In News:

Bengaluru ranks 26thin Global AI City Index, Singapore secures top spot.

About the Index

• Published by: Market research firm Counterpoint Research.
• Objective: Benchmarks global cities on their AI capacity, investment, and innovation.
• Evaluation Criteria:
  • AI R&D ecosystem and startup strength
  • Investment inflows & public–private partnerships
  • AI applications in transport, healthcare, and education
  • Data centre growth & digital infrastructure readiness
  • Governance and regulatory frameworks

Global Rankings (2025)

• Top 5 Cities: Singapore (1st), Seoul (2nd), Beijing (3rd), Dubai (4th), San Francisco (5th).
• Key Trends:
  • Singapore’s success driven by strong startup ecosystem and public–private collaboration in healthcare, telecom, and transport.
  • Seoul excels in AI healthcare and education applications.
  • Beijing introduced formal AI education for all primary & secondary school students (2025).
  • Investments in supercomputing expected to reduce gap between North America and China.
  • Tech industry leaders: Microsoft (most active vendor with AI data centres, training, innovation hubs), followed by Google and Amazon expanding their global AI footprint.

India’s Performance

• Bengaluru: Ranked 26th globally – India’s top AI R&D and data centre hub with a vibrant startup ecosystem attracting foreign investment.
• Other Indian Cities:
  • Mumbai & Delhi – Leveraging AI for traffic management and public security.
  • Chennai & Kolkata – Emerging AI hubs.
• India’s Challenge: Report highlights need for a comprehensive AI roadmap and robust regulatory framework to maximize growth potential.

Significance

• Establishes Bengaluru as India’s AI capital, strengthening its role in digital infrastructure and innovation.
• Reflects India’s growing presence in the global AI landscape while underlining policy gaps.
• Offers lessons from global leaders like Singapore and Seoul on AI integration in governance, education, and healthcare.