OpenAI is investing more than $300 million into Singapore's artificial intelligence ecosystem, marking a major partnership with the government to make the city-state a global hub for applied AI.
As part of the deal, OpenAI will establish its first Applied AI Lab outside the United States in Singapore, and grow its local technical teams to over 200 roles. The lab will focus on forward-deployed engineers who bridge cutting-edge research with real-world deployment in finance, healthcare, public services, and digital infrastructure.
The partnership also includes collaboration with Singapore's education sector to build AI talent through the OpenAI Academy and Codex for Teachers hackathons. OpenAI will work with IMDA and AI Singapore under the AIxTech program to train tech professionals, and launch a program for mid-career software engineers.
Singapore is among the top-three markets globally for per-capita ChatGPT adoption, and among the top five for OpenAI's Codex. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has urged citizens to embrace AI, announcing that those taking AI training courses will receive six months of free access to premium AI tools.