Grab Launches Southeast Asia’s First Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence in Singapore
Grab, the leading superapp across Southeast Asia, has officially opened its Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence (AI COE) at its GrabHQ campus in Singapore.
Grab, the leading superapp across Southeast Asia, has officially opened its Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence (AI COE) at its GrabHQ campus in Singapore. This new AI hub is supported by Digital Industry Singapore (DISG) and aims to accelerate AI-driven innovation that enhances accessibility, boosts productivity, and supports smart nation development across the region.
With the AI COE, Grab plans to create at least 50 new jobs by 2025, spanning roles in Product, Engineering, Data Science, and Analytics. These positions will focus on building advanced AI solutions tailored to the unique needs of Southeast Asia and beyond.
Focus on Accessibility: Making Technology Inclusive
A key initiative at the AI COE is improving digital accessibility for underserved communities. In partnership with the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH), Grab is developing a Voice Assistant feature to allow visually impaired users to book rides using voice commands. The feature, powered by OpenAI models, has been fine-tuned with 80,000 local voice samples to better recognize Singaporean accents and locations, increasing accuracy from 46% to 89%.
The assistant is currently being piloted in Singapore, with plans to broaden its scope to support other groups such as the elderly. Grab will also introduce a voice donation feature within its app to collect more voice data and continuously improve the system’s responsiveness.
Empowering Growth and Productivity with AI
Beyond accessibility, Grab’s AI COE is focused on driving productivity for its employees, drivers, delivery partners, and small businesses. It is building a foundational AI model trained on Grab’s unique data to enable personalized recommendations and smarter decision-making.
Innovations like the AI Driver Companion provide real-time guidance on optimal booking locations and routing, while the AI Merchant Assistant offers business insights and operational support to help small merchants grow. Additionally, Grab’s internal Large Language Model Kit speeds up AI experimentation, cutting testing times drastically.
Supporting Smart Nation Initiatives Through AI and IoT
Grab is also expanding its role in smart nation development by leveraging IoT data from its KartaDongle and KartaDashcam devices. Collaborating with Singapore’s National Water Agency (PUB), Grab integrates flood and traffic data to deliver real-time alerts to drivers and assist emergency response efforts during heavy rains.
This integration highlights how Grab uses AI and data to bridge digital and physical worlds, providing practical solutions for urban planning, infrastructure management, and public safety.
A Strategic Move to Boost AI Innovation and Talent in Southeast Asia
Grab’s Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence is a significant milestone for the company and the region’s tech ecosystem. By focusing on inclusive technology, productivity-enhancing tools, and smart city solutions, Grab is positioning itself as a leader in AI innovation.
The creation of new high-value jobs also contributes to Singapore’s ambition to become the world’s most AI-driven economy and a global hub for talent and innovation. As Grab continues to develop and scale these AI-powered solutions, it sets an example of how technology can drive positive social and economic impact across Southeast Asia.
