Sea Opens AI Center in Singapore, Creating 100 Tech Jobs

A Southeast Asian tech company is betting big on homegrown artificial intelligence, and it's creating hundreds of opportunities for local talent in the process.

Sea Limited announced this week it's opening an AI Center of Excellence in Singapore with government support. The center will focus on developing advanced AI technology while creating at least 100 new jobs in research, engineering, and product development over the next three years.

The move represents more than just corporate expansion. Sea is building AI solutions specifically designed for Southeast Asian languages and contexts, addressing a gap that global tech giants often overlook.

The company's homegrown AI model, Compass Max v3.5, already powers features across Shopee's e-commerce platform. The system handles 245 billion parameters and operates at a fraction of the cost of other leading AI models while delivering faster results tailored to local needs.

The Ripple Effect

This investment creates opportunities far beyond Sea's offices. The center will nurture AI-native talent and experiment with new ways of working that could reshape how businesses operate across the region.

Singapore's government is backing the initiative through Digital Industry Singapore, recognizing its alignment with the country's National AI Strategy. The partnership demonstrates how public and private sectors can work together to build technological independence.

For job seekers, the timing couldn't be better. These aren't just any tech positions. They're roles focused on innovation and research, giving Singaporeans the chance to develop AI products with global reach while staying rooted in their home country.

Sea CEO Forrest Li emphasized that these homegrown AI capabilities strengthen the wider ecosystem. When local companies develop their own advanced technology, they reduce dependence on foreign systems and create knowledge that stays in the community.

The center will work on everything from foundation model development to deploying AI solutions at scale. This means talent will gain experience across the full spectrum of AI work, from theoretical research to practical applications that millions of users will experience daily.

A single company's investment is lighting the path toward technological self-reliance for an entire region.