Bengaluru: Singapore has secured the top spot in the Global AI City Index 2025 released by Counterpoint Research, with Bengaluru earning recognition as one of the fastest-growing AI cities in the world.
The index evaluated 100 of the world’s most influential metropolitan regions based on over 5,000 AI-led initiatives spanning infrastructure, public-private partnerships, innovation ecosystems, and academic output.
Joining Singapore in the global top five were Seoul, Beijing, Dubai, and San Francisco, while Riyadh, Hangzhou, São Paulo, and India’s own tech capital Bengaluru were highlighted as rising AI hubs. Mumbai and New Delhi also featured in the AI City Index, signaling a broader national trend of urban AI adoption.
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India’s AI Cities on the Global Map
Bengaluru, often dubbed India’s Silicon Valley, was praised for its deep pool of AI talent, the presence of major tech companies, and a growing number of AI-centric startups.
With active support from government-backed digital transformation programs and increasing investment in datacenter and cloud infrastructure, the city is fast evolving into a global AI powerhouse.
AI City Index: Global Trends and Regional Dynamics
While North America continues to lead in overall AI city development, China is fast catching up, driven by massive investments in supercomputing and AI education. The Middle East, led by Dubai and Riyadh, is emerging as a serious challenger due to strategic public sector investments and bold national AI missions.
Europe, on the other hand, is seen lagging due to regulatory challenges, with half the activity levels compared to North America.
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Commenting on the growth of AI cities in China, Research Director Marc Einstein said, “AI city development in China is no longer limited to the biggest cities. Places like Wuhan, Chengdu, and Suzhou are also embracing AI quickly. Investments, especially in supercomputing are impressive and the gap between North America and China will certainly narrow from next year onwards.”
Tech Giants Fueling Growth
Microsoft was recognized as the most active vendor in the AI City Index, owing to its aggressive global expansion of AI datacenters and training hubs. Google, Amazon, and NVIDIA also played significant roles, partnering with local governments, universities, and telecom operators across regions to promote AI adoption.
In India, companies like Airtel are leveraging AI to block over a million spam messages daily in Delhi, while also optimizing mobile networks. These efforts are part of a broader shift where telco infrastructure is becoming a foundational layer for smart, AI-powered cities.
Telcos Catalyzing Urban AI Rollouts
The AI City Index underscored the importance of telecom infrastructure in enabling AI cities. From 10G fiber deployments in Beijing, AI-enabled 5G networks in Riyadh, to GPU-as-a-Service offerings in Singapore, telecom-led innovation is a key enabler.
