OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, will establish an applied artificial intelligence laboratory in Singapore for SG$300 million as part of its partnership with the government, the company announced in a press release Tuesday.
The laboratory, which is OpenAI's first outside of the U.S., will create over 200 new technical jobs.
"Through the partnership, the Lab will support work aligned with Singapore's AI Mission priorities, particularly in areas such as public service, finance, healthcare and digital infrastructure," OpenAI said.
The Singaporean government is partnering with international AI companies to help its citizens adapt with the evolving AI landscape. In 2023, the government launched the National AI Strategy, which has been upgraded in May this year to add ten refreshed priorities.
"Two and a half years on, much has changed. The AI story is no longer just about technology. It has expanded considerably to include our economies and societies, with serious implications for security and governance," Singapore's Minister for Digital Development and Information, Josephine Teo, said in her foreword in the NAIS updated guideline.
OpenAI's rivals, such as Google, also partnered with the Singaporean government for the development of AI systems.
Google did not give specific plans on how it would boost the AI landscape in Singapore, but it said in a Tuesday news release that it will develop AI technologies that would assist the public healthcare sphere through DeepMind, and equip Google Cloud's AI-enabled tools to support scientific research and analysis.
The U.S.-based tech giant also said it will develop a running agent for blind and low vision athletes in partnership with SG Enable, Singapore's main agency for disability.
Google will also assist in improving AI capabilities of the educational sector and the business industry.
Singapore's initiative is giving American AI firms the chance to set up business without the risk of bumping into stringent regulations. It is also becoming a hub for Chinese tech startups that look to operate outside the mainland.
Brad Gastwirth, Circular Technology's global head of research, said Singapore is becoming a "neutral hub for AI companies from both the U.S. and China," according to an April 24 report on Reuters.
