Why This Comparison Matters for Southeast Asian Enterprises
Singapore and Malaysia enterprises evaluating enterprise AI platforms face a decision that will shape their technology infrastructure for years. Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT Enterprise, and Google Gemini each offer distinct strengths, limitations, and trade-offs. The right choice depends on your existing technology stack, security requirements, data residency needs, and specific use cases.
This comparison is written for decision-makers — CIOs, CTOs, Heads of IT, and procurement teams — who need to evaluate these platforms objectively. We cover pricing, security, data residency (critical for Singapore and Malaysia), integration capabilities, governance features, and practical guidance on which platform suits which use case.
Platform Overview
Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365
Microsoft Copilot is embedded directly into the Microsoft 365 suite — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and the broader Microsoft ecosystem. It is not a standalone AI tool; it is an AI layer on top of the applications your organisation already uses.
Best for: Organisations deeply embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem that want AI assistance within their existing workflow tools without switching between applications.
ChatGPT Enterprise (OpenAI)
ChatGPT Enterprise is OpenAI's business offering — a standalone AI platform with enterprise-grade security, administration, and customisation features. It operates as a separate application rather than being embedded in productivity tools.
Best for: Organisations that need a powerful, versatile AI platform for a wide range of tasks including analysis, writing, coding, research, and creative problem-solving, regardless of their primary productivity suite.
Google Gemini for Google Workspace
Google Gemini (formerly Duet AI) is Google's AI platform, integrated into Google Workspace — Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, and Meet. Like Copilot, it operates within the productivity suite.
Best for: Organisations running Google Workspace that want embedded AI capabilities across their Google tools, particularly those leveraging Google Cloud Platform.
Pricing Comparison
| Feature | Microsoft Copilot | ChatGPT Enterprise | Google Gemini |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per user/month add-on | Per user/month | Per user/month add-on |
| Base price | US$30/user/month | Custom pricing (typically US$25-60/user/month) | US$30/user/month |
| Prerequisite | M365 E3/E5 or Business Standard/Premium | None (standalone) | Google Workspace Business Standard or higher |
| Minimum users | 1 (but 300+ recommended for value) | Custom (typically 50+) | 1 |
| Free tier available | Limited Copilot features in Bing/Edge | ChatGPT Free (not enterprise) | Limited Gemini features in free Google accounts |
| Annual commitment | Required for most plans | Typically annual | Required for most plans |
Total Cost of Ownership
The per-user price does not tell the full story. Consider:
- Microsoft Copilot — Requires M365 E3 (US$36/user/month) or E5 (US$57/user/month) as a prerequisite. Total cost with Copilot: US$66-87/user/month. However, if you are already paying for M365, the incremental cost is only the US$30 Copilot add-on.
- ChatGPT Enterprise — Standalone pricing with no prerequisite subscription. However, it does not replace your productivity suite, so you still pay for M365 or Google Workspace separately. Total cost is ChatGPT Enterprise plus your existing productivity suite.
- Google Gemini — Requires Google Workspace Business Standard (US$14/user/month) or higher. Total cost with Gemini: US$44/user/month. Lower total cost than Copilot for organisations not already locked into M365 E3/E5.
For Singapore and Malaysia Budget Planning
Convert to local currency for budget planning:
| Platform | Monthly per user (SGD) | Monthly per user (MYR) | Annual 100-user cost (SGD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copilot add-on | ~S$41 | ~RM140 | ~S$49,200 |
| ChatGPT Enterprise | ~S$34-80 | ~RM115-270 | ~S$40,800-96,000 |
| Gemini add-on | ~S$41 | ~RM140 | ~S$49,200 |
Security Comparison
Data Processing and Training
| Security Feature | Microsoft Copilot | ChatGPT Enterprise | Google Gemini |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data used for model training | No | No | No |
| Data isolation | Per-tenant | Per-workspace | Per-organisation |
| Encryption at rest | AES-256 | AES-256 | AES-256 |
| Encryption in transit | TLS 1.2+ | TLS 1.2+ | TLS 1.2+ |
| SOC 2 Type II | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ISO 27001 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
All three platforms meet enterprise security baselines. The critical differentiator is not the security features themselves but how they integrate with your existing security infrastructure.
Identity and Access Management
- Microsoft Copilot — fully integrated with Azure Active Directory (Entra ID), conditional access policies, and Microsoft's identity management stack. If your organisation uses Azure AD, Copilot inherits all your existing access controls automatically.
- ChatGPT Enterprise — supports SAML SSO, SCIM provisioning, and custom access controls. Requires separate configuration from your primary identity provider.
- Google Gemini — fully integrated with Google Workspace identity management. If your organisation uses Google as its identity provider, Gemini inherits existing access controls.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
- Microsoft Copilot — integrates with Microsoft Purview DLP policies, sensitivity labels, and information barriers. If you have already configured DLP in M365, Copilot respects these policies automatically.
- ChatGPT Enterprise — offers workspace-level controls and custom content policies. DLP is managed within the ChatGPT platform, separate from your primary DLP infrastructure.
- Google Gemini — integrates with Google Workspace DLP rules and Drive labels. If you have configured DLP in Google Workspace, Gemini respects these policies.
Data Residency: Critical for Singapore and Malaysia
Data residency is one of the most important evaluation criteria for Singapore and Malaysia enterprises. Both countries have data protection laws (PDPA in Singapore, PDPA in Malaysia) that impose obligations on cross-border data transfers.
Where Your Data Lives
| Data Residency | Microsoft Copilot | ChatGPT Enterprise | Google Gemini |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore data centre | Yes (Southeast Asia region) | Limited (US primary, expanding) | Yes (Singapore region) |
| Malaysia data centre | Yes (Southeast Asia region) | No dedicated | Yes (Malaysia region planned) |
| Data residency controls | Azure data residency commitments | Workspace-level region selection | Google Cloud data residency |
| Cross-border processing | Possible for some AI processing | AI processing primarily US-based | Possible for some AI processing |
| Contractual commitments | Microsoft Customer Agreement | OpenAI Enterprise Agreement | Google Cloud Customer Agreement |
PDPA Compliance Implications
Singapore:
- Both Microsoft and Google offer Southeast Asia (Singapore) data residency for core productivity data
- AI processing may involve cross-border data transfers even when primary data residency is in Singapore
- Companies must ensure their data processing agreements with AI vendors include PDPA-compliant cross-border transfer provisions
- The PDPC recognises contractual obligations as a valid mechanism for cross-border transfers
Malaysia:
- Malaysia's PDPA restricts personal data transfers to countries without adequate data protection unless exceptions apply
- Microsoft and Google have established data centres in the ASEAN region, but AI processing may route through other locations
- Companies should review vendor data processing agreements to confirm compliance with Section 129 of Malaysia's PDPA
- HRDF-registered training programmes should include guidance on vendor compliance assessment
Practical Recommendation
For organisations with strict data residency requirements:
- Request a data flow diagram from each vendor showing exactly where your data is processed, stored, and cached during AI operations
- Review the data processing agreement for specific commitments on data residency, not just general statements
- Assess your risk tolerance — if any cross-border processing is unacceptable, you may need to restrict AI use to on-premises or private cloud solutions
- Document your decision — whatever platform you choose, document your data residency assessment for PDPA compliance purposes
Integration Capabilities
Microsoft Copilot Integrations
| Integration Area | Capability |
|---|---|
| Office applications | Native integration with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook |
| Collaboration | Native integration with Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive |
| Business applications | Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Power Automate |
| Custom development | Copilot Studio for building custom AI agents |
| Third-party | Graph connectors for Salesforce, ServiceNow, Jira, and others |
| Developer tools | GitHub Copilot (separate licence) |
ChatGPT Enterprise Integrations
| Integration Area | Capability |
|---|---|
| API access | Full GPT-4 API access with enterprise pricing |
| Custom GPTs | Build custom AI assistants for specific business functions |
| File analysis | Upload and analyse documents, spreadsheets, PDFs |
| Code execution | Advanced Data Analysis for running code on uploaded data |
| Third-party | Zapier, Make, and API-based integrations |
| Plugin ecosystem | Growing ecosystem of third-party integrations |
Google Gemini Integrations
| Integration Area | Capability |
|---|---|
| Workspace apps | Native integration with Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet |
| Cloud platform | Deep integration with Google Cloud Platform (Vertex AI) |
| Business applications | AppSheet for low-code app building with AI |
| Custom development | Gemini API for custom AI applications |
| Third-party | Google Workspace Marketplace integrations |
| Data analytics | BigQuery integration for large-scale data analysis |
Integration Guidance for SG/MY Enterprises
- If M365 is your primary suite → Copilot provides the deepest integration with minimal configuration
- If Google Workspace is your primary suite → Gemini provides the deepest integration with minimal configuration
- If you need a platform-agnostic AI tool → ChatGPT Enterprise works alongside any productivity suite
- If you need advanced AI capabilities (coding, analysis, research) → ChatGPT Enterprise offers the most powerful standalone capabilities
- If you are on Google Cloud → Gemini provides unique advantages through Vertex AI and BigQuery integration
Governance Features
Administrative Controls
| Governance Feature | Microsoft Copilot | ChatGPT Enterprise | Google Gemini |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usage analytics | M365 admin centre analytics | Enterprise analytics dashboard | Google Workspace admin console |
| User management | Azure AD / Entra ID | SCIM provisioning | Google Workspace directory |
| Content policies | Microsoft Purview | Workspace-level policies | Google Workspace DLP |
| Audit logging | Unified audit log in M365 | Enterprise audit logs | Google Workspace audit |
| Compliance certifications | 90+ compliance certifications | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR | 90+ compliance certifications |
| Information barriers | Yes (critical for financial services) | Limited | Limited |
For Regulated Industries in Singapore
Financial services firms under MAS supervision should note:
- Microsoft Copilot offers the most comprehensive compliance features, including information barriers that prevent AI from crossing Chinese walls — a critical requirement for banks and financial advisors
- ChatGPT Enterprise meets baseline security requirements but lacks the deep compliance integration that regulated firms need
- Google Gemini offers strong compliance features but the information barriers capability is less mature than Microsoft's
Which Platform for Which Use Case?
Best for Document-Heavy Organisations
Winner: Microsoft Copilot — native integration with Word, PowerPoint, and SharePoint means Copilot can draft, edit, and summarise documents within the tools your team already uses. No context-switching required.
Best for Data Analysis
Winner: ChatGPT Enterprise — Advanced Data Analysis allows users to upload datasets and receive analysis, visualisations, and insights through natural language conversation. Copilot in Excel is improving but ChatGPT's analytical capabilities remain stronger for complex analysis.
Best for Email-Heavy Organisations
Tie: Copilot (Outlook) and Gemini (Gmail) — both offer strong email drafting, summarisation, and prioritisation within their respective email platforms. Choose based on which email platform you use.
Best for Meeting-Heavy Organisations
Winner: Microsoft Copilot — Copilot in Teams provides the most comprehensive meeting AI: real-time summaries, action item extraction, and catch-up for missed meetings. Google Meet AI is catching up but Teams Copilot is more mature.
Best for Creative and Strategic Work
Winner: ChatGPT Enterprise — for brainstorming, strategic analysis, research synthesis, and creative problem-solving, ChatGPT Enterprise's conversation-based interface and powerful reasoning capabilities are superior.
Best for Regulated Industries (SG Financial Services)
Winner: Microsoft Copilot — the combination of Azure AD integration, Microsoft Purview compliance, information barriers, and comprehensive audit logging makes Copilot the strongest choice for MAS-regulated firms.
Making Your Decision
Decision Framework
| If your organisation... | Consider... |
|---|---|
| Runs M365 E3/E5 and Teams extensively | Microsoft Copilot as primary, ChatGPT Enterprise as supplementary |
| Runs Google Workspace | Google Gemini as primary, ChatGPT Enterprise as supplementary |
| Needs platform-agnostic AI capabilities | ChatGPT Enterprise as primary |
| Is MAS-regulated (financial services) | Microsoft Copilot (governance requirements) |
| Has strict data residency requirements | Microsoft or Google (Southeast Asia data centres) |
| Has a small team (<50) with tight budget | Google Gemini (lower total cost of ownership) |
| Needs advanced AI for analysis and research | ChatGPT Enterprise (strongest analytical capabilities) |
Hybrid Approach
Many Singapore and Malaysia enterprises are adopting a hybrid approach:
- Microsoft Copilot for daily productivity (email, documents, meetings)
- ChatGPT Enterprise for complex analysis, research, and creative work
- Google Gemini for organisations using Google Workspace for specific functions
The hybrid approach costs more per user but provides access to each platform's strengths. For organisations with the budget, this delivers the best overall AI capability.
Next Steps
- Audit your current technology stack — which productivity suite and cloud platform do you use?
- Define your priority use cases — which AI applications will deliver the most value?
- Assess your governance requirements — what regulatory and compliance obligations apply?
- Evaluate data residency needs — are there restrictions on where your data can be processed?
- Run a pilot — deploy 20-50 licences of your leading candidate for 30 days and measure results
- Engage a training partner — structured training dramatically accelerates adoption and ROI
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, and many Singapore enterprises do. A common approach is Microsoft Copilot for daily productivity (integrated into M365 tools you already use) combined with ChatGPT Enterprise for complex analysis, research, and creative work. The trade-off is higher cost and more complex governance. If budget is a constraint, choose the platform that aligns with your primary productivity suite and add a second platform only for specific use cases that justify the additional cost.
Microsoft and Google both offer Southeast Asia (Singapore) data centres for core productivity data. Google also has a Malaysia data centre. ChatGPT Enterprise primarily processes data in the US, though OpenAI is expanding regional availability. For organisations with strict data residency requirements under PDPA, Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini provide stronger data residency commitments. Always review the specific data processing agreement and request a data flow diagram from any vendor.
MAS-regulated firms should prioritise: information barriers (preventing AI from crossing Chinese walls), comprehensive audit logging for regulatory examination, integration with existing compliance infrastructure (DLP, sensitivity labels, retention policies), and contractual data processing commitments that meet MAS outsourcing guidelines. Microsoft Copilot currently offers the strongest combination of these features due to deep integration with Azure AD and Microsoft Purview.
For business use, enterprise versions are essential. Free versions of ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini may use your inputs for model training, lack administrative controls, provide no audit logging, offer no data processing agreements, and do not meet compliance requirements. For Singapore and Malaysia companies handling any form of personal data or confidential information, using free AI tools for business purposes creates unacceptable risk under PDPA and may violate your obligations to clients and regulators.
Run a structured 30-day pilot with 20-50 users across different departments. Define success metrics before the pilot starts (time saved, output quality, user satisfaction). Provide training at the start — untrained users significantly underperform. Measure weekly and collect qualitative feedback. After 30 days, compare results against your success metrics and calculate projected ROI for full deployment. Most vendors offer pilot pricing or can be negotiated down for evaluation periods.