Anthropic Opens Singapore Office, Partners with Government on AI Safety
Anthropic expands in Asia-Pacific with a new Singapore office and a landmark MoU with the government to drive safe and responsible AI adoption.
Leading artificial intelligence firm Anthropic has officially expanded its footprint in the Asia-Pacific region by opening a new office in Singapore. In a strategic move to bolster the region's technological landscape, the company has also entered into a significant memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Singapore's Ministry of Digital Development and Information.
This partnership is designed to champion AI safety, security, and the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence across both government agencies and the private sector. The Singapore office marks Anthropic's fifth location within the Asia-Pacific territory, signaling the nation's growing importance as a global hub for advanced technology.
A Strategic Alliance for Responsible AI
The agreement, signed by Kai Fong Chng, Permanent Secretary of Singapore's Ministry of Digital Development and Information, and Anthropic co-founder Ben Mann, was finalized on the sidelines of the Singapore International Cyber Week. The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation in several critical areas:
- Model Evaluation and Safety: Collaborative research into AI security and the testing of models to ensure stability.
- Impact Research: Investigating how AI adoption affects various sectors of society.
- Responsible Use: Promoting ethical standards for AI implementation in public and private domains.
- Technical Exchanges: Planning sessions with Singapore's safety and assurance institutions regarding testing standards and incident response.
"We founded Anthropic on the belief that capability and safety have to go hand in hand," stated Ben Mann. He emphasized that this partnership will play a vital role in ensuring that the transition to highly powerful AI systems is managed responsibly, not just in Singapore, but across the broader Asia-Pacific region and globally.
Singapore: A Global Leader in Claude AI Usage
The decision to establish a physical presence in Singapore comes as the country emerges as one of Anthropic's most active markets. According to the company's latest Economic Index, Singapore ranks second among 121 countries in terms of Claude.ai usage relative to its population. Remarkably, the level of usage in the country is nearly six times higher than what would be expected based on population size alone.
Dale Finlay, Anthropic's General Manager of ASEAN, noted that having a local team will allow the company to work more closely with organizations that demand extremely high standards of reliability and security. "Having a team on the ground means we can get even closer to the organizations putting Claude to work on their hardest problems," Finlay said.
Real-World Impact Across Sectors
The integration of Anthropic's Claude AI is already deeply embedded in Singapore's digital infrastructure and corporate landscape:
- Government Services: More than 1,500 engineers and technical staff at the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech Singapore) have adopted Claude Code to accelerate software delivery and modernize government systems.
- Financial Services: Major institutions like DBS are utilizing Claude for software development and daily productivity, while the sovereign wealth fund GIC is rolling out the tool across its investment and corporate services teams.
- Ride-Hailing and Tech: Grab uses Claude to power its sales assistant, BriX, which reportedly saves its sales teams approximately 40,000 hours every quarter while identifying new business opportunities.
Beyond technical integration, the partnership aims to strengthen AI skills and support small and medium-sized businesses in navigating the complexities of AI adoption, while also building specialized AI capabilities among public officers.