James Ong

James Ong is a pioneering AI leader, venture builder, and global advocate for responsible technology. He brings over 40 years of experience across enterprise innovation, research, and entrepreneurship in Asia, the United States, and Europe.

He began his career as an AI scientist in 1986 at the Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC) in Austin, Texas. As part of the Fifth Generation Computing initiative, it was one of the earliest large-scale efforts to advance artificial intelligence. He later joined Trilogy, a pioneer in symbolic AI, where he deployed large-scale enterprise AI and internet solutions for global organisations.

As founder of the Artificial Intelligence International Institute (AIII), Ong now leads a global think tank dedicated to advancing sustainable AI. He is also CEO of Origami Frontiers and a Venture Partner at Delight Capital, where he invests in and mentors high-growth technology ventures. Over the years, he has incubated, scaled, and advised startups across multiple markets, guiding several from early-stage development to established businesses.

Ong has worked extensively with Fortune 500 companies and government agencies on technology-enabled transformation. His experience spans successive waves of innovation. From knowledge discovery and data mining to CRM, mobile internet, cloud computing, blockchain, Web3, and the metaverse. Across these domains, he has led and delivered large-scale programmes in areas such as customer intelligence, digital platforms, and AI-driven business process transformation across sectors including financial services, healthcare, telecommunications, retail, and the public sector.

He is the co-author of AI for Humanity, a forward-looking work on responsible and sustainable AI. The book introduces a practical framework built on three pillars: governance, technology, and commercialisation. It offers concrete tools for managing AI risks, scaling adoption, and aligning innovation with long-term societal value. This is also an agenda Ong actively advances through global platforms including the United Nations, ASEAN forums, and international policy dialogues.

James Ong is an Adjunct Professor at the Singapore University of Technology and Design and lectures at leading universities including NUS, NTU, SMU, and others. In addition, he serves in advisory and leadership roles across national and international organisations, contributing to AI governance, digital infrastructure, and fintech development.