Singapore deepens AI ties with Google to drive public, industry deployment

The deal focuses on scaling AI use in services, research, and workforce training.

Singapore has expanded its artificial intelligence (AI) collaboration with Google under a new National AI Partnership with the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, focusing on large-scale deployment of AI across public services and industry.

The memorandum of understanding builds on a 2022 agreement between both parties on AI innovation in Singapore.

Under the partnership, Google DeepMind will work with public agencies and researchers on AI applications in healthcare and life sciences.

This includes collaborations with public healthcare clusters on AI co-clinician research and work with the National Research Foundation to train researchers in AI tools for scientific use.

Google and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) will also collaborate on AI-enabled tools to support research in materials science and life sciences.

Separately, Google DeepMind is developing a Gemma-powered running assistant for blind and low-vision athletes, in collaboration with SG Enable to test the tool.

The partnership also includes education and workforce development initiatives. Google said it has enabled AI features within Google Workspace for Education for teachers from primary to pre-university levels.

The Ministry of Education and Google will also expand collaboration on educator training and AI-related upskilling programmes.

Google said it will continue its Majulah AI programmes, including Skills Ignition SG with the Infocomm Media Development Authority, alongside accelerator programmes for startups and AI training initiatives.

According to the statement, Google Cloud will also expand its team of forward-deployed engineers in Singapore to support enterprise AI deployment.

On governance, Google, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, the Government Technology Agency of Singapore and the Infocomm Media Development Authority have published a joint whitepaper under the AI Agents Sandbox initiative, focusing on testing, and governance of AI agents.

Singapore’s expansion of applied AI partnerships includes other recent commitments such as OpenAI’s $300m investment to build its first overseas applied AI lab in the country.

It also follows industry-led initiatives such as the partnership between Standard Chartered and A*STAR for Banking Innovation Lab, which focuses on accelerating applied research in areas including fraud detection, analytics and enterprise productivity tools.