New national AI missions target four sectors driving 40% of GDP: Teo

Advanced manufacturing, finance, connectivity, and healthcare are key priorities.

The government will launch national artificial intelligence (AI) missions in advanced manufacturing, financial services, connectivity, and healthcare as part of refreshed priorities under its National AI Strategy (NAIS).

These sectors collectively make up over 40% of GDP, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said during the ATxSummit 2026 on 20 May.

“They are also areas where government enablers like data access and regulatory sandboxes can catalyse AI breakthroughs,” Teo added.

The refreshed strategy outlines 10 priorities covering industry transformation, public-sector AI adoption, research, talent development, compute infrastructure, data governance, ecosystem integration, trusted AI governance, and international AI partnerships.

The update comes after the establishment of the National AI Council earlier this year.

Moreover, the government revised the National AI R&D Plan in January, under which more than $1b was committed to public AI research and talent development from 2025 to 2030.

“This refresh builds on our experiences and insights implementing NAIS 2.0. It is a double-click rather than a system reboot,” Teo said.

Alongside sector-specific missions, the government will continue efforts to mainstream AI adoption across enterprises and public agencies.

The government will also embed AI more deeply, making it a routine part of public service operations and using it in high-impact domains to improve public services.

Singapore will also strengthen applied AI research and engineering capabilities, expand governed access to datasets, and develop “AI bilingual talent” — workers with domain expertise and AI capability.

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