According to Southeast Asia’s largest bank, DBS, artificial intelligence has moved beyond experimentation and is now delivering real business value. DBS CEO Tan Su Shan highlighted how deeply AI is embedded across the bank’s operations — from risk detection to customer insights — driving efficiency and measurable impact.
Tan revealed that DBS has implemented around 1,500 AI models across more than 370 use cases, spanning credit profiling, document analysis, customer behavior forecasting and more. She said that by automating repetitive tasks, the bank is freeing up staff to focus on higher-value work, while reducing operational risk.
In terms of financial gains, DBS is aiming for around S$1 billion in incremental impact from AI this year. This isn’t just cost-cutting — Tan says AI is a key engine for growth, enhancing both profitability and customer experience.
However, the shift is not without human repercussions. CEO Piyush Gupta has already projected a 10% reduction in DBS’s workforce (about 4,000 roles) over the next three years, largely affecting temporary and contract staff, as AI takes on more routine responsibilities.
