Singapore Plays Central Role in GlobalFoundries Humanoid Robot AI Push
Source: The Straits Times
Singapore is playing a foundational role in US chipmaker GlobalFoundries pivot toward equipping humanoid robots with physical AI, according to the company chief technology officer. In an interview with The Straits Times, CTO Gregg Bartlett said Singapore has a vital role in physical AI,.
Singapore is playing a foundational role in US chipmaker GlobalFoundries pivot toward equipping humanoid robots with physical AI, according to the company chief technology officer. In an interview with The Straits Times, CTO Gregg Bartlett said Singapore has a vital role in physical AI, photonics, power, mobile, automotive and data centres all of the capabilities GF needs are centred here.
GlobalFoundries, which operates a major fabrication plant in Singapore and recently acquired local semiconductor firm Advanced Micro Foundry, is transforming from a pure-play chip manufacturer into a holistic technology provider for Physical AI the technology that powers humanoid robots, autonomous vehicles and drones to sense, think, act and communicate in the physical world. The company FDX and FinFET platforms, alongside silicon photonics capabilities developed in Singapore, are positioned to serve what Bank of America projects will be a market of 3 billion humanoid robots by 2060.
GF Singapore facility already deploys a Boston Dynamics robot dog that patrols the fabrication plant, detecting heat signatures in equipment and flagging potential issues. The company acquisition of AMF made it the world largest pure-play foundry by revenue for silicon photonics, a critical technology for the optical communication demands of AI data centres. From power management chips and battery systems to advanced packaging and RF connectivity, nearly every platform GF is betting on for the physical AI era is developed or manufactured in Singapore.
Why it matters for Singapore: The GlobalFoundries commitment cements Singapore position as a critical node in the semiconductor supply chain for the next wave of AI physical intelligence embodied in robots and autonomous systems. As humanoid robot shipments are projected to grow from 20,000 units in 2025 to 10 million annually by 2035, Singapore manufacturing and R&D capabilities in power management, silicon photonics and advanced packaging will be central to meeting that demand. This represents a significant expansion of Singapore role beyond traditional semiconductor manufacturing into frontier AI-enabling hardware.