ATxSummit 2026: Singapore flexes its muscles in the AI race

Both deals were announced during the ATxSummit technology conference, which this year focused specifically on deploying artificial intelligence across sectors. Singapore has long sought a position as a neutral platform for developing, testing, and deploying AI solutions — and these agreements represent the most tangible evidence yet that it is succeeding. According to the Slack Workforce Index survey, 52% of workers in Singapore already use AI in their work today. That is one of the highest figures in the world and shows that adoption in the country is not just a government initiative — it is a real change in the labor market.

OpenAI: First overseas laboratory and hundreds of new jobs

The agreement between OpenAI and Singapore's Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) brings several concrete commitments. The most significant is the creation of the OpenAI Singapore Applied AI Lab — the very first OpenAI research laboratory outside the United States. This builds on the opening of OpenAI's Singapore office in 2024, which originally served primarily to support customers and partners in the Asia-Pacific region. The new laboratory is set to employ more than 200 people over the coming years and will focus on developing artificial intelligence applications in areas such as education, public services, finance, healthcare, and digital infrastructure. The 300 million Singapore dollars that OpenAI is injecting into the ecosystem will go not only toward the laboratory itself but also to training programs for mid-career engineers, support for AI startups, and the development of citizen-oriented applications under the "AI for All" initiative.

What will the laboratory actually develop?

Unlike the fundamental research that OpenAI conducts in its American laboratories, the Singapore branch will focus on applied research — meaning the direct deployment of models into practice. It will involve collaboration with local partners on specific projects intended to deliver measurable economic benefits. This aligns with Singapore's pragmatic approach: rather than theoretical publications, it wants to see real deployment in public administration, hospitals, and schools.

Google: Agentic AI in science and education

While the partnership with OpenAI brings a concrete financial injection, the agreement with Google is built more on know-how sharing and research collaboration. Google did not disclose any investment commitment, but the scope of involvement is exceptionally broad. The main pillars are: - Education: Google will train educators in using AI tools in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. - Science and research: Government researchers will gain access to agentic AI tools and Google will train them in using these tools for scientific purposes. - Healthcare: Under the "global AI co-clinician research" initiative, Google will explore how AI can enhance doctors' decision-making and how AI agents can assist patients. - AI agent safety: Google, together with the Singapore government, issued a joint whitepaper on the safe deployment of AI agents, building on the launch of the AI Agents Sandbox in August 2025. This partnership builds on previous collaboration from 2022 and on the opening of the Google DeepMind laboratory in Singapore in November 2025. Singapore has thus become one of the few places in the world where both major competitors in the field of language models — OpenAI and Google DeepMind — have a direct research presence.

Singapore's national AI strategy: Over a billion dollars for research

Both agreements fit into the broader national AI strategy that Singapore unveiled earlier. It envisions an investment of over 1 billion Singapore dollars (over 780 million USD) to strengthen public AI research capacities in the 2025–2030 period. Singapore had previously attracted commitments from other major players including Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft. Now, leading model developers — OpenAI and Google DeepMind — are joining them as well. The city-state is thus creating a unique concentration of AI talent and infrastructure in a very small area. Singapore has bet on an image as a neutral and talent-rich environment where technology companies can develop and test AI solutions without the geopolitical tensions that often complicate collaboration between the US and China. For tech giants that need to expand in Asia, Singapore represents an ideal springboard.

What this means for Europe and the Czech Republic

While Singapore bets on rapid adoption and direct investment in AI infrastructure, Europe is pursuing a path of regulation — primarily through the EU AI Act, which came into effect in August 2024 and whose individual phases are being rolled out gradually through 2026. The goal of European regulation is to protect citizens from AI risks, but many experts warn that overly strict rules may deter investors and slow down innovation. The Singapore model shows an alternative path: the state as an active partner and investor, creating an environment where companies want to come, rather than primarily regulating them. OpenAI is opening its first overseas laboratory in Singapore, not in Europe — and that is a signal European politicians should not ignore. For the Czech market, this event is relevant primarily as a demonstration of what small to medium-sized economies can do to attract AI investments. The Czech Republic has a strong technical tradition and a talented developer base, but without strategic government support and a clear AI strategy, it risks remaining in the shadow of global centers. Singapore (5.9 million inhabitants) proves that a country's size is not an obstacle — what matters is a clear vision and a willingness to invest.