Japan and Singapore are carving distinct yet complementary paths in AI governance — both aimed at enabling trust and driving innovation across industries. On 10 September 2025, AIVF and Google hosted Prof Hiroki Habuka (Research Professor at the Graduate School of Law, Kyoto University, and the CEO of Smart Governance Ltd.) and Wan Sie Lee (Cluster Director, AI Governance and Safety, IMDA) at the Google office.
Over 40+ founders, startup leaders, innovators and industry practitioners, policymakers and ecosystem builders gathered to deep dive into the following topics:
- Japan’s 2025 AI regulatory approach and its implications for businesses
- Japan’s quest for AI leadership and response to global AI competition, including the “DeepSeek Shock”
- How Singapore’s governance approach — supported by practical tools, programmes, and research— helps industry build confidence in the development and use of AI
Prof Hiroki shared his perspective on Japan’s approach:
Through the AI Promotion Act and the 2025 AI Interim Report, Japan emphasises a soft-law, innovation-first approach that encourages collaboration between government, business, academia, and citizens.
Wansie shared about Singapore’s approach:
Taking a balanced and practical stance, Singapore is building a trusted AI ecosystem through technology-agnostic regulations to protect against harms, practical tools to address AI-specific issues, investment in research, and international alignment.
These frameworks are not just about managing risks — they are about creating the confidence needed for industries to adopt trustworthy AI reliably at scale, unlocking new opportunities for innovation and growth.
