Traditional professional services businesses will resemble software companies over time with the support of AI technology, according to Multiplier Holdings CEO Noah Pepper. AI will handle repetitive tasks while humans will focus on client relationships and quality assurance, he said, adding that the convergence of information-handling businesses with software companies is also expected. “You’ll be able to see a lot of heavy lifting, repeated work being done by machines,...

OCBC Malaysia, a unit of the Singapore-based OCBC Group, is investing over MYR 10 million ($2.37 million) a year in people development programs, with a significant focus on artificial intelligence (AI), reskilling and upskilling. The bank said in a statement on Wednesday that the investment aims to equip its workforce of more than 5,000 employees with the skills needed to navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities presented by rapid global changes. “AI is rapidly transforming...

PsiQuantum announced Wednesday it has raised $1 billion in funding for its Series E round to build the world’s first commercially useful, fault-tolerant quantum computers. The firm said in a statement that led by funds and accounts managed by affiliates of BlackRock, along with Temasek and Baillie Gifford, this fundraising values the company at $7 billion. The funding brings in new investors, including entities administered by Macquarie Capital, Ribbit Capital, NVentures...

Growing up, literacy was simple. If you could read and write, you were prepared for the world. But today, the world moves faster and communicates in formats far beyond text. For a teenager in Seoul, Jakarta, or Lagos, literacy now includes fluency in algorithms, fluency in AI, and perhaps most importantly, fluency in storytelling. Nowhere is this shift more visible than in Asia, where young content creators are reshaping how the world sees, hears, and understands them. They’re not just...

Sanabil Accelerator by Orbit highlighted 11 startups from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan, and Hong Kong that are building solutions tackling key challenges in education, mobility, enterprise software, logistics, e-commerce, proptech, and fintech across the region. These startups each received $100,000 in initial funding as part of the accelerator, along with access to follow-on investment, mentorship, and Orbit’s global network to scale their businesses in MENA and beyond....

Ant International, a Singapore-based global digital payment firm, AlipayHK, Hong Kong’s e-wallet, and TNG eWallet, Malaysia’s e-wallet, are initiating the Digital Wallet Guardian Partnership, designed to further strengthen the protection of global wallet payments. Ant International said in a statement on Thursday that the trio will focus on three areas of collaboration under the partnership – technology innovation, knowledge collaboration and Stakeholder engagement The...

Teleport, a Malaysia-based integrated eCommerce logistics firm, has announced its partnership with Shipsy, an India-based artificial intelligence (AI)-native, transportation management system provider, to integrate a last-mile transport management system into the Teleport Network. Teleport said in a statement on Wednesday that this integration unlocks greater real-time, last-mile shipment visibility for its customers across Southeast Asia. This would address the main pain point for...

Vantage Data Centers, a global provider of hyperscale data center campuses, announced Thursday that it has secured a $1.6 billion investment to scale its Asia-Pacific (APAC) platform. The investment was led by an affiliate of GIC, a global institutional investor, and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). GIC and ADIA – through their respective affiliates – are both existing investors in Vantage Data Centers. In addition, the company revealed...

Malaysia is on track to secure over $40 billion in artificial intelligence (AI) and data center investment by 2030, a new research from global talent solutions partner Robert Walters showed Wednesday. The firm said in a statement that driven by major hyper scalers and global technology companies, this capital is set to position Malaysia as Southeast Asia’s leading AI data center hub, expanding the country’s role in high-value offshoring. The Robert Walters Market Intelligence...

Singapore’s early-stage emerging tech startups saw its total funding raised dip 8 percent to $371 million in 2024 from $402 million in 2023, SGInnovate‘s report showed Tuesday. According to the report, overall growth in deal activity rising from 49 deals in 2023 to 56 in 2024. Funding activity once again favored early-stage dealmaking, as venture capitals likely sought earlier opportunities less exposed to economic volatility. The report highlighted a 56 percent rise in the...

Telecommunication firmTelekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) and BPO and digital firm Scicom (MSC) Berhad have entered into a strategic partnership to elevate customer experience through artificial intelligence (AI)-driven innovation and operational excellence. The duo said in a statement on Tuesday that the collaboration reflects TM’s commitment to delivering world-class customer engagement and taking its service standards to the next level. The partnership will bring together operational...

Grab-backed digital bank GX Bank Berhad and the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) have on Tuesday announced a strategic partnership to deepen efforts in building a financially literate and resilient Malaysia. This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in both organizations’ commitment to promoting financial literacy and inclusion, especially in view of recent local and global economic uncertainties, GXBank said in a statement. “Financial...