Singapore AI App Hits 5M Users in 6 Months

While the world debates which AI chatbot reigns supreme, a Singapore-built platform has been quietly winning over millions of Southeast Asian users with a refreshingly human approach.

Agnes AI launched last July and has already attracted more than 5 million registered users, with 200,000 people logging in daily. The app now ranks among the top 10 productivity tools in Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

What makes Agnes different from ChatGPT or DeepSeek? It was designed from the ground up for Southeast Asian users and focuses on bringing people together rather than replacing human interaction.

The platform combines conversational AI with productivity tools like presentation makers, image generators, and spreadsheets. Users can start with a simple question and end with a full presentation without ever switching apps.

The real standout feature is called CoVibe, a group chat function that lets teams search, research, and create content together with AI assistance. The app remembers everything from previous conversations, so users never have to start from scratch.

Why This Inspires

Bruce Yang, the founder behind Agnes, embodies the kind of homecoming success story that makes Singapore proud. The Raffles Institution graduate earned dual degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science from UC Berkeley, worked at Microsoft and LinkedIn, then returned to Singapore during the pandemic to pursue his PhD in AI at the National University of Singapore.

His previous startup, Sobrr, was dubbed the "anti-Facebook" for its focus on authentic connection. That same philosophy powers Agnes today.

Yang co-founded SapiensAI in January 2025 with a team from NUS, NTU, MIT, Stanford, and UC Berkeley. Six months later, Agnes was born.

"Most AI products today ask users to choose: productivity tools or social networks," Yang told Digital Journal this month. "We're building something where both are equally native."

The timing couldn't be better. As global tech companies flood the market with AI tools, Agnes proves that understanding local needs and prioritizing human connection can win against massive competitors with unlimited resources.

The platform calls itself "everyday AI for everyone" by turning intelligence into something truly usable, and the user numbers suggest they're delivering on that promise.