Singapore CEOs struggle to scale AI despite big spending: report

Singapore leaders are more likely than their global peers to focus on ROI when prioritising AI use cases (80% vs. 65%)

Despite bold ambitions, just 14% of Singapore companies have successfully scaled artificial intelligence (AI) across their organisations over the past three years, even as CEOs brace for AI investment to more than double in the next two, according to IBM’s latest CEO Study.

Whilst over half (52%) of Singapore CEOs say they are actively adopting AI agents and preparing to scale them, only 23% report that their AI initiatives have delivered expected returns.

Singapore leaders are more likely than their global peers to focus on ROI when prioritising AI use cases (80% vs. 65%). However, many acknowledge that fragmented data environments and disconnected tech stacks are hampering real progress.

Half of local CEOs say the rapid pace of digital investment has left their organisations with piecemeal systems, and 58% identify integrated data architecture as critical for cross-functional collaboration.

The study also highlighted a broader leadership challenge: 77% of Singapore CEOs admit they often invest in new technologies before understanding their full value.

Yet only 40% agree that being “fast and wrong” is better than “right and slow.”

Looking forward, leaders say they’ll need greater budget agility and workforce readiness to fully unlock AI’s potential. 32% of employees will require reskilling over the next three years, and 48% of firms are now hiring for AI-related roles that didn’t exist a year ago.