How Singapore is refreshing its National AI Strategy
A look at the NAIS 2.0 refresh, and the data centre plans you've heard before.
As Singapore inks agreements with Google, OpenAI, Nvidia, and others, it also wants more data centres. How is it updating its National AI Strategy?
At ATxSummit today, major AI firms unveiled significant announcements, and Singapore set out how its own AI strategy is evolving.
The headline deals
OpenAI today committed S$300 million to boost AI skills and deliver tools and solutions for businesses in Singapore. No timeframe was given for the financial commitment.
A key part of the agreement is the setting up of an "OpenAI Singapore Applied AI Lab" here. This lab will establish a team of engineers and specialists to solve real-world business problems using AI.
Separately, Google says it is expanding its partnership with Singapore. Among others, this will see it training government researchers to use agentic AI tools for science, and working with the MOE to train educators.
NAIS 2.0 'refresh'
But those are just some of the big-name announcements. Behind the scenes, how is Singapore adapting its AI approach to the latest AI developments?
Speaking at ATxSummit, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo spoke of how AI developments have accelerated over the last three years.
This necessitates an update of Singapore's strategies and priorities, which she frames as an evolution built on lessons learned from implementing NAIS 2.0. "We hope your time [here] will give you a clearer sense of what it means to build with Singapore. I invite you to join us to make a greater positive impact."
In short: come build with Singapore.
Three new priorities
So how exactly is Singapore re-calibrating? From a media briefing sheet I received, the refreshed priorities will support Singapore's AI efforts in three key aspects: deepening sectoral and public sector transformation, mainstreaming AI adoption while strengthening workforce readiness, and building an AI hub.
The third caught my attention. It highlighted several things: securing more compute and improving its efficiency, deepening AI integration, and convening and supporting global efforts for AI.
Unfortunately, while data centres were mentioned as part of securing more compute, there aren't any new plans beyond existing initiatives to build more data centres in Singapore. The annex listed them: IMDA's DC-CFA2, EDB's Strategic Digital Infrastructure Scheme, and NSCC's upcoming new supercomputer. I've talked about all of the above in various posts in the past.
Anyway, I will share my thoughts on the rapidly evolving AI field and its repercussions in another post. For now, I would love to hear your thoughts. Is Singapore doing enough?
