Prime Highlight

1. Google DeepMind has opened a new AI research lab in Singapore, marking its first facility in Southeast Asia.
2. The lab aims to collaborate with governments, businesses, and academic institutions to drive responsible AI innovation across the region.

Key Facts

1. DeepMind has doubled its Asia-based team over the past year and begun hiring research scientists, engineers, and AI impact specialists for the new Singapore centre.
2. The Singapore lab expands DeepMind’s global presence, adding to existing operations in London, India, and Japan.

Background

Google DeepMind opened a new AI research lab in Singapore. This is its first facility in Southeast Asia as the company expands across the region. The AI division of Alphabet said the lab will work closely with governments, businesses, academic institutions, and civil society groups to advance responsible AI development.

The company has doubled its Asia-based team over the past year and begun hiring for the new centre. The Singapore team will include research scientists, software engineers, operations staff, and AI impact specialists. However, Google has not disclosed the size of the planned team or the amount it is investing in the project.

Announcing the launch at Google’s Singapore office in Mapletree Business Park, Google DeepMind Chief Operating Officer Lila Ibrahim said Singapore’s forward-looking technology policies make it an “ideal place” to expand research efforts. She added that while the lab is still finalising its research agenda, it is likely to focus on education, healthcare, learning, and scientific innovation.

Executives noted that Southeast Asian markets are among the fastest adopters of AI globally, making the region a strategic location for deeper research collaboration. The new lab aims to support local ecosystems by working with public- and private-sector partners on real-world applications of advanced AI systems.

DeepMind, founded in the United Kingdom in 2010 and acquired by Google in 2014, is known for breakthroughs such as AlphaGo, the first programme to defeat a Go world champion. The company also develops Gemini, Google’s multimodal AI model capable of generating and understanding text, images, audio, video, and code.

With operations now underway, the Singapore lab strengthens DeepMind’s global footprint, which currently includes offices in London, India, and Japan.

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