Latest news with #GlobalAIReadinessIndex
Independent Singapore
02-08-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Singapore ranks 2nd worldwide in AI readiness but falls behind in AI innovation
Photo: Freepik/ (for illustration purposes only) SINGAPORE: Singapore ranked second globally for artificial intelligence (AI) readiness, based on Salesforce's Global AI Readiness Index, which looked at 16 countries across five key dimensions: enabling AI regulatory frameworks, AI diffusion and adoption, AI innovation, AI investment, and human capital, AI talent, and skills. Singapore received an overall index score of 26.5 out of 50, above the global average of 22.1. Each of the five dimensions was equally weighted at 10 points. The city-state also kept its lead in the Asia Pacific after ranking as the region's most AI-ready nation in Salesforce's 2021 and 2023 Asia Pacific AI Readiness Index, Singapore Business Review reported. Singapore ranked highest in enabling regulatory frameworks, scoring 9.8, backed by its Model AI Governance Framework and National AI Strategy 2.0. Meanwhile, it scored 8.0 in AI diffusion and adoption, driven by its Smart Nation vision and Public Sector AI Playbook, which guides AI use in transport, urban planning, and public services. For AI investment, Singapore scored 2.3, higher than the global average but way behind the US, which scored 8.8. The city-state also scored above the global average in terms of fostering AI talent; however, it trails behind Germany (6.2) and the US (6.0). Interestingly, Singapore scored weakest in AI innovation with only 0.7, below the global average of 1.7. The report noted that while the city-state has a largely enabling environment for AI, its innovation remains concentrated, with less focus on emerging areas like agentic AI. It added that Singapore is taking a lighter-touch approach by encouraging voluntary guidelines, industry self-regulation, and ethical AI principles to strike a balance between innovation and responsible AI use. Photo: salesforce /TISG Read also: Microsoft cuts jobs again as AI costs climb, to let go of about 9,000 employees () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
Business Times
31-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Singapore ranks second in AI readiness globally: Salesforce study
[SINGAPORE] Singapore has been ranked second in artificial intelligence (AI) readiness across the world, a Salesforce study released on Thursday (Jul 31) showed. The Global AI Readiness Index evaluates this trait based on five dimensions surrounding the technology: governance, diffusion, innovation, investment and talent. These indicators offer 'a comprehensive framework for understanding how prepared countries are to harness agentic AI and leverage digital labour to unlock greater opportunities for growth, impact, and efficiency', Salesforce said. The company conducted the study across 16 markets in which it operates. The United States ranked first, with an index score of 39.7 out of a possible 50. Singapore was in second place with 26.5, ahead of the United Kingdom with a score of 25.8. The global average was 22.1. Singapore's ranking affirms its position as a global AI leader, and proves the efficacy of its National AI Strategy 2.0, rolled out in 2023, Salesforce said. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Regionally, the city-state retained its top spot in the Asia Pacific AI Readiness Index, which was expanded to form the global index. During its Budget in February, Singapore announced that S$150 million would be set aside for the Enterprise Compute Initiative . This would enable eligible businesses to partner major cloud service providers and access AI tools and computing power. In 2024, the Republic also said it would invest S$1 billion in AI development across five years. A recent Morgan Stanley survey showed that Singapore could sustain a gross domestic product growth rate of 3 per cent , on the back of productivity gains from AI tools. The bank noted that the country is home to more than 80 active AI research faculties,150 AI research and development and product teams, and over 1,000 AI startups. A leader with room to grow By dimension, Singapore ranked first in regulatory readiness as well as AI adoption, second in investment environments, and third in talent development in the Salesforce study. The report noted 'opportunity for further investment to improve its innovation capacity', adding that the Republic scored below the global average when it came to capacity for AI innovation. It also said that Singapore could expand its innovation beyond concentrated landscapes to also include agentic or goal-directed AI. Agentic AI refers to systems that can operate autonomously to meet defined goals with minimal human intervention. A global survey of 200 human resources executives, published by Salesforce in May this year, found that full implementation of agentic AI could boost average employee productivity by 30 per cent. Salesforce itself offers Agentforce, its flagship AI product. The company said the platform could help to address Singapore's labour force issues, amid an ageing population and a low birth rate. 'This can significantly boost labour market productivity,' the company added.
Tahawul Tech
25-02-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
'A successful AI strategy demands foundational investments in infrastructure, security, and talent' – Guy Diedrich, Cisco
CNME Editor Mark Forker managed to secure an exclusive interview with Guy Diedrich, Senior Vice President and Global Innovation Officer at Cisco, during his recent visit to Dubai. During their conversation, Diedrich offered his perspectives on the results of their Global AI Readiness Index, the ongoing problem of organisations looking for 'quick fixes' to their AI strategy – and their plans for further investment in their innovation roadmap across the UAE and KSA. Guy Diedrich, Senior Vice President and Global Innovation Officer at Cisco. Cisco recently published the results from their Global AI Readiness Index. The results from the UAE marketplace perspective were unsurprising, in relation to the fact that businesses were urgently looking to adopt and integrate AI tools, but many were struggling to both fully leverage the capabilities of AI and get a ROI from those AI investments. What advice can you give to the businesses in the UAE in terms of best practices with AI adoption? We recently surveyed 8,000 business leaders globally, including in the UAE, and the results show a strong focus on AI. Notably, 64% of organizations in the UAE have clear strategies for deploying AI solutions, while nearly half allocate 10% to 30% of their IT budgets to their AI journey, and an impressive 99% of companies express an increased urgency to adopt AI technologies. However, there are still significant gaps to address, particularly in infrastructure readiness and talent availability. To successfully navigate the integration of AI, organizations should start with strategic planning by developing a clear AI roadmap aligned with their business objectives. This roadmap will ensure that AI initiatives are designed to address specific challenges and seize opportunities. It is also crucial to make infrastructure investments by allocating resources to build a robust AI infrastructure, which includes the necessary hardware and software to support scalable AI solutions. It is also vital to engage in continuous evaluation by regularly assessing AI implementations to measure their return on investment (ROI) and making data-driven adjustments as necessary. Last but not least, organizations must focus on talent development by investing in the training and hiring of skilled professionals, thereby bridging the talent gap and effectively managing AI deployments. This is a global problem, according to The Transformational Opportunity of AI on ICT Jobs report, 92% of jobs analysed are expected to undergo either high or moderate transformation due to advancements in AI. In today's rapidly progressing digital landscape, if we want an equipped workforce to handle the evolving needs, we must prioritize building the skills of tomorrow. Are too many organizations guilty of looking for a quick fix with their AI strategies? How important is it that first invest in the required infrastructure and talent in order to seize on the capabilities presented by AI? A successful AI strategy requires more than quick fixes; it demands foundational investments in infrastructure, security, and talent. The Cisco AI Readiness Index indicates that only 7% of UAE organizations are classified as Pacesetters in infrastructure readiness. Without the right infrastructure, robust security measures, and skilled personnel, AI initiatives are likely to underperform. Are the problems you see in the UAE quite consistent with what you see in other marketplaces that you surveyed in your AI Readiness Index – and how does the UAE compare on whole compared to other markets when it comes to AI adoption and readiness? The challenges observed in the UAE mirror global trends identified in the Cisco AI Readiness Index. Many organizations worldwide face hurdles in infrastructure readiness and talent acquisition. However, the UAE exhibits a strong strategic commitment to AI, with 17% of organizations recognized as Pacesetters in strategy readiness, surpassing the global average of 15%. This indicates a proactive approach in the UAE towards AI adoption, despite existing challenges. In general we're seeing a global trend, our most recent CEO study shows clearly that skills shortages, implementation challenges, AI-ready infrastructure, and cybersecurity are top concerns for IT teams and leaders across industries. Can you tell our readers about Cisco's plans for future innovation across both the UAE, and in KSA, where the sheers scale and breadth of transformation is unprecedented at a global level? We recognize the rapid digitization in GCC countries, which are increasingly prioritizing technology adoption to diversify their economies away from oil and gas dependence. This transition brings significant opportunities, such as increased ICT investments, smart city developments, a stronger focus on AI for improved efficiency, and a strong focus on cybersecurity. To meet these evolving needs, Cisco is aligning its technologies with the demands of the AI era, focusing on developing AI-ready data centers, future-proof workplaces, and enhancing digital resilience through security and observability. Over the past four decades, Cisco has played a crucial role in building the internet; now, we are laying the network foundation necessary for AI. We firmly believe that AI cannot exist without a robust network, which is also instrumental in enhancing security—if it's connected, it's protected. For more than 25 years, Cisco has been engaged in boosting the region's digitization, through the Cisco Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program, which fosters partnerships and key national projects in countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. Moreover, we are committed to developing digital skills through Cisco Networking Academy, with a focus on Cybersecurity, Networking, and AI. In fiscal year 2024, we trained over 1.1 million students across more than 2,000 academies in the region, contributing to the upskilling of over 4.4 million learners overall. The post 'A successful AI strategy demands foundational investments in infrastructure, security, and talent' – Guy Diedrich, Cisco appeared first on
