Singapore to create registry for AI agents

Singapore is developing a registry of artificial intelligence (AI) agents to support the growing use of advanced AI tools across the public sector, according to a report by The Straits Times.

The registry is being designed for the government's 150,000 public officers and will serve as a safeguard to track the owners and activities of AI agents, which are capable of making decisions and carrying out tasks with minimal human intervention.

According to The Straits Times, the registry forms part of a broader suite of tools known as 'AI assistant desk', which is being developed by the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) to help public officers use AI securely for tasks such as coding, report generation and meeting scheduling.

Don't miss: Singapore refreshes retail digital plan to boost AI adoption among SMEs 

Unlike traditional AI chatbots, AI agents are able to proactively perform actions across digital systems, including completing workflows, using software tools and carrying out multi-step tasks. The technology is increasingly viewed as the next phase of AI adoption as organisations move beyond content generation towards automation.

The report said 'AI assistant desk' is currently being tested by selected public officers ahead of a wider rollout later in 2026. The platform will include a layer of governance and oversight designed to ensure AI agents operate within approved boundaries, even when third-party AI tools are used.

Safeguards under development include restrictions on certain actions such as deleting files or emailing external recipients, alongside automated checks to identify inappropriate prompts and outputs.

The initiative is part of Singapore's broader push to integrate AI into day-to-day public sector operations. According to the report, more than half of the country's 150,000 public officers already use 'Pair', the government's AI chatbot, to support writing, research and productivity-related tasks.

GovTech is also expanding AI use cases across government agencies. Among the projects highlighted are Mark.ly, an AI-powered marking assistant currently being trialled in 18 schools to help teachers assess handwritten assignments, and LangBuddy, a voice-enabled chatbot designed to support students learning Mandarin, Malay and Tamil.

Beyond productivity and education, AI is also playing a growing role in cybersecurity. GovTech is developing AI-powered tools to automate penetration testing across government systems containing citizen data, allowing vulnerabilities to be identified more continuously rather than through periodic manual assessments.

The move reflects a broader national ambition to strengthen AI capabilities across the workforce. Singapore has set a target of developing 100,000 AI-fluent individuals by 2029, with public sector agencies expected to play a key role in accelerating adoption while maintaining governance and security standards.

As AI agents become increasingly capable of acting autonomously, the planned registry signals Singapore's efforts to build the oversight infrastructure needed to support large-scale deployment across government systems.

A recent Ministry of Manpower report highlights why the move comes at a timely moment, as AI adoption across Singapore’s private sector remains uneven. The study found that 71.5% of firms have yet to adopt AI, with only 28.5% currently using it in some form. Even among adopters, just 3.8% have fully embedded AI into core business processes, while most remain in planning or pilot stages. The findings point to a broader gap between national AI ambitions and real-world implementation, as organisations continue to grapple with costs, capability gaps and integration challenges. 

Related articles:   
Singapore looks to strengthen position as trusted AI financial hub  
Grab and IMDA join forces to scale AI adoption among Singapore SMEs  
OpenAI deepens Singapore bet with SG$300m investment