of the Singapore Conference on AI culminated in the Singapore Consensus on Global AI Safety Research Priorities, which will significantly shape future discussions at the Ministerial Roundtable on Digital Trust and foster collaborations with countries like France.
Call for International Collaboration
In conclusion, while Singapore has made notable advancements in AI, the Minister stressed the importance of international collaboration in addressing the challenges posed by AI technology. She urged the global community to unite in combating malicious actors and preventing the misuse of AI, advocating for a collective effort “like never before.”
