C-suite executives in Singapore are rapidly integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into their organisations, yet many lack the necessary governance frameworks to manage associated risks effectively. According to the 2025 EY Responsible AI Pulse survey, whilst 100% of Singaporean respondents have integrated AI into their initiatives, only 53% have moderate to strong controls to protect these systems from threats like unauthorised access and corruption.
The survey, conducted between March and April 2025, gathered insights from 975 C-suite leaders across 21 countries, including 30 from Singapore. It highlights a significant gap in risk awareness, with only half of the executives understanding the risks associated with emerging AI technologies such as agentic AI.
Manik Bhandari, EY Asean Artificial Intelligence and Data Leader, emphasised the need for operational grounding in AI ambitions. “True integration requires reengineering core business processes and redesigning functional roles,” he stated. Despite the Singapore government’s support through initiatives like the Enterprise Compute Initiative, Bhandari warns that organisations may overestimate their progress without proper alignment between business and technology leaders.
The survey also reveals that 67% of Singaporean executives believe their current approach to technology-related risks is insufficient for future AI challenges. Furthermore, whilst 90% plan to use agentic AI within the next two years, only 55% are familiar with its risks.
Bhandari added, “As organisations push to scale AI, governance must evolve in tandem. Without the right oversight, even well-intentioned AI deployments can lead to unintended consequences.” This underscores the urgent need for embedding clear accountability and control mechanisms to sustain AI’s long-term value.
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