Tag Archives: Artificial Intelligence

Business, Editorial

Tech & The Human Experience: Navigating Trust, Personalization, and Digital Balance

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As we move deeper into 2025, the intersection of technology and human experience is evolving at an unprecedented pace. The Accenture Life Trends 2025 report sheds light on key shifts in consumer behaviour, while recent insights from industry experts further deepen our understanding of how AI, digital personalization, and trust are reshaping daily interactions. With digital fatigue on the rise and younger generations redefining human connection, AI is playing an increasingly central role in personalization. To stay relevant, businesses must navigate these shifts carefully, ensuring that technology enhances rather than diminishes meaningful interactions.

Sourabh Agrawal Country GTM Lead, Malaysia, Accenture Song Sq
Source: Accenture

“Organizations are increasingly challenged by scams, misinformation, and deepfakes, fueled by generative AI advancements“

Sourabh Agrawal, Country GTM Lead, Malaysia, Accenture Song

Rebuilding Trust in an AI-Driven World

Generative AI has revolutionized content creation, but it has also contributed to misinformation, scams, and deepfakes, leading to a growing digital trust crisis. For instance, in 2024, a widely circulated deepfake video falsely depicted a prominent public figure endorsing a fraudulent investment scheme, causing significant financial losses. Incidents like these highlight the urgent need for stronger digital verification measures. In Malaysia, 37% of consumers reported experiencing deepfake-related scams in 2024, highlighting the urgency of this issue.

Teenager wearing a VR headset and interacting in a home setting, enjoying virtual reality experience.
Photo by Julia M Cameron

To combat distrust, businesses must integrate authenticity verification tools, employ advanced deepfake detection, and prioritize transparent communication. Sourabh Agrawal, Country GTM Lead, Malaysia, Accenture Song, emphasizes that “clear customer verification methods should be integrated into communications, commerce, and product design to create trust at every touchpoint.” Companies must not only verify their digital interactions but also educate consumers on recognizing authentic content. By embedding trust at every touchpoint, businesses can mitigate the growing hesitation consumers feel in digital spaces.

The Personalization Paradox: Convenience vs. Ethical Concerns

Consumers increasingly demand hyper-personalized experiences, yet they are more aware than ever of the risks associated with data collection and AI-driven recommendations. Personalization must evolve to be ethically sound, inclusive, and privacy-focused.

Sourabh Agrawal explains that “businesses must embed trust, inclusivity, and transparency into every customer experience” to ensure personalization strategies remain ethical. To achieve this, businesses must:

  • Collect only essential data while ensuring strong security measures.
  • Design AI models that are fair and unbiased, eliminating unintended discrimination.
  • Balance personalization with human oversight, ensuring AI enhances experiences rather than replacing human touchpoints.

These steps build deeper trust, ensuring that customers feel valued and respected rather than surveilled or manipulated.

Rising Consumer Expectations: The Need for Speed and Relevance

Consumer impatience is growing rapidly, fueled by both digital transformation and shifting societal expectations. The demand for instant gratification, shaped by faster service models and on-demand solutions, is redefining traditional industries. The demand for instant gratification, shaped by faster service models and on-demand solutions, has reshaped industries like healthcare and finance, where patience was traditionally required.

A dynamic long exposure of traffic light streaks against historic Shanghai architecture at night.
Photo by zhang kaiyv

In Malaysia, 77% of people prioritize quick results, disrupting industries that traditionally require patience, such as healthcare and finance. Influencers are beginning to shape conversations around health, wealth and personal growth. A huge shift from their focus on lifestyle content. This shift pressures brands to deliver faster, more relevant solutions or risk losing customers to digital communities providing alternative guidance.

Businesses must adapt by leveraging AI to streamline experiences while maintaining genuine human connections. Agrawal notes that “77% of Malaysians prioritize quick outcomes, forcing businesses to adapt swiftly and ensure AI-driven experiences remain meaningful and relevant.” Rapid service delivery must be balanced with credibility, ensuring speed does not come at the cost of trust.

Digital Fatigue: AI’s Role in Restoring Balance

While digital engagement remains dominant, many consumers are deliberately seeking simplicity, opting for experiences that balance convenience with authenticity. In Malaysia, 38% of respondents cited a positive experience with digital interactions, while an equal percentage appreciated the “joy of missing out”—intentionally stepping away from digital spaces. This highlights a growing tension between convenience and the desire for real-world, sensory-rich experiences.

Sourabh Agrawal Country GTM Lead, Malaysia, Accenture Song Sq
Source: Accenture

“Personalization should reflect a brand’s commitment to human-centric experiences, creating value for customers by addressing their unique needs while respecting their individuality.”

Sourabh Agrawal, Country GTM Lead, Malaysia, Accenture Song

Agrawal highlights that “38% of Malaysians attributed their most enjoyable experience to something digital, while an equal percentage appreciated the ‘joy of missing out’ on technology.” AI can address digital fatigue by:

  • Streamlining interactions rather than overwhelming users with excessive notifications.
  • Maintaining a balance between automation and human touch, ensuring personalization enhances rather than dominates interactions.
  • Offering customized digital detox options, helping users engage more intentionally with technology.

Redefining Success: Moving Beyond “Time Spent” Metrics

The traditional measure of digital success—time spent on platforms—is becoming outdated. As consumers embrace digital detoxes and mindful engagement, brands must explore alternative strategies such as:

  • Retail activations and on-the-ground brand experiences.
  • Engagement through television, streaming, and offline events.
  • Measuring success through customer sentiment, loyalty, and trust rather than just screen time.

Younger Generations are Reshaping Human Connection

The way younger consumers engage with technology is significantly different from previous generations, shaped by both rapid technological advancements and evolving societal values. While they embrace digital convenience, they also seek deeper, more authentic interactions, balancing online and offline experiences in new ways. In Malaysia, 63% of young adults between the ages of 18-24 years believe social media plays a crucial role in shaping their identity, compared to just 33% of those over 55 years.

Sourabh Agrawal Country GTM Lead, Malaysia, Accenture Song Sq
Source: Accenture

“A growing number of individuals are embracing digital detoxes, stepping away from social media and digital distractions to enhance mental clarity and emotional well-being. This shift, rooted in mindfulness, highlights the importance of intentional breaks from technology.“

Sourabh Agrawal, Country GTM Lead, Malaysia, Accenture Song

While digital platforms provide empowerment, younger consumers are also driving a shift towards physical, finite experiences. Trends like disposable cameras and nostalgia-driven products reflect a growing preference for tangible, real-world interactions over purely digital ones. Brands must rethink personalization strategies, incorporating elements that resonate beyond the screen.

The Future of Human-Led Innovation in an AI-Dominated Era

As automation and AI continue to evolve, human oversight remains critical. Key opportunities for human-led innovation include:

  • Customer service: AI can handle routine inquiries, but human agents are essential for emotionally complex interactions.
  • Healthcare: AI supports diagnostics, but human expertise ensures empathy and nuanced care.
  • Ethical AI governance: Businesses must ensure AI-driven processes remain transparent, fair, and responsible.

For businesses, the future lies in using AI as an enabler rather than a replacement, ensuring technology complements rather than overshadows human intuition and creativity. Agrawal suggests that “the greatest opportunities for human-led innovation lie in blending AI capabilities with human insights to create more personalized, authentic experiences.”—leveraging technology to augment human intuition, creativity, and ethical decision-making.

Reshaping the AI Narrative: Human Empowerment Over Automation

Consumers are wary of AI’s potential to replace human roles, foster misinformation, and erode trust. Businesses must counteract this scepticism by positioning AI as a tool for human empowerment.

This requires:

  • Transparency in AI deployment, ensuring customers understand how their data is used.
  • Ethical AI implementation, reinforcing AI as a support mechanism rather than an authoritative decision-maker.
  • Investment in AI for consumer protection, using technology to detect fraud and enhance safety.

By aligning AI with human values, companies can reshape the narrative and reinforce the role of technology as a trust-building, experience-enhancing force.

The Road Ahead is About Embracing Balance and Augmenting Human Experiences

The evolving relationship between technology and human experience is complex, balancing personalization, trust, and digital well-being. Businesses must find ways to harness AI’s power without eroding authenticity, ensuring that digital experiences enhance rather than replace meaningful human interactions. As younger generations drive shifts in engagement and expectations, companies that embrace transparency, ethical AI, and a mix of digital and real-world strategies will be the ones that foster lasting consumer loyalty. Businesses that prioritize ethical AI, meaningful interactions, and consumer-centric innovation will be best positioned to thrive in 2025 and beyond.

Ultimately, technology should serve humanity, enhancing rather than replacing real-world experiences and meaningful connections. Companies that embrace this philosophy will lead the future of digital transformation while preserving the essential human connection at its core.

Business, News

OpenAI Unveils o3-mini – This is What You Need Know

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OpenAI has unveiled o3-mini, its latest language model designed for cost-effective reasoning, available now in both ChatGPT and the API. This model represents a significant advancement in the capabilities of smaller language models, excelling in STEM fields like science, math, and coding, while maintaining the low cost and reduced latency of its predecessor, o1-mini.

o3-mini isn’t just a scaled-down version of a larger model. It’s a purpose-built reasoning model, optimized for tasks requiring logical deduction and problem-solving, particularly in technical domains. OpenAI highlights its exceptional STEM capabilities, making it a powerful tool for tackling complex scientific, mathematical, and coding challenges. This focus differentiates it from models primarily designed for text generation or code completion, positioning o3-mini as a specialized instrument for technical tasks.

Close-up of a smartphone showing ChatGPT details on the OpenAI website, held by a person.
Photo by Sanket Mishra

A key feature of o3-mini is its support for developer-centric functionalities, including function calling, structured outputs, and developer messages. These features make it production-ready, allowing developers to seamlessly integrate it into real-world applications. Like o1-mini and o1-preview, o3-mini also supports streaming, enabling dynamic and interactive experiences. Furthermore, developers can choose from low, medium, and high reasoning effort options, providing flexibility to optimize for speed or accuracy depending on the specific use case. It’s important to note that o3-mini does not support vision capabilities; for visual reasoning tasks, developers should continue using the o1 model. o3-mini is currently being rolled out in the Chat Completions API, Assistants API, and Batch API to select developers in API usage tiers 3-5.

ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro users gain immediate access to o3-mini, with Enterprise access following in February. o3-mini will replace o1-mini in the model picker, offering higher rate limits and lower latency. Specifically, the rate limit for Plus and Team users triples from 50 messages per day with o1-mini to 150 messages per day with o3-mini. Adding another layer of utility, o3-mini now integrates with search, providing up-to-date answers with links to relevant web sources—an early prototype of search integration across OpenAI’s reasoning models.

Free plan users also get a chance to experience o3-mini by selecting ‘Reason’ in the message composer or regenerating a response. This marks the first time a reasoning model has been made available to free users in ChatGPT.

While o1 remains OpenAI’s general knowledge reasoning model, o3-mini serves as a specialized alternative for technical domains demanding precision and speed. In ChatGPT, o3-mini defaults to medium reasoning effort, balancing speed and accuracy. Paid users can also select o3-mini-high for more complex tasks requiring higher intelligence, though this option may result in slightly longer response times. Pro users have unlimited access to both o3-mini and o3-mini-high.

According to OpenAI, o3-mini’s performance is impressive. With medium reasoning effort, it matches o1’s performance in math, coding, and science, but delivers faster responses. Expert evaluations have shown that o3-mini produces more accurate and clearer answers with stronger reasoning abilities than o1-mini. Testers preferred o3-mini’s responses 56% of the time and observed a 39% reduction in major errors on challenging real-world questions. With medium reasoning effort, o3-mini matches the performance of o1 on challenging reasoning and intelligence evaluations like AIME and GPQA. Its performance extends across various benchmarks, including competition math (AIME), PhD-level science questions (GPQA Diamond), research-level mathematics (FrontierMath), competition coding (Codeforces), software engineering (SWE-bench Verified), and LiveBench coding. In all these areas, o3-mini demonstrates significant improvements over its predecessor, particularly with high reasoning effort.

Speed and efficiency are also hallmarks of o3-mini. It delivers responses 24% faster than o1-mini, with an average response time of 7.7 seconds compared to 10.16 seconds for o1-mini. o3-mini also boasts a 2500ms faster time to first token than o1-mini.

Safety is paramount. OpenAI employs techniques like deliberative alignment to ensure o3-mini responds safely, training the model to consider human-written safety specifications before answering prompts. Like o1, o3-mini surpasses GPT-4 on challenging safety and jailbreak evaluations. Rigorous safety assessments, external red-teaming, and safety evaluations are conducted before deployment.

It’s worth noting that o3-mini launches on the tails of DeepSeek’s R1 model. This model has become quite the disruptor in the Generative AI space affecting companies like Open AI and NVIDIA. With claims that the model is running on more modest hardware and – more importantly – Huawei’s processors. The model not only breaks the perceived monopoly and leadership of America in the AI arena, but it also shows a shift that may break the monopolistic hold US-based companies have had thus far. Open AI’s o3-mini follows DeepSeek’s R1 when it comes to power efficiency and speed.

How will it affect the market in the long run? We can’t say for sure, but one thing we do know is DeepSeek is breaking a lot of preconceptions that China is unable to keep up with AI movement due to tariffs and trade restrictions currently in place.

Business, Editorial

From Confusion to Clarity: How InsureKU Simplifies Insurance with AI

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The insurance industry has long been associated with complexity, opaque processes, and a significant knowledge gap between providers and consumers. For years, consumers have struggled to navigate the maze of insurance options, bogged down by technical jargon, lengthy claims processes, and a lack of transparency. Recognizing these pain points, Malaysian startup InsureKU has entered the scene with a bold vision: to revolutionize the insurance journey through cutting-edge AI and digital tools, transforming the experience for consumers while empowering insurance providers with unprecedented operational efficiency.

Simplifying the Insurance Journey for Consumers

At the heart of InsureKU’s mission is the drive to make insurance more accessible, transparent, and user-friendly. The platform achieves this through a combination of intuitive design and advanced algorithms. Its real-time aggregation engine, powered by server-side rendering (SSR), ensures users can access and compare policies with minimal latency. Additionally, the integration of AI-driven tools enhances user guidance by breaking down complex insurance jargon into understandable terms, offering a seamless and informative experience. “The driving force behind InsureKU’s inception was recognizing a significant gap in the insurance market, especially in streamlining processes like issuing Guarantee Letters for hospital admissions, which are often tedious and time-consuming,” explains Shadhana Sekaran, Co-founder and CEO of InsureKU. “Additionally, while people understand the importance of insurance, many feel overwhelmed by the options and complex information, making them hesitant to commit.”

Polish 100 złoty notes with pills and blister packs, illustrating medical costs.
Photo by Pixabay,

To address these challenges, InsureKU has developed a custom-built aggregation engine that integrates with multiple insurance and takaful providers. This engine is powered by advanced data integration frameworks and APIs that facilitate seamless connectivity with providers’ systems. Built on a robust cloud infrastructure, the engine employs machine learning algorithms to optimize policy recommendations and ensure real-time quote generation. Additionally, the use of modern development frameworks, like Next.js, ensures high performance and scalability, delivering a user experience that is both intuitive and efficient. This engine allows users to access real-time quotes and seamlessly compare policies across various categories, including medical, life, and motor insurance, all within a single platform. By leveraging server-side rendering (SSR) capabilities, the platform delivers highly dynamic and responsive user experiences, ensuring real-time updates on quotes and features. Unlike traditional client-side rendering, SSR processes the HTML on the server before sending it to the user’s browser, significantly reducing load times and improving search engine optimization (SEO). This approach not only enhances performance but also ensures a smoother, more interactive experience for users navigating through complex insurance data.

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Source: Screencap of InsureKU’s Website

“We aim to demystify insurance and empower individuals to make confident, informed decisions about their coverage,” adds Shadhana. The platform’s user-centric approach includes features such as live chat, email, and phone assistance to provide guidance during policy selection and post-purchase support, ensuring that consumers feel supported at every step of their insurance journey.

AI-Powered Innovations Transforming the Industry

While InsureKU’s aggregation engine sets the foundation for its digital platform, its AI-driven features truly set it apart. The company is actively exploring the use of custom AI models to build a comprehensive knowledge base for insurance products. This knowledge base enables users to ask specific questions about policies in real-time, leveraging natural language processing (NLP) models to interpret and respond to queries with high accuracy. By employing NLP, the platform can understand complex user inputs and provide contextually relevant information, creating a more intuitive and guided experience. These AI techniques enable dynamic interactions, allowing users to access tailored insights without needing deep technical knowledge.

“We’re working on integrating AI-driven features to further enhance the insurance and takaful aggregation experience,” Shadhana shares. “For instance, automated claim processing and fraud detection are key areas where AI can significantly ease pain points for both customers and insurance partners.” By analyzing claim documents and detecting fraudulent requests, InsureKU aims to streamline the claims process, reducing delays and enhancing trust between consumers and providers. The platform employs machine learning models such as anomaly detection algorithms to identify irregular patterns in claims data, flagging potential fraud with high accuracy. These AI-driven methods not only speed up the validation process but also minimize false positives, ensuring a smoother experience for legitimate claims while maintaining robust security against fraudulent activities.

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Image by Tung Nguyen from Pixabay

The potential of AI extends beyond claims processing. InsureKU’s platform can analyze large datasets from various insurers to ensure better risk assessment and offer the most competitive rates tailored to individual customer profiles. This data-driven approach not only benefits consumers but also helps insurers refine their offerings and pricing strategies, fostering a more competitive and transparent marketplace.

Promoting Transparency & Trust

Transparency is a cornerstone of InsureKU’s philosophy. The platform’s digital-first approach promotes visibility and accountability by streamlining processes such as claims tracking, policy management, and customer support. Consumers have real-time access to critical information, empowering them to make well-informed decisions and fostering trust in a traditionally opaque industry.

“The digitization of the insurance sector is set to majorly help the finance and insurance sectors, allowing a large part of the population to have easy access to policy buying and proper knowledge about all the products available in the market,” Shadhana notes. She anticipates that younger, tech-savvy consumers will lead this shift toward online platforms, seeking convenience and minimal hassle.

InsureKU’s commitment to transparency is further underscored by its adherence to Bank Negara Malaysia’s guidelines on internet insurance and IT environment management. The platform employs multi-layered security measures, including data encryption and continuous monitoring, to protect sensitive user information and maintain a robust security posture.

Empowering Insurance Providers Through Technology

While InsureKU’s innovations are consumer-focused, the platform also delivers significant value to insurance providers. By aggregating real-time data and enabling seamless comparisons, InsureKU helps insurers reach a broader audience and present their products in a transparent, accessible manner. This fosters healthier competition and encourages providers to innovate and adapt to evolving consumer expectations.

Silhouette of two people shaking hands symbolizing partnership and trust.
Photo by Savvas Stavinos

The platform’s scalability and reliability are powered by modern frontend and backend frameworks, including Next.js, which ensures smooth navigation and minimal latency. Next.js was chosen for its ability to support server-side rendering (SSR), which enhances performance by preloading content on the server before delivering it to the user’s browser. This framework also provides excellent scalability, allowing the platform to handle a growing user base without compromising speed or functionality. Additionally, its modular architecture simplifies development and maintenance, ensuring the platform remains robust and responsive as it evolves. Hosted on a secure cloud infrastructure, InsureKU offers insurers a stable and reliable environment to engage with potential customers while safeguarding sensitive data.

The Future of Digital Insurance

As InsureKU continues to grow, the company has ambitious plans to expand its offerings and further enhance its platform. “We’re working hard to include other insurance products such as travel, critical illness, medical cards, and motor insurance in the upcoming months,” Shadhana reveals. The team is also developing a mobile app, set to launch in the second half of 2025, to provide users with a seamless, on-the-go experience. The app will feature advanced functionalities such as real-time policy comparisons, AI-driven customer support, and biometric authentication for enhanced security. Additionally, it will integrate with the platform’s core aggregation engine, ensuring that users can access the same comprehensive insurance options and personalized recommendations directly from their mobile devices.

Additionally, InsureKU is exploring the integration of AI-powered chatbots for 24/7 customer support, as well as advanced analytics tools to refine its risk assessment and pricing models. These advancements are poised to set new standards for digital insurance, making the industry more accessible, transparent, and efficient than ever before.

Redefining the Insurance Landscape

InsureKU’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of technology in addressing long-standing challenges in the insurance industry. By combining AI-driven innovations with a commitment to transparency and user-centric design, the platform is redefining the insurance landscape in Malaysia and beyond.

“Our goal is to raise the bar, making insurance more accessible, transparent, and responsive to the evolving needs of today’s consumers,” Shadhana concludes. With its forward-thinking approach and relentless focus on innovation, InsureKU is not just simplifying insurance; it’s setting the stage for a smarter, more inclusive future for the entire industry.

This article is written from an interview with Ms Shadhana Sekaran, Chief Executive Officer and Founder at InsureKU

Ms Shadhana Sekaran (Co Founder & CEO)

Shadhana Sekaran
Chief Executive Office & Founder, InsureKU

Shadhana Sekaran is the co-founder, and serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of InsureKU Malaysia, the first true end to end Insurance and Takaful Aggregation and Recommendation Platform in Malaysia. She brings over 21 years of real world experience in business and leadership capacities within the insurance industry to this unique offering. With a unique amalgamation of strategic prowess and deep industry knowledge, Sekaran orchestrates the overarching business strategy, fostering innovation and driving transformative initiatives within the insurance sector.
At InsureKU, she spearheads pioneering solutions, harnessing a user-centric website platform to facilitate seamless comparison of insurance and takaful product quotes and recommendations for Malaysian consumers.
Acknowledged for her remarkable accomplishments within the Insurance and Takaful industry, including the much coveted Million Dollar Round Table Producer accolade, and the Double Kris Award, Sekaran commands respect through her actions and her commitment to bettering the world around her.
Additionally, she contributes significantly to local entrepreneurial development, serving as the Chairman for Domestic Trade at the Kuala Lumpur Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Beyond her corporate endeavors, she actively participates in community outreach initiatives, holding the position of Deputy President at the Soroptimist International Club of Sentul and leading impactful programs such as the Educare Programme.
Armed with a degree in International Business Administration from the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, Sekaran is a proven corporate and community leader that has a varied and respected career characterised by versatility and an unwavering commitment to innovative solutions for the benefit of her customers.. Presently, she continues to redefine Malaysia’s insurance and takaful landscape, championing accessibility and simplicity in insurance through insureKU.

Business, Contributed

Ways AI Has Changed Digital Marketing In 2024

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This article is contributed by Dhawal Shah, Regional Managing Director and Co-founder of 2Stallions

The digital marketing industry in Malaysia continues to soar, with it raking in RM66.22 billion in the first half of 2024 alone, handily surpassing the full-year digital investment for 2023 of RM46.2 billion. This massive growth can be attributed to a wide range of factors; however, we must acknowledge that the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in not only this sector, but across all industries, has definitely been a major contributor. As a matter of fact, AI has boosted every single industry’s revenue by 10% to 35% globally.

Chatbot,With,Ai,(artificial,Intelligence),,Search,Engine,,Businessman,Using,Laptop
Source: 2Stalliions via Shutterstock

With this in mind, let’s take a deep dive into the 6 ways AI has transformed digital marketing in 2024, as well as why all digital marketers should adopt it fully before it’s too late.

Content, Products, And Brands: Specifically For You

AI has completely supercharged companies’ abilities to deliver hyper-personalised content to users. With the power to analyse data such as browsing habits, past purchases, and even real-time interactions to tailor content to individual preferences, marketers can create dynamic content that changes based on a user’s profile or real-time behaviour, enhancing engagement.

In addition, AI-powered recommendation engines — think the suggestions you get on Amazon or Netflix — have become the gold standard. These systems are perfect examples for marketers to be inspired by, in terms of how tracking customer preferences can be used to suggest products and services that match their interests.

Night view of Piccadilly Circus in London with bright billboards and a red double-decker bus.
Photo by Negative Space

Getting Your Brand To The Top AI has radically transformed search engine optimisation (SEO). With AI tools like Google’s BERT and MUM models, we can now get a clearer sense of what people are searching for and tailor content to match their intent more accurately. AI also powers natural language processing (NLP) tools and generation models like OpenAI’s GPT, making it possible to create more human and authentic content—at a much faster pace.

Automated content creation is another leap forward, with AI tools generating blog posts, ad copy, and even social media content. AI doesn’t just speed up the content creation process for this area though; it’s smart enough to analyse real-time data and tweak messaging for better engagement. Whether it’s blog posts, social media updates, or ad copy, AI helps make sure your content resonates with the right audience.

Your Campaigns Can Run Themselves

AI has completely transformed the way we manage campaigns, from increased efficiency to improved idea generation and more . Imagine having tools that not only target the right audience but also optimise everything in real-time—from bidding strategies to audience segmentation and

performance tracking. With AI, it’s now possible to automate many aspects of campaign management, ensuring your ads always perform at their best.

And it doesn’t stop there. AI is also changing how programmatic advertising works, automating the entire ad-buying process across multiple platforms through specially designed programmatic algorithms. This ensures that your ads are reaching the right people at the right moment, helping you get the most out of your marketing budget and further maximising your return-on-investment (ROI).

Talk Chatbot To Me

The rise of AI-powered chatbots in customer support has been one of the most interesting developments in the marketing sector. As of 2024, chatbots have become smarter (literally), and are capable of handling more complex queries through natural language understanding (NLU), the better to deliver faster, more accurate responses. This trend has led to improved user experiences, with bots providing 24/7 support, personalising responses based on customer history, and escalating issues to human agents only when necessary, such as in the case of Google’s Customer Engagement Suite.

Hands typing on a laptop displaying the ChatGPT interface, showcasing AI technology.
Photo by Matheus Bartelli

In industries like retail and e-commerce, these AI chatbots are a game-changer. They can cut response times and improve customer satisfaction, all while gathering data that helps businesses refine their future marketing strategies.

Future-Powered Targets

AI’s ability to sift through massive amounts of data has brought predictive analytics to a whole new level. By 2024, marketers can anticipate trends, customer behaviour, and buying patterns with stunning accuracy. These predictive models allow businesses to hit the sweet spot when customers are most likely to engage or purchase, making marketing even more effective.

From predicting future purchases to knowing when a customer might unsubscribe, these insights can go a long way towards helping companies deliver personalised, timely offers that resonate with their audience, ultimately boosting marketing efficiency.

Visual and Voice Searches

Voice search is booming, and AI is at the heart of this shift. By 2024, over half of all internet searches are expected to be voice-based, thanks to AI-driven tools like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. With conversational queries on the rise, businesses need to optimise their content to ensure they actively feature in voice search results.

AI is also revolutionising visual search. Tools like Google Lens now enable users to find products or information just by snapping a photo. This trend is pushing brands to rethink how they optimise their content, ensuring they’re ready for both voice and visual searches as they become even more integral to how people discover information.

Business, Computers, News

ASUS Expands ExpertBook Offerings in Malaysia with Two New Models

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ASUS Malaysia is expanding its ExpertBook lineup, bolstering its ASUS Business offerings. The two new laptops—the ExpertBook P1 and ExpertBook P5—are designed specifically for professionals and businesses in different segments. Both laptops offer a balance of performance, portability, and security.

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ExpertBook P1: A Reliable and Affordable Option

The ExpertBook P1 is a more budget-friendly option for professionals who prioritize essential computing tasks. It features a sleek and lightweight design, making it easy to carry around. Powered by the latest Intel Core processors, the P1 delivers reliable performance for everyday tasks.

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The new offering under the ASUS Business portfolio comes with a 13th Generation Intel Core i7 Processor with up to 16GB of DDR5 RAM and 512GB PCIe 4.0 Storage. It comes with support for Dual DDR SO-DIMM slots for high performance RAM upgrades and Dual-SSD RAID support for better memory reliability and performance.

In addition to this, the laptop also comes with miliary-grade durability for peace of mind when working on the go. The laptop also comes with a bevvy of AI features that are designed to enhance the user experience. A standout AI feature is the ASUS AI ExpertMeet that helps enhance meeting productivity with on the fly translations, translations and meeting summaries. Key features of the ExpertBook P1 include:

ExpertBook P5: A Powerful and AI-Driven Laptop

The ExpertBook P5 is a high-performance laptop designed for professionals who demand the best. Powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra processors, the P5 offers exceptional performance and AI-powered features.

The P5 is designed to be lightweight and durable – two important factors for people who work on-the-go. It comes with a high-resolution, 14-inch display with a 2.5K resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. The laptop also comes with an enhanced cooling system that ensures optimal performance even under heavy load. It also comes with enterprise level security including TPM 2.0 and BIOS protection.

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Like the ExpertBook P1, the Expert Book P5 comes with AI features to help with productivity. However, unlike the P1, the P5 is a Copilot+ for Work PC which comes with Microsoft’s Copilot+ enhancements including features that help with meeting productivity and enhanced security. It is also ready for Microsoft Recall, that will be rolling out later on.

ASUS is also providing 3-year warranty that includes on-site service and 24/7 customer support for the P5.

Pricing and Availability

The ASUS ExpertBook P1 series starts at RM3,799, while the ExpertBook P5 is priced at RM6,859. Both laptops are available now in Malaysia.

Business, Editorial

Sustainability for the AI Future Needs to Start with Data Centres

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This article was based on an interview with Mr Chee Meng Tan, Area Sales Director, Commercial Building Services at Grundfos

As the world accelerates into the AI-driven future, the demand for data processing power is growing exponentially. The backbone of this digital revolution—data centres—is crucial in enabling advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and more. However, this progress comes at a significant environmental cost. Data centres are notorious for their immense energy consumption and water usage, making them prime candidates for sustainability efforts. In an era of heightened environmental consciousness, achieving sustainability in data centres is not just an option but an imperative.

Grundfos UAE Data Centre
Source: Grundfos

Chee Meng Tan, Area Sales Director, Commercial Building Services at Grundfos, highlights this challenge succinctly: “The efficiency of both IT hardware and cooling has been improved, and there’s a shift away from small, inefficient enterprise data centres towards more efficient cloud and hyperscale data centres.” The future of sustainability in AI must begin with reevaluating how data centres manage energy, cooling, and water resources.

Malaysia’s Emergence as a Key Market for Data Centers

In the Asia Pacific region and more specifically, Southeast Asia, Malaysia quickly has emerged as a key hub for data centre investments. With its strategic geographic location, relatively stable political environment, and competitive energy prices, Malaysia has attracted significant interest from global technology giants. Companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Meta have all made substantial investments in the region to support their growing data infrastructure needs.

Copilot Generated Malaysia Digital
AI Generated Image of Malaysia Digital

Google has set its sights on expanding its cloud operations in Malaysia as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its Southeast Asian presence by investing over USD$2 billion. Similarly, Microsoft announced plans to invest USD$2.2 billion in new data centre regions in Malaysia, signalling the country’s rising importance in the global cloud ecosystem. Meta, too, is making moves to leverage Malaysia’s infrastructure for its massive data demands, driven by the increasing reliance on cloud services and social media across the globe. The emerging importance of Malaysia as a key player couldn’t be better emphasized than with the USD$6.2 billion investment by AWS to develop and deploy its data centres in the country.

Malaysia’s government has also been keen to position the country as a leader in digital infrastructure. The recent launch of the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDIGITAL) sets the stage for Malaysia to become a regional digital economy leader by 2030. Part of this initiative involves accelerating the development of data centres and semiconductor fabrication, positioning Malaysia as a critical player in the Southeast Asian data economy.

However, this rapid growth brings challenges. As Tan points out, Southeast Asia’s unique climate, characterized by high temperatures and humidity, exacerbates the energy and cooling demands of data centres. “Cooling alone accounts for 35 to 40% of energy consumption in data centres in Southeast Asia—up to 10% more than the global average,” he explains.

The Energy and Water Footprint of Data Centers

Data centres are power-hungry operations. According to the International Energy Agency, the electricity demand of data centres is expected to double by 2026, driven by the rising adoption of AI and other data-intensive technologies. Cooling systems alone account for about 40% of the total energy consumption in these facilities, making it clear that any advancements in energy efficiency must begin with improvements to these systems.

Water usage is another critical challenge. Tan notes that “data centres are estimated to use more than a billion litres of water per day – equivalent to about 400 Olympic-sized swimming pools.” This consumption is expected to increase rapidly as the demand for computing power rises. The water-energy nexus—where water is required to generate energy, and energy is required to circulate water—places a double burden on data centres striving to become more sustainable.

Grundfos: Innovating for Sustainability in Data Centers

Grundfos, a global leader in pump solutions and water management, has been at the forefront of sustainability efforts within the data centre industry. By leveraging over 75 years of experience in water solutions, Grundfos is not just selling pumps; they are working with data centre designers to optimize cooling systems based on specific needs. As Tan explains, “We don’t just sell pump solutions, but work with data centre designers to optimize the design of the cooling system based on the specific needs of each data centre.”

Grundfos UAE Case Study Grundfos Hydro MPC E and Hydro Multi E water boosting systems with IP55 rated MGE motors
Grundfos Hydro MPC E and Hydro Multi E water boosting systems with IP55 rated MGE motors (Source: Grundfos)

Grundfos provides tailored solutions that help data centres reduce their energy and water footprints. For instance, ensuring that pumps are properly sized for each system is critical to minimizing energy waste. “It may sound basic, but many building operators don’t get it right,” Tan points out. The right-sizing of pumps can prevent significant energy wastage and ensure that the cooling system operates efficiently.

In addition to sizing, the motors used in these pumps play a pivotal role in energy efficiency. Tan mentions that many data centres are still using outdated IE3 motors, even though more energy-efficient alternatives, such as IE5 motors, are available. “Based on our calculation, an IE5 motor can achieve 5% in energy savings as compared to an IE3 motor for 10MW data centres,” he says. These savings might seem small at first glance, but when considering the scale of energy usage in data centres, they add up to significant reductions in both energy consumption and operational costs.

AI and Machine Learning in Cooling Systems

As AI continues to develop, it is not only driving the demand for data centres but also providing the tools to make them more sustainable. One of the most exciting advancements in data centre cooling is the use of AI and machine learning to achieve real-time, on-demand cooling. Tan points to a groundbreaking example from Google: “Google reported using its DeepMind AI to reduce the electricity demand of their data centre cooling systems by 40%.”

An artist’s illustration of artificial intelligence (AI). This image was inspired by neural networks used in deep learning. It was created by Novoto Studio as part of the Visualising AI pr...
Photo by Google Deepmind

By harnessing AI to monitor temperature and cooling requirements, data centres can dynamically adjust their cooling systems to reduce energy consumption. Machine learning algorithms can analyze vast amounts of operational data to predict when and where cooling is needed, allowing the system to respond with precision, thereby optimizing energy use.

This shift toward intelligent cooling systems represents a major leap forward in the quest for sustainable data centres. AI-driven solutions not only reduce energy consumption but also extend the lifespan of equipment by preventing overheating and reducing the strain on infrastructure.

Modular and Prefabricated Solutions for Efficiency

Beyond AI, Grundfos is also pioneering modular and prefabricated solutions designed to enhance energy efficiency in data centres. Tan explains, “While not specific to data centres, the Delta Modular Systems we have developed offer various modularized standard solutions to the building services industry.” These systems are designed to optimize both the pump module’s structural design and control operations, bringing significant energy savings while reducing construction time and environmental impact.

Modular systems, particularly in cooling, are gaining traction because they allow for more tailored, needs-based cooling. Instead of relying on a centralized system, smaller cooling units can be deployed across server racks, each regulating its performance based on the needs of the corresponding rack. This not only minimizes energy usage but also ensures that each part of the data centre is cooled efficiently, without overburdening any single system.

Water Efficiency: A Key Focus for the Future

As global water security becomes an increasing concern, data centres are under pressure to reduce their water consumption. Grundfos is actively exploring alternative water sources and technologies that allow for more sustainable water management in data centres. “New technologies are being explored, such as using non-potable alternative water sources like rainwater harvesting or recycled water,” Tan explains. However, these systems require significant energy to treat the water and ensure its compatibility with the equipment used in data centres.

A holistic approach to sustainability, therefore, must include both energy and water efficiency. By integrating renewable water sources and improving the energy efficiency of water management systems, data centres can reduce their environmental impact and enhance their resilience in the face of water scarcity.

The Importance of Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE)

One of the key metrics used to measure the energy efficiency of data centres is Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE). PUE is a ratio that compares the total energy used by the data centre to the energy used by the computing equipment itself. An ideal PUE is 1.0, meaning that all energy consumed by the facility is being used for computing, with no excess energy wasted on overhead functions like cooling.

AI integration into Data Center Cooling systems
AI-Generated image of AI integration into Data Center Cooling systems by Microsoft Copilot

“PUE is a crucial metric for data centres,” Tan explains. “At Grundfos, our solutions are designed to achieve optimal energy efficiency, thereby reducing a data centre’s PUE.” Grundfos achieves this through three main strategies: providing reliable and efficient pumps, using digital technologies to optimize energy consumption, and offering prefabricated and modular solutions that shorten construction times and reduce environmental impact.

By focusing on reducing PUE, data centres can ensure that their energy usage is aligned with sustainability goals, while also cutting down on operational costs.

Renewable Energy Integration: The Next Step in Sustainability

Pairing energy-efficient cooling with renewable energy sources represents the next frontier for sustainable data centres. “The incorporation of renewable energy sources like solar panels or geothermal energy across operations can enable data centres to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and minimize their carbon footprint,” Tan says.

While renewable energy is often associated with variability—depending on factors like weather conditions—intelligent data insights and analytics can help overcome these challenges. By integrating renewable energy sources with advanced grid management systems, data centres can create a more resilient, sustainable energy supply that does not compromise performance.

The Road Ahead Should Be AI and Sustainability in Tandem

Looking to the future, AI is poised to play a central role in advancing sustainability efforts within the data centre industry. As Tan observes, “The rapid expansion of the AI market, which is projected to grow at a staggering annual rate of 37.3% between 2023 and 2030, is a primary driver of the rising demand for data centres.” This growth creates both opportunities and challenges: while data centres will need to expand to meet AI’s growing demands, they will also need to adopt AI-driven technologies to improve their sustainability.

In the next decade, data centres will increasingly rely on AI to optimize energy usage, predict maintenance needs, and enhance operational efficiency. These advancements will be critical in helping the industry meet global sustainability targets, such as those outlined in the Global Cooling Pledge, which aims to reduce cooling-related emissions by 68% by 2030.

Sustainable AI Starts with Data Centers

As the digital revolution continues to unfold, data centres will remain at the heart of technological progress. However, the environmental impact of these facilities cannot be ignored. As Chee Meng Tan from Grundfos emphasizes, “With a more robust approach to sustainability that considers impact across multiple touchpoints, data centres can demonstrate a strengthened commitment to the cause, which sharpens its competitive edge within the industry.”

By integrating energy-efficient technologies, adopting AI-driven cooling solutions, and exploring alternative water sources, data centres can drastically reduce their environmental footprint. The road to a sustainable AI future starts with the choices we make today, and it begins at the data centre.

This article was based on an interview with Mr Chee Meng Tan, Area Sales Director, Commercial Building Services at Grundfos

Tan Chee Meng Grundfos

Chee Meng Tan
Area Sales Director, Commercial Building Services, Grundfos

Chee Meng Tan is currently the Area Sales Director for Grundfos’ Commercial Building Services (CBS) division, responsible for growing CBS’s presence and leadership in Southeast Asia. Apart from opening and developing regional markets and operations, his role involves the strategic formulation and operative implementation of regional sales concepts.

Chee Meng joined Grundfos Singapore in 1995 as an Application Engineer and has taken on different roles and responsibilities in the last 29 years. Prior to taking on his current role, Chee Meng has held various positions within Grundfos such as the General Manager of Grundfos Alldos (Shanghai) Water Treatment Co, Ltd, the Regional Business Director for Industry Segment in Asia Pacific, as well as the Business Director for Water Utility segment in Asia Pacific.

Chee Meng holds a Diploma in Electrical Engineering as well as Management Studies.

Business, Editorial

Developing and Enhancing Cyber Resilience in Core Infrastructure

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This article was based on an interview with Mr Ramon Pinero, General Manager of BlackBerry AtHoc, and Mr Jonathan Jackson, Senior Director of Strategic Accounts at BlackBerry.

As we increasingly depend on digital systems for everyday operations, the security of our critical infrastructure faces unprecedented challenges. Cybersecurity, once a consideration largely confined to the tech sector, now plays a central role in safeguarding industries like transportation, healthcare, energy, and smart cities. BlackBerry, a company once synonymous with mobile devices, has shifted focus to become a key player in cybersecurity, integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to bolster infrastructure resilience.

Pivoting Mobile Leader to Cybersecurity Powerhouse

BlackBerry’s journey from a hardware pioneer to a cybersecurity leader was driven by recognizing a shift in the global digital landscape. Cybersecurity has evolved into an essential growth market in an interconnected world with myriad endpoints—from smartphones to autonomous vehicles and IoT sensors.

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Photo by Huy Phan

BlackBerry recognized this early and made a strategic decision to focus on software and services. “We saw an opportunity to make a strategic decision to focus on software and services in cybersecurity as a growth market,” noted Jonathan Jackson, Senior Director of Strategic Accounts at BlackBerry. This shift positioned the company to lead in two critical areas: cybersecurity and embedded systems, which are crucial in protecting modern infrastructure.

AI and Machine Learning: BlackBerry’s New Arsenal

At the core of BlackBerry’s transformation is its acquisition of Cylance, an AI-driven cybersecurity firm. The integration of Cylance’s AI and machine learning capabilities has empowered BlackBerry to prevent and respond to emerging threats. The nature of AI allows for predictive security, meaning that BlackBerry’s systems can anticipate and stop attacks before they materialize.

“Cylance AI is embedded across the full security stack of BlackBerry’s portfolio today,” explained Jackson. This approach is crucial in a world where cyberattacks evolve constantly, with AI even being used by malicious actors to generate never-before-seen threats. By using AI to fight AI, BlackBerry ensures it remains a step ahead of cybercriminals, leveraging technologies like deep learning to predict and prevent threats to critical systems.

Emergence of Smart Cities and the Need to Build Cyber Resilience

As smart cities emerge worldwide, they bring with them a host of new security challenges. The interconnected nature of smart city infrastructure—where traffic systems, public services, and energy grids communicate in real time—expands the potential attack surface for cybercriminals. BlackBerry’s embedded systems, designed to secure IoT devices and smart city infrastructure, are vital in protecting these increasingly complex environments.

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Photo by Pixabay

BlackBerry has already made significant strides in securing automotive systems, with their technology being used by 24 of the top 25 electric vehicle manufacturers. This same technology, paired with AI and machine learning, is essential in smart cities, where the attack surface is ever-growing. “As you have more connected systems, you increase the attack surface of that system,” the company pointed out. Ensuring that these systems are secure is vital to maintaining the resilience of smart cities.

As the attack surface increases, the question of cyber security incidences changes from an “if” to a “when”. This is where policies such as Zero Trust can help. However, smart cities will also benefit from the implementation of threat intelligence and managed detection and response (MDR) solutions.

Zero Trust and Critical Infrastructure

One of the cornerstones of BlackBerry’s approach to cybersecurity resilience is the zero-trust framework. As applied to critical infrastructure—whether it’s power grids, transportation systems, or hospitals—this model ensures that no entity within the system is inherently trusted. Instead, all systems, devices, and users must continuously authenticate their identity to access sensitive data or systems.

This level of scrutiny is essential in industries where the stakes are highest. Ramon Pinero, General Manager of Blackberry AtHoc emphasizes, “Zero trust is important especially for critical infrastructure because of the types of data and assets that are in critical infrastructure,”. In an era where cyberattacks can have catastrophic real-world consequences, securing every aspect of infrastructure is paramount.

Collaborating to Bridge the Skills Gap

The challenges of securing critical infrastructure are further compounded by a global skills shortage in cybersecurity. BlackBerry’s collaboration with the Malaysian government exemplifies how partnerships can help address this gap. Through the Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in Cyberjaya, BlackBerry is training the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, with a focus on AI, smart cities, and IoT security.

The initiative aims to develop local talent capable of addressing emerging cyber threats, ensuring Malaysia’s infrastructure is both secure and future-ready. As more countries invest in smart city technologies, this collaboration model could serve as a blueprint for other regions looking to build cybersecurity resilience into their infrastructure.

The Power of Prevention

While responding to cyberattacks is critical, BlackBerry strongly emphasizes prevention. Their Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services, powered by Cylance’s AI, help organizations that may not have in-house security teams by offering continuous threat monitoring and proactive security measures. With the ability to predict and prevent attacks, BlackBerry’s MDR solutions ensure that businesses and critical infrastructure providers can focus on operations without worrying about constant cybersecurity threats.

A smart city that is secured digitally
AI-Generated image by Copilot of a smart city that is secured digitally

In their approach, prevention is key. “If we can prevent attacks from happening, it means that organizations don’t have to spend time and resources recovering from incidents,” Ramon further emphasized. This proactive mindset is essential in today’s world, where the consequences of a successful cyberattack on critical infrastructure can be disastrous.

A Cyber-Resilient Future

As emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and IoT continue to shape the future of infrastructure, ensuring that these systems are secure is more important than ever. BlackBerry’s strategic pivot from hardware to cybersecurity positions it as a leader in building resilient infrastructure, whether it’s in smart cities, healthcare, or automotive industries.

By focusing on prevention, embedding AI into their solutions, and addressing the cybersecurity skills gap, BlackBerry is helping organizations and governments alike secure the digital systems that power our world. In doing so, they ensure that critical infrastructure remains resilient in the face of an ever-evolving threat landscape.

This article was written based on an interview session with Mr Ramon Pinero, General Manager of BlackBerry AtHoc and Mr Jonathan Jackson Senior Director of Strategic Accounts at BlackBerry.

Ramon Pinero Profile Pic sq

Ramon Pinero
General Manager BlackBerry AtHoc

Ramon Pinero is the General Manager of BlackBerry AtHoc, where he oversees all aspects of the critical event management business. With more than 20 years of experience in crisis/emergency management (CEM) technologies, Ramon brings a deep understanding of both product development and customer success.

With a passion for technology and deep roots in emergency response, Ramon continues to advance BlackBerry AtHoc’s position as the market leader. He is focused on driving strategy, fostering innovation, and enabling AtHoc’s technology to make an even greater impact—helping more organizations increase their resiliency and save lives through fast, accurate communications before, during, and after critical situations.

Jonathan Jackson Profile Pic sq

Jonathan Jackson
Senior Director, Strategic Technical Sales APAC at BlackBerry

Jonathan Jackson (JJ) is the a Senior Director, Strategic Technical Sales APAC for BlackBerry. With over 20 years’ of experience, he helps organisations manage their cyber risk, leveraging the best of breed solutions to stop cyber attacks. JJ is a staunch advocate of protecting data and privacy and is a frequent spokesperson on cyber threat intelligence in Australia and all across APAC.

Business, Lifestyle

Star in Your Own AI Adventure with Qatar Airways’ New Campaign

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Qatar Airways is pushing boundaries again. Having already made a name for itself in the aviation industry for its exceptional service and innovative approach to travel, the airline is now leveraging generative AI (Gen AI) in its latest ad campaign. The first-of-its-kind campaign uses the power of Gen AI to allow for a more interactive approach to advertising. The “AI Adventure” campaign offers viewers the unique opportunity to become the star of the film, immersing themselves in a personalized and interactive experience.

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This innovative campaign marks a significant milestone for Qatar Airways, as it uniquely engages with the public. It is also allowing Qatar Airways to push boundaries when it comes to technology and customer engagement by allowing viewers to step into the role of the protagonist.

The campaign utilizes advanced AI technology to seamlessly integrate viewers into the film’s narrative. By uploading a photo, viewers can see themselves seamlessly integrated into various scenes, becoming the star of their own adventure with facial recognition technology and Gen AI. This personalized touch adds a unique and engaging dimension to the campaign.

If you’re interested in having your own “AI Adventure”, you can visit flyqatar.com and create your own version of the groundbreaking ad. Once done, you can even share it on social media and show off your adventure.

Business, News

CelcomDigi Launches All New AI Experience Center

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CelcomDigi is not slowing down. After announcing its new prepaid and postpaid plans, the telco is now revamping CelcomDigi Hub in Subang Jaya’s Hi-tech Park. The new revamp will help showcase how it is empowering different technologies with its integrated solution including 5G.

CelcomDigi AiX 3

CelcomDigi Hub has long been one of the company’s best showcases for its technologies. Even before the merger, the Hub served as a showcase for Digi Telecommunications. Now, CelcomDigi is not only bringing its new identity to the building but also bringing it into the future to showcase 5G and AI technologies with its AI Experience Center (AiX). In the heart of the Hub, CelcomDigi is using an interactive system to showcase its 5G and AI applications in The Infinity. This immersive, interactive experience brings you on a tour guided by the CEO of CelcomDigi himself, Datuk Idham Nawawi. The Infinity seems like an apt name for the tour as the possibilities with AI and 5G are limitless (until we get 6G).

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YB Fahmi Fadzil, Minister of Communications standing with Datuk Idham Nawawi, CEO of Celcom and other partners at the launch of the AiX.

The tour at The Infinity is only the beginning. CelcomDigi continues to showcase the many use cases of 5G in The Gallery. Here, you’ll be able to see things like remote medical diagnoses, immersive augmented reality medical education and even robotics. The Gallery gives visitors a truly tangible experience with some of the many applications that they are showcasing. Many of these use cases are already deployed in the real world.

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Some of the AI and Robotics that will be showcased at the CelcomDigi AiX

CelcomDigi’s AiX isn’t just a stagnant display. The company will be refreshing the experience regularly to showcase the latest it has to offer. The AiX will also serve as a collaboration space where CelcomDigi, its partners and interested parties are able to collaborate and innovate to leverage AI technologies and 5G. The space is equipped with a cutting-edge live lab environment that will allow interested parties to test and collaborate. In addition, guests at the AiX will also be hosted by AI-RA, the first AI digital human. AI-RA will be giving visitors a rundown of all the innovations that will be featured in AiX. Together with AI-RA, the new AiX will also be populated by a fleet of AI robotics that cater to the different needs of the AiX and its visitors.

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YB Fahmi Fadzil, Minister of Communications, getting hands-on with Robotics innovations in The Gallery in CelcomDigi’s AiX

CEO, Datuk Idham Nawawi noted, “Emerging technologies such as AI are revolutionising the world, and Malaysia must keep pace with this progress to build a flourishing digital nation. Over 1.5 years ago, we made a strong commitment to play a pivotal role to realise this ambition, leveraging our greater combined capabilities as a merged company to invest and drive digitalisation, innovation and sustainable growth for the nation. The AI Experience Centre is a realisation of the national benefit of the merger, where CelcomDigi’s scale and capabilities are able to attract and partner with global and regional digital tech giants to accelerate the development of cutting-edge digital solutions – positioning us as a strong ally to the nation’s digital aspirations.”

The CelcomDigi AiX was built on over 40 partnerships with industry leaders such as Huawei, AWS and DNB. A concept that will underpin the innovation and interactions that will take place within its walls. It will be open to visitors on a scheduled basis.

Contributed, Sustainability

Sustainability Cannot Exist Without Innovation, & Vice Versa – Here’s Why

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With just six years remaining to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, the Asia Pacific region faces a pressing and formidable challenge.

The recently released 2030 Asia Pacific SDG Progress Report by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) paints a stark picture, revealing that at the midpoint, the region has made less than 15% of the necessary progress towards the SDGs. The report also predicts that if current trends persist, it will take an estimated 42 years for the region to achieve the 2030 agenda, falling significantly short of reaching 90% of the 118 measurable SDG targets.

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Photo by ThisIsEngineering on Pexels

This sobering analysis underscores the urgent need to multiply efforts and accelerate progress. To address this challenge, corporates in the Asia Pacific & Japan (APJ) region must adopt an innovation mindset and place sustainability at the forefront of the business agenda. In fact, sustainability can also be a powerful driver of innovation, propelling companies forward on the path to success in today’s digital era.

Sustainable innovation is not limited to short-term gains but creates long-term value for both businesses and the planet. The Dell Technologies Innovation Index, which polled 6,600 business leaders across 45+ countries, reveals that more than one-third of companies (35%) in Malaysia – the same percentage as the APJ region – consider climate change as an accelerator of innovation.

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Photo by Karolina Kaboompics on Pexels

Additionally, the research shows that momentum for sustainability innovation is steadily growing in our region. Half of the companies (50%) in Malaysia are actively reducing their overall IT carbon footprint, recognising the critical role of technology in addressing environmental challenges. Furthermore, 37% of businesses in Malaysia (40% in APJ) are turning to technology to gain greater visibility into their carbon impact, enabling them to make data-driven decisions for sustainability.

This emphasis on sustainability is also being prioritised by the Government, having – for the first time – set SDG indicator targets and finalised nine accelerator initiatives to achieve SDGs in the country. This is to ensure a more effective implementation of SDGs towards the country’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030).

Innovating for sustainability, sustainably

In today’s economic climate, innovation has never been more important for organisations to stay ahead of the curve and build resilience. While sustainability evidently drives innovation forward, businesses also have a responsibility to ensure that innovation is carried out efficiently and with minimal environmental impact.

For one, IT decision-makers (ITDMs) in APJ can leverage innovative technologies such as edge computing, artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), and as-a-service (aaS) models to manage energy consumption effectively, improve energy efficiency, and act upon data insights to drive sustainability. Encouragingly, the Dell Technologies Innovation Index also found that more than half (57%) of companies in Malaysia are already progressing in this space, embracing technology as a powerful tool for sustainable practices.

Close Up Photo of Delivert Robots
Photo by Kindel Media on Pexels

For example, innovative consumption models such as aaS or on-demand solutions promote sustainable resource utilisation by aligning technology consumption with actual needs – therefore reducing waste and optimising resource allocation. Businesses that embrace these flexible consumption models can not only reduce their environmental impact but also benefit from increased efficiency and cost savings.

Additionally, as digital transformation and the consumption of technology become more widespread, the greening of data centres has become crucial. As businesses rely more heavily on data centres, optimising their energy consumption becomes paramount. Currently, 48% of businesses in Malaysia are actively exploring methods to reduce energy use in their data centres.

[i]By investing in energy-efficient infrastructure and adopting best practices, organisations can lead the way in sustainable data management, setting a positive example for the industry.

Scientist Checking Crops in Laboratory
Photo by ThisIsEngineering on Pexels

While technology can help drive efficiencies, there comes a day when these devices eventually reach their end of life. It is therefore equally critical that businesses take active steps and work with the right partners to retire and recycle their end-of-life IT equipment, in order to minimise electronic waste and foster a circular economy. Dell Technologies’ Asset Recovery Services, for example, helps businesses with the proper disposal and recycling of IT assets to reduce the environmental footprint of the technology industry. Notably, the practice is not new in Malaysia and many are already engaged in initiatives to retire and recycle IT equipment responsibly.

It is also encouraging to note that the government has launched a National Circular Economy Council (NCEC) to unite stakeholders to accelerate the transition of waste management from a linear economy to a more holistically circular one.[ii] The NCEC will focus on matters related to policies, laws, implementation of related strategies and action plans, and the commitment and collaboration between the government and the private sectors.

Sustainable innovation: A win-win for businesses and the planet

The benefits of sustainable innovation are two-fold, generating value for both our environment and the bottom line. By integrating sustainability into their innovation agenda, companies can reduce environmental impact, enhance resilience, and improve operational efficiency. Furthermore, embracing sustainable practices has become a critical consideration for businesses to not only attract customers and investors but also to engage current and future employees.

As the Asia Pacific region continues its pursuit of the SDGs, collaboration and collective action are essential. While sustainable innovation can and should be driven at the company level, governments, businesses and individuals must also come together to drive meaningful impact. Partnerships between the public and private sectors can facilitate knowledge sharing, resource mobilisation, and the development of innovative solutions to address pressing sustainability challenges. Cross-industry collaborations can foster innovation and create synergies that accelerate progress towards the SDGs.

With less than a decade to go, our region now stands at a critical juncture – where sustainable innovation can lead the way towards achieving the UN SDGs by 2030. Despite the challenges highlighted in the 2030 Asia Pacific SDG Progress Report, the growing momentum for sustainability innovation is encouraging. Businesses in APJ should continue to embrace sustainable practices and leverage cutting-edge technologies to make significant contributions to sustainable development.

[i] https://www.nst.com.my/business/2023/10/963188/riding-data-centre-wave
[ii] https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/09/952091/national-circular-economic-council-set-handle-solid-waste