AWS to invest $8.8b more in Singapore to boost AI adoption

Photo credit: Amazon Web Services

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced plans to double its investment in Singapore’s cloud infrastructure, committing an additional S$12 billion (US$8.8 billion) from 2024 to 2028. As of last year, the cloud computing arm of tech giant Amazon had already invested US$8.5 billion in the city-state.

An AWS study predicts that the new investment could add US$17.5 billion to Singapore’s gross domestic product by 2028 and provide around 12,300 full-time equivalent local jobs each year. Some entities that use AWS’ services in the country are Grab, Singlife, Synapxe, and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

“This investment will create a ripple effect across Singapore by increasing economic growth and cloud adoption,” said Priscilla Chong, country manager of AWS Singapore, in a statement.

With the soaring trend of generative AI, the company said it is working with Singapore’s public organizations to develop such tech. The projects AWS is involved in include AI Singapore’s large language model Sea-Lion, GovTech Singapore’s data platform Analytics.gov, and the Maritime and Port Authority’s Maritime Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Digital Hub.

AWS also announced a new initiative called AWS AI Spring to accelerate the adoption of AI, including genAI, in Singapore. The focus will be on developing these technologies for the public sector, local enterprises, startups, communities, R&D organizations, and the workforce.

As part of this program, AWS has signed a memorandum of intent (MoI) with the Infocomm and Media Development Authority. The government agency will use AWS’ AI, machine learning, and AI assistant services to create a program helping local businesses develop their own genAI solutions.

See also: Mapping the key genAI chip and components makers in SEA

Currency converted from Singapore dollar to US dollar: US$1 = S$1.35.