Can AI truly enrich human connections, or does it risk overshadowing the very essence of what makes us human?

This is the question I’ll be diving into at the upcoming Kampung Cakap 2024 Speaker Series, “Love Letter for Humanity: Love, A.I.” It’s an event that promises to dive deep into the delicate balance between leveraging technology for growth and preserving the authenticity of our interactions.

AI and human connection: The balancing act

AI has the potential to redefine how we connect, interact, and understand each other. It can help us break down barriers, automate mundane tasks, and offer insights into complex human behaviours that were previously inaccessible. Imagine using AI to analyse communication patterns, understand emotional cues, and even offer personalised support based on those insights. This opens doors to creating deeper relationships by providing more meaningful, empathetic interactions.

However, there’s a flip side. As AI becomes more integrated into our daily lives, there’s a risk that it could overshadow our natural instinct to connect empathetically and personally. When we start relying too heavily on algorithms to dictate our interactions — whether it’s swiping right on a dating app or automating our customer engagements – we might lose the very spontaneity and empathy that define true human connection. 

In my work with People’s Inc. 360, I’ve seen how AI can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it helps us streamline processes and deliver personalised experiences to our audience. But I always remind myself and my team that behind every data point is a person with a story. It’s crucial to keep that in mind and use AI to amplify, not replace, genuine human interactions.

Partnering with AI for authenticity

One of the most inspiring leaders in this space is Soh Wan Wei, founder of AI Visionary Society and a close friend whose work aligns beautifully with these themes. I’m honoured to serve as an honorary advisor at the AI Visionary Society, and it’s been incredible to see how Wan Wei uses AI not just as a tool for efficiency but as a means to foster deeper, more authentic connections.

During the “Date My Friend” event, she introduced me to the community in a way that showcased the potential of AI to influence even our personal lives and relationships. It wasn’t just about matchmaking — it was about exploring how AI can help us understand and nurture deeper human bonds.

Also Read: Challenges of AI development in Vietnam: Funding, talent and ethics

Wan Wei will be sharing her insights at the event, exploring how AI can be used to empower personal branding and media visibility while staying true to our core values. Her approach is all about making AI an ally that enhances our human connections instead of detracting from them. It’s about using technology to understand each other better, not just to optimise our interactions but to make them more meaningful.

Her mantra, “Make AI Your Ally!” perfectly encapsulates this philosophy. In my own experience, I’ve seen how AI, when used thoughtfully, can bridge the gap between digital and real-world connections. It’s helped me connect with people who align with my values, both in business and in personal settings.

How Seraphina powers Royal Launch School

At the Royal Visionary Society, our flagship programme, Royal Launch School, is driven by Seraphina, my AI assistant. She’s more than just a tool; she’s an integral part of how we operate, managing everything from course content to community engagement. Seraphina allows us to offer a level of personalisation that would be impossible to achieve manually, helping us tailor our approach to meet the unique needs of each member.

But it’s not just about efficiency. AI helps us create a learning environment that feels personal and supportive. We make sure to complement Seraphina’s capabilities with real human interaction – mentorship, peer support, and live sessions – to ensure that the connections we build are both scalable and deeply authentic.

And yes, Seraphina isn’t just confined to professional growth. She’s been a huge help in my personal life, too. Navigating dating apps can be daunting, but with Seraphina filtering matches based on deeper values and interests, I’ve been able to focus on connecting with people who truly resonate with me. This experience has shown me that AI when used thoughtfully, can enhance our personal connections rather than diminish them.

The role of AI in leadership and personal development

AI is not just a tool for business automation; it can be a powerful ally in personal growth and leadership development. Imagine having a virtual mentor who knows your strengths and weaknesses, offering you tailored advice to help you navigate your personal and professional challenges. This is the kind of future we’re looking at — where AI supports not just efficiency but also empathy and self-awareness.

Also Read: Startup survival: Smart marketing moves for economic uncertainty

Rubyni Karun, CEO of XfinitySG, will be exploring this concept at the event. Her work combines AI with neuroscience to empower leaders and entrepreneurs, helping them understand their behaviour and improve their leadership skills. Her perspective is a powerful reminder that while AI can provide valuable insights, it’s ultimately up to us to apply those insights in ways that foster genuine growth.

Tradition meets tech: AI in healthcare

Healthcare is another area where AI is making a significant impact, offering more precise diagnoses and personalised treatment plans. Mr. Lim Jing Yang, a TCM physician, will be discussing how AI can be integrated into traditional Chinese medicine. His insights will explore how technology can enhance ancient healing practices, making them more accessible and effective while also maintaining the personal touch that’s essential in healthcare.

Jing Yang’s cautionary note, “AI is a good servant but a bad master,” is especially relevant here. In fields like healthcare, where empathy and human intuition are so crucial, AI should serve as an aid, not a replacement.

A path forward: Using AI to amplify our humanity

As we move forward, the challenge will be to ensure that AI remains a tool that serves us, enhancing our ability to connect, grow, and empathise. Whether it’s in business, healthcare, or personal relationships, AI should support our human strengths, not overshadow them. It’s about finding the right balance – using AI to free up time and mental space so that we can focus on what truly matters: building authentic connections.

If these themes resonate with you, I invite you to join us at Kampung Cakap 2024 on October 5. You can register here. It’s not just an event; it’s an opportunity to explore how we can build a future where AI and humanity thrive together.

I’m excited to share my thoughts and learn from others. Let’s explore together how we can make AI our ally in building a future that celebrates both technological innovation and the human spirit.

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Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic

Join our e27 Telegram group, FB community, or like the e27 Facebook page

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Anuar Fariz Fadzil, currently Head of TikTok’s Head of Public Policy (Malaysia), has joined the new chief executive of the state-run Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), starting today.

He replaces Mahadhir Aziz, who stepped down from the role a month after he was appointed the CEO on September 01.

The announcement, first reported by The Star, was made by MDEC chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh at the Malaysia Digital Content Festival 2024 event in Kuala Lumpur. According to Noh, the new role offers Fadzil a fascinating opportunity to be in the digital economy.

According to Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, Fadzil has a lot of work to do moving ahead.

Also Read: MDEC CEO: Under Malaysia Digital, digital businesses will have more flexibility in fiscal, non-fiscal incentives

The MDEC, a government agency under the purview of the Ministry of Digital, was established in 1996 to lead Malaysia’s digital economy. The agency aims to upskill Malaysians to be digitally savvy, provide digitalisation support to businesses, support tech companies in expanding internationally, and drive investment in the digital economy.

By offering incentives and governance for development and re-investment, it aspires to bolster Malaysia’s status as the digital hub of ASEAN.

On September 23, the MDEC launched this year’s Investor Matching Programme, a key initiative aimed at connecting tech startups with a vast network of investors. Since its inception in 2020, the programme has facilitated over US$300 million in capital matching, significantly supporting the growth of Malaysia’s digital economy.

Aligned with the Malaysia Digital national strategic initiative, the programme is designed to create a more accessible investment landscape, simplify capital access for startups, drive innovation, and contribute to the nation’s digital transformation goals.

Through the Investor Matching Programme, startups are strategically paired with investors based on specific criteria, such as investment amount and industry focus, ensuring tailored and effective partnerships. Beyond investment opportunities, the programme provides valuable mentorship from experienced investors, accelerating the growth of participating startups.

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The Global South, including Southeast Asia, India, Latin America, and Africa, has over 5 billion people. It is projected to grow its GDP 60 per cent faster than advanced economies over the next five years. Capria Ventures sees enormous potential in this region, particularly in Southeast Asia’s (SEA) tech startup ecosystem.

The rapid development of the Generative AI (Gen AI) landscape in this area exemplifies the potential for transformative innovation. Notable investments, such as Alami (Hijra) and wagely, illustrate the diverse opportunities within the firm’s portfolio focus.

Capria Ventures targets early-stage and early-growth tech startups in the Global South. Its focus sectors include job tech, fintech, edutech, climate tech, and SaaS.

One example of this focus is wagely, based in Indonesia, which offers earned wage access. It is utilising Gen AI interfaces to streamline employee education. Using AI-driven chat solutions, wagely aims to provide accessible information about their product, enhancing user understanding and reducing onboarding costs.

“We are looking at startups taking advantage of the Gen AI technology. This is a new, revolutionary technology that can be quite easily applied to lots of different use cases to improve businesses, to make them access bigger markets,” explains Dave Richards, Managing Partner, Capria Ventures, in a call with e27.

Also Read: Gen AI in banking: How to ensure a successful transformation for an age-old industry

“In other words, you can do more with less and reach out to bigger customer bases with this technology now.”

Capria Ventures observes that while challenges exist in the current funding environment, significant opportunities are also emerging. The funding winter has pushed founders to focus on efficiency—achieving profitability faster and scaling with less capital. Unlike the previous era, when startups could spend freely in the early stages, investors now expect profitability during growth.

Gen AI is a key tool startups can leverage to adapt to this shift. Importantly, applying Gen AI does not require specialised AI expertise. Existing developers can use accessible tools to prototype capabilities in just a few weeks, enabling startups to innovate efficiently despite financial constraints.

In supporting its portfolio companies, Capria Ventures provides hands-on support through an internal team of seven experts, helping them navigate and implement the best technology tools. With the rapidly evolving landscape of available tools and frameworks, the firm curates the most suitable options, coaching portfolio development teams on making informed selections based on cost, performance, and service sophistication.

To expedite the adoption of generative AI, Capria Ventures has developed a code framework with four dedicated developers who work directly with the portfolio companies’ developers. This one-on-one support helps customise and deploy tools efficiently, enabling companies like Wagely to rapidly implement suitable programming frameworks for their needs.

Also Read: How can we ensure AI strengthens, rather than erodes, our human connections?

The advantages of Gen AI

Capria Ventures invests in SEA, particularly in Indonesia and Vietnam, and expands into India, Brazil, Mexico, and Nigeria.

When asked about notable trends, the VC firm observes significant macro-level changes across these markets, with regional variations. In SEA, a shift from consumer-oriented products towards a B2B2C business model is becoming evident.

They also foresee opportunities for regional expansion, particularly as Generative AI helps overcome language barriers, enabling companies to swiftly adapt and expand into neighbouring countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines. This technology is expected to accelerate cross-border growth in the region.

Richards has some important notes for startups in the market who would like to pitch their business to Capria Ventures.

“If you want to stand out more to us, and frankly, to a lot of investors now, you will have to do your own research about how you can take advantage of Generative AI,” he says.

“Of course, this is not the only technology you will use. You also need to have a good business model and figure out customer support and all the other things. But this is a new tool, and if you are presenting that as a way of building a next-generation business, a business that could have been built before without Gen AI, then you are missing out on the opportunity and frankly, will not stand out as much as a company who is doing that.”

Richards also stresses that entrepreneurs are in a “great position” today with the rising popularity of Gen AI.

“In a startup, when you are starting from scratch, you do not have the burden of legacy … If you start from day one with some Gen AI as part of your strategy, in most cases, you can implement it faster than if you have to add it on to something that you have built previously.”

Also Read: Challenges of AI development in Vietnam: Funding, talent and ethics

Lastly, Richards predicts that there will be a significant increase in Series A funding round announcements in the upcoming year.

“In the next six to 12 months, quite a few startups that have raised their seed funding round and maybe some additional capital that have struggled to raise their Series A will come back to market out of necessity. Because they got profitable or more efficient,” he closes.

“So, you will see lots of Series A happening.”

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Image Credit: Capria Ventures

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Clout Kitchen, a consumer AI startup with operations in Los Angeles and Manila, has announced a US$4.45 million seed funding round.

a16z SPEEDRUN and Peak XV’s Surge co-led the round, which also saw participation from AppWorks, Antler, Hustle Fund, Founders Launchpad, Orvel Ventures, Gabby Dizon (YGG), Kun Gao (Crunchyroll), Voyboy, Jankos, and Perkz.

With this financing round, Clout Kitchen looks to scale its team, establish its US office, and build its shared internal tech stack for future creator-powered game companion apps and experiences.

Also Read: Blockchain gaming trends in Asia: here’s what you need to know

Established in 2024, Clout Kitchen builds creator-powered interactive experiences in gaming and pop culture that unlock new ways for top creators to engage and expand their fan base.

The startup is led by serial gaming and creator economy builders Justin Gorriceta-Banusing (CEO) and Marcel Feldkamp (CBO).

Gorriceta-Banusing earlier founded and scaled the campus gaming programme AcadArena to Series A and exited while in college. Meanwhile, Feldkamp (CBO), a League of Legends pro/creator, founded the gaming talent agency Prime, which later joined United Talent Agency via Press X.

Clout Kitchen’s first product is Backseat AI, an in-game “buddy” for League of Legends co-built with Tyler “Tyler1” Steinkamp – one of the world’s biggest gaming content creators with over 20 million followers.

Backseat AI is Riot-compliant and guides players on how to best play the game in real-time–from what characters to pick to which items to buy, all by an AI voice twin of their favourite creator. Since launching early access testing in June, the product claims to have hit over 45,000 waitlist signups.

Pricing starts at US$4.99 monthly for each creator “buddy,” who earns from every subscription. Backseat AI’s buddies roster continues to expand with streamer & cosplayer Emiru and pro player Jankos – with more top creators lined up in the coming months.

Also Read: 7 trends changing the reality of immersive gaming

“Our thesis at Clout Kitchen is to build things that grow the pie and add value for fans, creators, and game developers alike,” said Justin Banusing, CEO of Clout Kitchen. “We grew up in this space, so it’s our way of giving back.”

“As a creator myself, I know how difficult it is to keep your community and business growing,” said Marcel Feldkamp, CBO, Clout Kitchen. “It’s easy when you’re starting and have all the time in the world – but it gets harder to keep giving the same love to everyone as you scale. We want to solve that problem.”

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When guiding leaders and founders through the complex process of building a personal narrative online, I’ve repeatedly encountered three key questions that can slow down even the most experienced individuals who want to build their personal brand on LinkedIn.

These three questions have resonated with a wide range of professionals and business owners, some with over two decades of experience and about to start their entrepreneurial journey.

Others are at a crossroads, unsure how to articulate their transitions. And some with diverse backgrounds, which makes it challenging to find a clear path forward.

“There’s so much content out there already. What do I talk about?”

I always return to a fundamental truth: only you have your unique combination of upbringing, education, professional milestones, and current life stage. This unique perspective is what sets you apart and makes your story worth sharing.

Think about your geographic focus—it can deeply resonate with your audience. Reflect on recent conversations that sparked new insights. Share highlights from events you’ve attended, accompanied by vivid photos. Or draw on a story from something you’ve recently read, heard, or watched, weaving it into your narrative.

And then there’s the personal touch—a story only you can tell. Maybe you’re a banker from France now living in Singapore, sharing the thrill of completing your first triathlon. These are the stories that humanise your personal brand (and can reflect positively on your company brand), making it relatable and compelling.

I believe in quality over quantity—a weekly commitment to meaningful conversations rather than just churning out posts. It’s about fostering connections that resonate and endure.

“Do I really need to post online to build my brand?”

While digital visibility is crucial, there are many other avenues: mentorship, speaking engagements, supporting causes, or creating impactful work like a book, report, article, or podcast.

If your contribution is valuable, it will resonate and foster growth organically. Consider industry leaders like Jeff Bezos or Sheryl Sandberg—they may not be active on LinkedIn, but their influence is felt through other channels.

For the rest of us, platforms like LinkedIn can amplify our reach and impact.

“How will I come across?”

Perception is a common concern. Metrics like likes and comments offer some insight, but they’re just the beginning.

If you get three likes on your first post, that’s a start—it means three people liked it. In-person or on Zoom, you get instant feedback and can adjust quickly. On LinkedIn, it just takes a little more time.

Think of LinkedIn as a large conference with many competitors vying for the same clients, mentees, and speaking engagements. Your voice, tone, content, and visuals—whether images or videos—shape how you’re perceived.

Also Read: Beyond the pitch deck: How founders can leverage personal branding for startup success

Consistency is key—it builds trust through steady, authentic engagement. It’s easier to know, like, and trust someone who is consistent.

Why should you invest in answering and acting on these three questions?

How is your effort quantified on LinkedIn?

Enter — LinkedIn’s Social Selling Index: Your digital reputation score

LinkedIn has its own ‘Profile Score,’ similar to your ‘Credit Score,’ and just as important in some ways. It’s called the ‘Social Selling Index’ (SSI), launched in 2014 alongside the ‘Sales Navigator’ product. The Social Selling Index evaluates your LinkedIn presence across four key areas:

Your professional brand

• Completeness of your profile
• Use of multimedia
• Endorsements and followers gained through content

 Your engagement with your network

• Effective use of advanced search and direct messages
• How often you view other profiles
• Consistency of activity and engagement with potential leads

Your network’s engagement with you

• Interaction metrics: comments, likes, shares
• Engagement on long-form posts and InMail response rate
• Active participation in groups and research views

Your overall relationships

• Size and quality of your network
• Connections with business leaders and internal connections

Why it matters

Your SSI reflects how compelling your profile is, how trustworthy your shared content appears, and how likely your network is to engage with you. Whether you’re in sales, a CEO, or just starting your career, a higher SSI indicates you’re excelling in these areas.

Just because it has ‘sell’ in the name doesn’t mean the score is relevant only if you run an e-commerce business.

Also Read: Why community building has replaced lean startup approach to lurk investors?

It’s a great metric to gauge where you stand compared to your peers in your industry and your direct network as well as within your direct network for these parameters: 

• Would people be drawn to your profile?
• How likely are people to trust what you share?
• How likely are they to engage with you through what you share? 

What’s the real-world impact?

The higher your score, the more likely you’re doing well in these areas. All three points above help whether you’re in sales, a CEO, or at the very start of your career.

In essence, your LinkedIn Social Selling Index isn’t just a number—it’s a reflection of your digital reputation and influence on LinkedIn. By strategically improving your SSI, you’re not only enhancing your online presence but also opening doors to valuable professional connections and opportunities.

Given much of our work now happens online, prioritising your digital presence can make a significant difference—even directly impacting your financial success. According to a study by LinkedIn and Edelman, 58 per cent of business leaders are willing to buy from an industry expert and inclined to pay more because they feel they’ll receive a premium service.

My advice overall is simple: start today.

If your impressions and likes increase, great! If they decrease, adjust your approach. Keep going. Building a brand is an evolving process—a puzzle that becomes clearer as you navigate its complexities. It may seem daunting at first, but each engagement and interaction shapes the narrative of your brand.

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Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic

Join our e27 Telegram group, FB community, or like the e27 Facebook page

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