[SINGAPORE] Singapore’s family offices are eager to invest in artificial intelligence (AI), but many remain on the sidelines as limited access to deals and a lack of technical expertise hinder capital deployment.

Interest in AI has been fuelled by soaring valuations and record fundraising rounds, with investors tracking potential listings of firms such as OpenAI, Anthropic and SpaceX.

“Many family offices are watching the potential IPO (initial public offering) of OpenAI as a bellwether,” said Grace Tang, CEO and managing director of Phillip Private Equity.

She added, however, that local investors are becoming more selective. “They are shifting towards a more cautious stance, analysing when the company is going to break even.”

In its 2026 Global Family Office Report, JP Morgan Private Bank noted that 65 per cent of family offices globally aim to prioritise AI, yet over half lack exposure to the growth equity and venture capital firms driving the sector’s innovation.

This is equally evident in Singapore.

Natacha Minniti, global co-head of the family office practice at JP Morgan Private Bank, described the gap as “one of the clearest patterns emerging today”.

“The excitement around AI is undeniable, but accessing early-stage opportunities remains a real challenge,” she said.

A separate Ocorian survey of 25 Singapore-based family offices, published in March, similarly found that despite 96 per cent of family offices deploying AI tools for operations and data management, none are currently investing in the technology.

Though based on a small sample size, the contrast points to a broader trend where ope...