Singapore has been ranked second globally and first in Asia Pacific for overall AI readiness, according to the newly released Global AI Readiness Index by Salesforce. The results highlight Singapore’s consistent progress in aligning public and private efforts to build a strong AI foundation, including regulatory frameworks, talent development, and digital infrastructure.
The study showcases how Singapore’s strategic investments and national initiatives continue to shape a supportive environment for advanced technologies like agentic AI—AI systems capable of making decisions and taking action independently. Singapore’s performance reflects the growing importance of digital labour as a driver of productivity and growth.
Strong governance and AI adoption underpin Singapore’s success
The Global AI Readiness Index assessed 16 major markets using 31 indicators across five key areas: governance, diffusion, innovation, investment, and talent. Singapore stood out in several categories, ranking first for AI governance and adoption, second for investment readiness, and third for talent development.
The country scored highest globally in regulatory readiness, with a score of 9.8 compared to the global average of 8.6. This is attributed to frameworks such as the Model AI Governance Framework and National AI Strategy 2.0, which enable responsible experimentation through regulatory sandboxes, assurance systems, and clear public procurement guidelines.
Singapore also led globally in AI diffusion, with a score of 8.0 against a global average of 5.8. Initiatives like the Smart Nation programme and AI procurement guidelines have been key in accelerating AI integration across areas such as transport, city planning, and government services.
Room for growth in innovation despite strong foundations
Despite topping most categories, Singapore scored 0.7 in innovation ecosystem capacity, falling below the global average of 1.7. The report notes that while Singapore has built an enabling environment, its AI innovation remains concentrated and has yet to fully explore emerging areas such as agentic or goal-directed AI.
Singapore ranked second in investment environments with a score of 2.3, ahead of the global average of 1.4 but still behind the United States, which scored 8.8. To close this gap, Singapore is relying on targeted initiatives such as sovereign fund injections, strategic grants, and national missions under AI Strategy 2.0.
In human capital, Singapore placed third globally with a score of 5.8, outperforming the average score of 4.5. Its strong showing is linked to national upskilling strategies and policies designed to build a robust AI talent pipeline. However, it trails Germany (6.2) and the United States (6.0) in this category.
Agentic AI seen as next growth frontier
According to Salesforce, agentic AI could increase productivity by up to 30% by enabling autonomous decision-making and action across operations. The company’s Agentforce platform aims to help organisations in Singapore deploy these AI agents to achieve round-the-clock results without manual input.
With Singapore facing a tight labour market due to slower workforce growth and demographic challenges, agentic AI offers a significant opportunity to tap into the growing US$6 trillion digital labour market. This shift could enhance long-term national productivity and support sustainable economic development.
Brian Kealey, Country Leader for Salesforce Singapore, said, “The Index highlights Singapore’s success as a global leader in AI readiness, stemming from early investments in infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and human capital. Salesforce is proud to be an integral part of this thriving ecosystem, supporting secure, real-time innovation. Our recent US$1 billion investment in Singapore is strategically directed towards furthering AI research, talent development, and building trusted infrastructure to facilitate continued AI excellence. In the next phase of Singapore’s AI journey, we must continue to double down on AI, focusing on scalable, inclusive deployment models to turn the agentic AI opportunity into reality.”
