KPMG in Singapore has launched a Trusted Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence (AI CoE), a dedicated capability hub to help organisations build, deploy and scale AI that meets governance and compliance standards across multiple jurisdictions. The centre was officially opened by Ms Jasmin Lau, Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and Education, alongside Mr Jermaine Loy, Managing Director of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), and Ms Lee Sze Yeng, Managing Partner of KPMG in Singapore.

The launch addresses a pressing challenge for Singapore-based companies with regional and global ambitions: AI governance frameworks are proliferating and diverging across major markets. The EU AI Act, the NIST AI Risk Management Framework, ISO 42001 and Singapore’s own Model AI Governance Framework each carry different evidentiary standards and definitions of responsible AI. Satisfying one does not automatically satisfy the others.

Trusted AI Assurance: A Cross-Border Governance Tool

Alongside the AI CoE, KPMG unveiled Trusted AI Assurance — an evidence-based assessment that gives organisations a sector-specific view of where their AI governance, regulatory compliance and security stand today, mapped against the requirements of the markets they operate in or intend to enter. The tool is designed to surface gaps before they become obstacles in a market entry, cross-border partnership or regulatory review.

“Building a trusted AI environment starts with recognising that trust is not something organisations can simply expect — it has to be built,” said Mr Lyon Poh, Partner and Head of AI at KPMG in Singapore. “Areas like security, governance and accountability are all part of that picture.”

Enterprise AI Governance at the Board Level

Panellists at the launch highlighted that AI governance is increasingly a board-level concern. Ms Christina Law, Group CEO of Raintree Group of Companies, outlined three lines of inquiry she advises boards to pursue: the strategic rationale for AI adoption, vendor dependency and contractual accountability, and the organisation’s ability to audit and trace AI systems in production.

Mr Chen Ze Ling, Managing Director and Group Head of Corporate and SME Banking at DBS, noted two persistent barriers to AI adoption across markets — access to financial resources and AI literacy. He emphasised the need for clear pathways that translate AI investment into measurable business value.

The AI CoE positions Singapore as a reference point for trusted AI development in the region, at a moment when enterprise adoption is accelerating and the regulatory landscape is becoming more complex. KPMG said the hub will work with organisations across sectors to build governance frameworks that can withstand scrutiny in multiple markets simultaneously.