The AI agent market in Singapore: Anthropic's Claude narrows the gap with ChatGPT
The artificial intelligence market in Singapore's startup ecosystem is undergoing impressive structural changes. According to fresh data from fintech platform Aspire, demand for Anthropic's Claude among local startups is experiencing explosive growth. Over the past 12 months, the number of paying customers for this AI service has increased by 258%, and spending on it has grown 17-fold — one of the highest growth rates in the region.
Market share is shifting before our eyes
A year ago, OpenAI had more than four times as many paying customers among Singaporean startups as Anthropic. However, the gap has now narrowed to 1.5 times. Claude's share of total AI platform spending has reached 37% — a serious signal for the entire industry. The growing competition among leading AI agent providers is becoming increasingly tangible, and Singapore is emerging as a key battleground for this struggle.
Overall trend: multi-platform usage and growing penetration
It is important to note that the total number of startups in Singapore actively using AI tools has grown by 42%. This indicates systemic technology adoption rather than a temporary surge. Particularly telling is that the number of companies working with three or more AI platforms simultaneously has more than doubled. Startups are no longer tied to a single provider — they are diversifying their risks and seeking optimal solutions for different tasks.
Analytical commentary: The current dynamics clearly indicate that the AI agent market in the Asia-Pacific region is entering a phase of mature competition. Anthropic's Claude is not just catching up with ChatGPT — it is carving out its own niche where its strengths (depth of analytics and security) are becoming decisive for business clients. If growth rates persist, we could see market share parity between these two giants within the coming quarters, fundamentally altering the balance of power in the global AI race.