Why AI giants are choosing Singapore to turn models into real-world tools
When Jordan Seow joined OpenAI in June 2025, he became the company’s first locally hired forward-deployed engineer in Asia-Pacific, joining a Singapore office that then had fewer than 20 employees. The 29-year-old is now part of a fast-growing workforce built in Singapore by the world’s leading artificial intelligence companies. Experts say the city state is emerging as a regional hub – not for…
OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta Platforms’ Superintelligence Labs, and Alphabet’s Google DeepMind are among the leading artificial intelligence companies setting up a presence in Singapore. This trend highlights that Singapore is quickly becoming a regional hub for deploying and adapting AI models for practical use, rather than simply training them.
As more global AI firms expand their operations in the city state, they are creating new opportunities for local talent, as evidenced by Jordan Seow’s role as a forward-deployed engineer at OpenAI. Singapore’s appeal lies in its stable, well-connected base, access to Southeast Asian markets, and a talent pool skilled in deployment engineering.
While some AI deployment research takes place locally, the "thickest layer" of the industry remains focused on turning models into production-ready tools for banks, hospitals, and ministries. Companies like OpenAI and Google Cloud are investing heavily in Singapore’s AI infrastructure, with OpenAI committing over S$300 million (US$235 million) and Google Cloud partnering with regional giants like Grab and DBS.
These moves underscore the city state’s ambition to become the world’s most AI-powered economy and its efforts to balance innovation with responsible AI deployment.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
