Keynote Address by SMS Tan Kiat How at 0G Dev Day 2026

Mr Michael Heinrich, CEO & Co-Founder, Zero Gravity Labs Inc

Ms Ada Heinrich, CEO, 0G Singapore Pte Ltd

Dr Maliki Osman, Senior Advisor (ASEAN and Flagship Programmes) President’s Office, NTU

1. A very good morning to everyone. I am very happy that we are doing this event here at the National Gallery and I extend a warm welcome to 0G for being a part of our ecosystem.

2. 0G and its partners are showcasing many different projects here. It is a good example of the kind of ecosystem we are building here in Singapore at the next frontier of artificial intelligence – one that is trusted and scalable, where solutions are developed, deployed and adapted here.

3. We are building an ecosystem where innovation, trust and talent are at the centre of our vibrant AI community, and I believe that Singapore provides a useful place for these innovations to happen.

4. First, as many have said, Singapore is not very big. But being small also has its advantages. In Chinese, there's a saying “麻雀虽小，五脏俱全”, the sparrow may be small, but it has everything it needs.

5. Today, many of us work remotely, and that has become a very common practice. But sometimes you need to catch up at some point or another where ideas can spark new innovations, where friendships and discussions can create new ways of thinking about things.

6. This community here in Singapore is very cosmopolitan, and different perspectives create a different ecosystem of vibrancy. I'm very glad to hear that 0G is partnering together with NTU on cutting-edge research around AI safety and the next frontier. We have a small community here that is vibrant and interconnected, speaks the same language, shares the same vision, and wants to create impact for the world.

7. Second, it’s about trust. AI is like having a powerful engine in a very fast car. But if you don't trust the engine, driver or the whole system, putting that car on the road could create many accidents.

8. It’s not just about rules and regulations, but how we think about guardrails and the safety of the technology. More importantly, when it is deployed as applications in the real world by enterprises and used in sectors with high consequences – whether healthcare or financial sector, safety matters even more because we are dealing human lives and our endeavours.

9. So, how can we have an environment or ecosystem that builds trust? I believe Singapore can do this by bringing together researchers, frontier technology companies, sensible regulations, and enterprises that are focused on building trust because they know they have to maintain the trust of their customers and stakeholders.

10. Having that ecosystem come together to create real-life impact using frontier technology is something that is very important, and Singapore can play a useful role in contributing to the global discussion. Oftentimes, when we talk about AI safety, we get distracted by the headlines. Those debates matter. Greater collaboration with major economies and technology providers does matter.

11. But there is so much we can do on our own, as enterprises, technology providers, policymakers, regulators. I hope that we continue to invest more, and I'm very happy that 0G is being part of this community.

12. Third, it is what Michael talked about – deploying from Singapore. The market is small and no one comes to Singapore to serve the Singapore market. But being here, and being able to deploy here, gives companies and innovators some confidence that the solutions have been tested in the real world. They may need some adaptation to travel beyond Singapore, but this gives you a very good starting point and a springboard — certainly into the region, but also beyond Southeast Asia.

13. Singapore can play a useful role in that regard by creating an ecosystem that brings together innovators and technology companies developing new capabilities, with progressive enterprises that want to adopt these technologies to reinvent their business models, create new products and services, and enter new market. Bringing both parties together with the ambition to do so creates the next wave of innovation.

14. If you look at the last 25 or 30 years of technology, we have seen the internet, digital technology, mobile technology and enterprise software. Those waves of technology created new business models, companies and winners.

15. The AI wave is now upon us. Notwithstanding the rapid development of AI over the last few years, we are still at a very early stage of this technological wave. Who will be the winners 10 years from now? Who will create new value, new markets and new industries? Are we creating better jobs and better lives for our people?

16. Those winners may not be the ones in it today. We hope that in Singapore, we can find some of those at the frontier that perhaps will play a very important part in the next AI ecosystem. So, deploy in Singapore, adapt it here, scale from here – and know that something made in Singapore is something that can be trusted.

17. I just want to also thank the 0G community for not just being a frontier of technology development and putting in research funding with NTU, but most importantly by being part of the community to make sure that everyone benefits from technology. Because ultimately, technology is not for technology's sake; it's for making a difference in lives, societies, communities and economies, to create better jobs and opportunities for many Singaporeans.

18. I am very happy that the 0G team has been working with the community and conducting workshops. I saw the website developed by one of the seniors and it was very impressive. I always like to use this Chinese saying “活到老，学到老” – you can always learn as you grow, and there is always something you can learn.

19. Technology shouldn't be something that we fear. You do not have to understand every part of AI. You can start with simple tools, understand the risks, and use them to make things better and bring greater convenience to your daily life. Perhaps you can even earn some bragging rights with your children and grandchildren.

20. Lastly, I would also like to thank the community for investing in sporting endeavours here in Singapore. That is something we are always very proud of. We are very proud of our athletes who fly our flag high, and perhaps, with AI supporting the next generation of sportsmen and sportswomen from Singapore, we will see even more talent coming through.

21. We hope to use technology to enhance what is fundamentally a human endeavour — celebrating the human spirit, celebrating solidarity among Singaporeans, and most importantly, flying our flag high. It is something very human, supported by technology, and perhaps that is the future we are all working towards.

22. Thank you.