Twelve Notable AI Companies Based in Singapore to Watch Out For
In a strategic move to position itself as a global leader in technology innovation, Singapore has been making significant strides in the development of artificial intelligence (AI). The city-state's ambition is clear: to become a hub for AI research, development, and implementation.
One of the key initiatives driving this growth is the AI Cloud Takeoff Program, a collaboration between Singapore and Google Cloud. This program aims to help 300 local companies establish AI Centres of Excellence (CoEs), centralising AI expertise, aligning AI strategy with business goals, and facilitating consistent deployment across departments. The program prioritises organisational transformation, workforce training, and practical AI integration, treating AI as more than just a simple plug-and-play tool[1][4].
The Singaporean government is also investing heavily in AI education and skills upgrading. Over SGD 20 million is allocated to expand AI practitioner training, including scholarships and apprenticeships. Multiple education institutions such as the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Temasek Polytechnic offer over 180 AI-related courses. The government-backed AI Apprenticeship Programme provides hands-on training on real-world AI projects, ensuring workforce readiness[3].
Industry-government collaboration is another cornerstone of Singapore's AI strategy. The AI CTO program by Google Cloud and Digital Industry Singapore (DISG) offers companies access to Google’s AI models (like Gemini via Vertex AI) and expert consulting, subsidising 70% of consultancy and cloud costs. Partners include Accenture, Deloitte, and Kyndryl, underpinning Singapore’s broader AI strategy to foster innovation and competitiveness among businesses of all sizes[4].
Singapore's AI job market is robust, with ample opportunities in established companies and startups within key economic sectors. Key sectors include finance, healthcare, urban planning, and smart city solutions. Companies actively recruit AI talent in roles such as machine learning engineers, data scientists, AI researchers, and robotics specialists. Competitive salaries range typically from SGD 80,000 to SGD 120,000 annually for experienced professionals, with senior roles paying higher[2].
Notable AI employers in Singapore likely to be hiring include Google Cloud, Accenture and Deloitte (consulting and AI implementation partners), local and regional AI startups linked to the AI Singapore ecosystem, financial institutions leveraging AI for fraud detection, risk assessment, and personalised banking, and technology firms focused on smart city and urban solutions.
In addition to these companies, other top AI companies in Singapore building solutions for industries such as retail and finance include NVIDIA, ViSenze, OpenAI, Acronis, Airwallex, and Alethea AI. NVIDIA, known for its Blackwell chips used in data centers to power and train AI models, recently announced an AI supercomputer with a small form factor for at-home AI researchers. ViSenze's product discovery platform helps shoppers find the right item through visual searches and smart recommendations, while Alethea AI's product, CharacterGPT, can generate characters capable of interacting with humans and other AI using natural language descriptions.
Acronis, a data protection company, uses AI for cybersecurity services, serving businesses, service providers, and home office users. Airwallex, a fintech company, uses AI throughout its portfolio of payment and financial management solutions. OpenAI, renowned for its ChatGPT platform, is aiming to develop artificial general intelligence in Singapore.
In conclusion, Singapore is accelerating its AI capabilities via government-backed initiatives focused on enterprise transformation and talent development, supported by strong public-private partnerships. The AI job market is robust, with ample opportunities in established companies and startups within key economic sectors[1][2][3][4]. Klaviyo, a global AI-powered customer relationship platform, and Workato, an AI-powered process automation platform, are among the other companies contributing to Singapore's AI ecosystem.
References: [1] AI Singapore. (n.d.). AI Cloud Takeoff Program. Retrieved from https://aisingapore.org/programmes/ai-cloud-takeoff-program/ [2] Robert Walters. (2021, September 21). AI Jobs in Singapore: Top AI Companies Hiring in 2021. Retrieved from https://www.robertwalters.com/sg/en/insights/articles/ai-jobs-singapore-top-ai-companies-hiring-2021 [3] Smart Nation. (n.d.). AI Apprenticeship Programme. Retrieved from https://www.smartnation.sg/initiatives/ai-apprenticeship-programme [4] Google Cloud. (n.d.). AI CTO Program. Retrieved from https://cloud.google.com/partners/programs/ai-cto-program
Technology innovation is at the heart of Singapore's strategic move to become a global leader, as demonstrated by the AI Cloud Takeoff Program, a collaborative effort between Singapore and Google Cloud aimed at establishing AI Centers of Excellence for 300 local companies. The program prioritizes organizational transformation, workforce training, and practical AI integration.
In addition, the Singaporean government invests heavily in AI education and skills upgrading, allocating over SGD 20 million to expand AI practitioner training and establishing programs like the AI Apprenticeship Programme for hands-on training. This focus on training and education underscores the importance of technology in the city-state's vision.
