Nvidia to open AI research center in Singapore, city-state announces new AI initiatives

Global artificial-intelligence chip leader Nvidia will launch a new research center in Singapore, one of a slew of new AI-related measures announced by the city-state on Wednesday.

Nvidia's new lab represents its first Singapore research hub, and its second such presence in the Asia Pacific. The company has increasingly focused on embodied AI deployment in recent years, launching models, systems and chips for robotics. The new lab will focus on advancing embodied AI and increasing the efficiency of AI infrastructure, working alongside university researchers, industry partners, and government agencies.

U.S.-based Nvidia's move comes as Singapore pitches itself as a regional AI hub, ideal for real-world development, testing and deployment of AI solutions, despite the city-state's relatively small size.

The city-state appears to be placing a specific focus on embodied AI -- a category including robots, autonomous vehicles and drones -- which is widely seen as an important next frontier in AI development that could allow for breakthroughs and augmentation across the service sector and manufacturing.

Also on Wednesday, Singapore said it will launch a testbed later this year to help private companies co-design, deploy, test and validate commercially viable AI robotic technologies. Industry leaders like Certis, DHL, Grab and QuikBot are expected to be among the first to use the testbed.

The government will also collaborate with AI robotics companies such as Slamtec, Unitree and QuikBot to trial embodied AI use cases through a new Center for Intelligent Robotics. Tests will include using AI robotics for food and parcel delivery, as well as cleaning and security patrolling, to complement existing human operations.

The announcements came on the first day of Singapore's ATxSummit, a technology conference with a heavy focus on AI deployment this year.