Picture this: You’re drowning in deadlines, drowning in caffeine, and drowning in existential dread. Now, add a sprinkle of self-love. Suddenly, you’re not just drowning; you’re doing the backstroke in the pool of life (eye flutter). Embracing the chaos with a twisted smile is what self-love is all about.

Remember, folks, if you can’t love yourself, who can? Well, maybe your cat, but let’s not count on that. So, take a break, indulge in some dark chocolate (preferably 90 per cent cocoa and 10 per cent regret), and remember that even Batman takes a day off from Gotham.

Let’s talk about solo founder self-love

Being a solo founder is like being the star of a one-person show. You’re the writer, director, and lead actor, all rolled into one fabulous entrepreneur. This Valentine’s Day, take a moment to appreciate the sheer brilliance it takes to manage it all. Remember that time you stayed up until three AM tweaking your pitch deck? Self-love! Or that day, you celebrated closing a deal with a victory dance in your living room? Self-love squared! Embrace your accomplishments like a cosy blanket — warm and comforting.

The co-founder love with boundaries

Now, let’s talk about that special someone who knows your business inside out — your co-founder. It’s essential to maintain a healthy co-founder relationship, much like a well-balanced diet (but with more caffeine). Set boundaries because no one wants to be the co-founder who accidentally sends work messages at two AM when they’re sleep-deprived. That’s not love. That’s just exhausting.

Also Read: The AI revolt: How our love affair with technology could turn into a hate story

Building strong relationships through professional love

Because networking is not just for LinkedIn!

Valentine’s Day isn’t just about romantic love; it’s about spreading love in the professional realm, too. Cherish your team members and clients, but don’t forget to express your love through actions, not just words. Maybe surprise your team with a spontaneous “no-meetings” day or send your clients a personalised meme — because who doesn’t love a good laugh, right?

Humour is a universal language, so why not make it your lingua franca?

Imagine the power of resolving workplace conflicts with a well-timed sarcastic remark. It’s like a Jedi mind trick but with more eye rolls and less lightsabers. And in your personal life, remember that laughter is the best medicine — unless you’re always alone laughing at your own jokes, in which case, please ask your HR to book an appointment with Safe Space to help you with conflict management.

When things get rocky, hug your business plan

Every founder faces challenges, and it’s crucial to navigate them with a sense of humour. When things get tough, hug your business plan tighter than your favourite teddy bear. Remember, setbacks are just plot twists in the epic saga of entrepreneurship. Laugh in the face of adversity, and your business will thank you for it.

Also Read: A look into (brand) love in the time of Web3

In conclusion, this Valentine’s Day, shower yourself with the love you deserve and maybe throw a little affection towards your co-founder and business. After all, a founder who can embrace self-love and share the love professionally is a force to be reckoned with. Happy Valentine’s Day, fellow founders! May your love for yourself and your business be as boundless as your ambition.

Don’t just hear it from me

Sharing a success story of a well-being warrior.

Now, let’s shine a light on a well-being warrior who has mastered the art of success without losing her sanity in the process. From the heart of chaos, she has made self-love a priority:

“Dare to dream, dare to inspire, and unlock the potential to shape your destiny and share your passion with the world, one day at a time.

I always remember ‘balance’ to keep my sanity while running this business:

B: Breathe while delegating effectively

A: Align by setting clear work-life boundaries

L: Love self-care, prioritise family times

A: Ask for support when needed

N: Notice and celebrate small victories

C: Coordinate time wisely

E: Embrace continuous learning”

In conclusion, dear comrades, love yourself and others, but do it with a dash of humour. Life is a series of punchlines waiting to be delivered, so why not embrace the chaos with a smile?

Remember, success is not just about the destination; it’s about enjoying the hilariously bumpy ride. Stay quirky, and most importantly, stay weirdly lovable!

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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

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This article was first published on February 19, 2024

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to redefine the socioeconomic landscape across the globe, bringing transformative changes to industries, public services, and daily life. 

As the technology matures, its influence permeates sectors ranging from healthcare and education to agriculture and urban planning. 

Notably, future developments highlight that the world is not only rapidly adapting to AI’s potential but also leveraging it to address long-standing challenges, drive innovation, and enhance global competitiveness. In 2024, the Asia-Pacific region experienced a significant surge in AI adoption, with over 70 per cent of employees utilising generative AI (GenAI) tools for work purposes and 16 per cent engaging with these tools daily.

The integration of AI is reshaping how societies operate, creating opportunities for growth while sparking conversations about ethics, governance, and inclusivity.

AI agents revolutionising efficiency and automation

Among these, AI agents are at the forefront of streamlining operations across critical sectors, driving transformative change in agriculture, finance, and customer service. By automating complex processes and delivering precise, actionable insights, AI is unlocking unprecedented efficiency and growth opportunities worldwide.

AI agents are significantly impacting industries like customer service, finance, and technology. In India, AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are enhancing customer interactions across various sectors. For instance, during the 2024 Indian general elections, AI was utilised to translate political speeches in real-time, enabling broader voter engagement.

In Southeast Asia, AI is driving growth in the digital economy. The e-Conomy SEA 2024 report highlights that Southeast Asia is ideally positioned as a fertile ground for AI development and adoption, with strategic investments in areas like GenAI adoption, talent development, and AI infrastructure. In just two years, profitability has surged 2.5 times, rising to US$11 billion in 2024.

Also Read: Beyond disposal: How businesses can embrace sustainable IT practices in Malaysia

In Singapore, 80 per cent of financial institutions use AI-powered fraud detection systems, significantly reducing cybercrime risks. Additionally, government initiatives like the National AI Strategy 2.0 aim to up-skill 15,000 individuals by 2026.

Staying competitive in the corporate landscape

Large corporations are increasingly embedding artificial intelligence (AI) across their workflows to drive efficiency, innovation, and competitive advantage. For instance in Malaysia, Petronas has revolutionised its oil refinery operations with AI-driven predictive maintenance systems. 

Meanwhile, Amazon is preparing to relaunch its Alexa voice assistant as an AI “agent,” capable of performing complex, practical tasks. However, the company is solving technical challenges, including reducing AI hallucinations, improving latency, and ensuring reliability.

Likewise, AWS is deepening its collaboration with Anthropic, which includes deploying its Claude AI models on AWS Bedrock and using AWS Trainium chips for training advanced AI systems.

Also Read: Exploring the boundaries of AI: What AI can or cannot do?

AI’s impact across everyday services

AI’s influence extends to tools directly enhancing individual experiences. In 2024, Deciphex, a Dublin-based medical technology company, introduced AI-driven platforms like Diagnexia and Patholytix to assist in diagnostics and address the global shortage of pathologists. These tools help pathologists diagnose diseases faster and more accurately, significantly increasing productivity by up to 40 per cent.

Grab, Southeast Asia’s ride-hailing giant, uses AI to optimise routes and reduce passenger wait times. Through its partnership with AWS, Grab has launched nearly 1,000 AI models across various use cases, including route optimisation and pricing. The company also employs AI for dynamic delivery batching, enabling drivers to handle multiple deliveries on the same route, cutting costs and improving efficiency, while boosting earnings for drivers.

What’s next for the AI-powered workforce?

Key AI trends are also defining the trajectory of the region’s technological ecosystem. Notably, in Southeast Asia, 84 per cent of GenAI projects progressed from ideation to production within six months, with 74 per cent achieving a return on investment within a year. 

Meanwhile, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore have attracted over US$30 billion in AI infrastructure investments in the first half of 2024, positioning the regions as Southeast Asia’s hub for AI development. 

Despite advancements, privacy concerns remain a hurdle with consumers oblivious of AI’s data collection practices, prompting stricter regulatory measures from authorities.

But one trend is crystal clear: AI is driving unparalleled change across Southeast Asia, enabling industries to innovate and individuals to thrive. However, addressing challenges such as workforce adaptation, infrastructural bottlenecks, and consumer trust is essential for ensuring equitable and sustainable growth.

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Asia’s fintech sector is experiencing substantial growth, with transaction volumes projected to hit US$19 trillion by the end of 2025.

This surge is largely fuelled by digital payments and transfers, underpinned by a growing user base and the widespread adoption of mobile technology.

According to recent research by UnaFinancial, the total volume of fintech transactions in Asia reached US$16.8 trillion in 2024, an increase of US$2.1 trillion from the previous year. This places Asia as a major player in the global fintech arena, accounting for 48.2 per cent of the total global fintech volume, which was US$34.8 trillion.

Digital payments and transfers are the primary drivers of growth, contributing 40.1 per cent (+US$834 billion) of the total fintech expansion in Asia. Digital commerce accounted for 21 per cent (US$435 billion), digital banking for 32.9 per cent (US$684 billion), and other sectors made up the remaining 6 per cent (US$124 billion).

Also Read: Why embedded finance is critical to Southeast Asia’s digital future

While digital payments lead the current growth, historical data from 2010-2024 indicates that digital investments and wealth management grew most rapidly at an average of 92.1 per cent per year, followed by digital banking at 48.6 per cent.

Analysts at UnaFinancial attribute the sector’s growth to the rise of super apps, which have transformed consumer behaviour, with shoppers increasingly using built-in features such as digital wallets and buy-now- pay-later services.

Additionally, several Asian governments are implementing policies to develop unified payment platforms, which are promoting the demand for digital financial services by cutting costs for businesses and improving user experience. This trend is especially prevalent in emerging economies with limited access to traditional banking and a growing rate of smartphone usage. The increasing need for cross-border payments is also a key factor.

The Asian fintech market is expected to grow to US$18.9 trillion by 2025, representing a 12.6 per cent year-on-year increase. Globally, the fintech industry is forecasted to reach US$40.1 trillion, with Asia contributing approximately 47.1 per cent of this total.

The digital payments and transfers sector will remain the primary growth driver, contributing 45 per cent of Asia’s market growth, in contrast to a global figure of 32%, indicating Asia’s dominance in this sector.

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In today’s interconnected world, where consumers are increasingly conscious about the values upheld by the brands they support, integrating diversity and inclusion (D&I) into a company’s ethos is no longer optional; it is imperative. Embracing D&I not only creates a more just and equitable society but also catalyses building well-developed products and services that resonate with diverse consumer bases.

In a survey conducted by Deloitte, 83 per cent of respondents affirmed that they are more likely to trust a company that promotes D&I. Customers increasingly want to associate themselves with brands that align with their values.

The realm of technology is not exempted. In fact, tech continues to serve as an immutable enabler in facilitating D&I. Another survey conducted by RedThread Research on D&I tech vendors reveals promising market traction. The findings show that nearly 60 per cent of the vendors surveyed have generated revenue of over US$100,000, and more than a third of them have acquired more than 100 customers.

To adapt to the changing demands of customers, investing in technologies that improve user experiences, such as text-to-speech (TTS) technology, is crucial.

TTS provides a multisensory reading experience that combines seeing with hearing. This innovation was originally intended to eradicate accessibility barriers, a purpose it still serves that enables individuals with disabilities, non-native speakers, and seniors who face difficulties navigating complex interfaces to access digital content.

For consumer-facing brands, TTS has become increasingly popular among the younger generation, as evidenced by a 2022 survey showing that 70 per cent of respondents aged 18 to 25 viewed content with simultaneous audio and captioning “most of the time.” Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have also incorporated TTS features, making it an anticipated feature across various content consumption platforms.

The benefits of TTS go beyond meeting regulatory requirements or promotional activities. It also serves as a valuable tool for faith-based apps, such as the Muslim Pro app, that cater to a global audience and aim to reach a diverse range of users. 

Fostering inclusivity

Today, Islam is not only the world’s fastest-growing religion but it is projected to be the largest one by 2075. Despite technological advancements, there is still a notable absence of groundbreaking innovation that could significantly transform how Muslims practice their faith.

Also Read: How faith-based lifestyle apps can raise the bar to become super apps

In a world where many Muslims struggle to find the time and space for daily prayers and spiritual practices, TTS offers a convenient solution. For instance, Muslims who are visually impaired may require such tools to access religious texts, such as the Quran, in audio format. For us, implementing TTS is a promising step forward in this regard.

With over 148 million downloads worldwide to date, our app has demonstrated the potential of engineering to promote inclusivity and accessibility for faith-based communities. It has made great strides in reaching a global audience by incorporating the latest TTS technology for reciting Quran translation with support for over 20 languages, including Česko, Korean, Norsk, Italiano, Português, Romanian, and more.

For Muslims, prayers, known as duas and supplications, are often recited in Arabic at various times throughout the day. This makes prayers attainable to users in a user-friendly and comprehensible manner, irrespective of their proficiency in the language. This is an example of how it can be used to bridge cultural and linguistic barriers.

It is also a valuable resource for Muslims who are still learning the Arabic script. Making it available allows us to ensure that all Muslims can engage with their faith on their own terms on the go.

Whether you’re in the tech industry or not, the benefits of incorporating innovative tools are evident. As more people turn to digital tools to deepen their connection with their faith, tech companies must prioritize diversity and inclusivity in their products and services. By investing in innovative solutions like TTS, we can improve user experiences and reach a broader audience, promoting a more inclusive and accessible digital landscape.

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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

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This article was first published on May 25, 2023

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The threat landscape in cybersecurity and data protection is evolving, and startups now face new challenges as AI technology rapidly advances and cyber attackers look to employ new tactics. From realistic phishing emails to deepfaked videos, malicious actors are leveraging AI to craft highly convincing and targeted attacks with greater precision and scale.

For startups and SMEs, it is essential that they are well prepared for these challenges and are aware of some of the major threats, both in the present and short-term future. Let’s take a look at three ways in which cybercrime is set to evolve over the next five years.

Commodification of malicious services

The emergence of new tactics such as Jailbreak-as-a-Service highlights the democratisation of cyber threats, underscoring the need for startups to stay ahead of the curve. Recent technological developments mean that hostilities can now come from anywhere, which makes threat detection increasingly complex, particularly as we look ahead to the future.

Ransomware rendered by Malware-as-a-service is becoming more frequent – this is where a ransomware group or gang sells its ransomware code or malware to other hackers, who then use it to carry out their own ransomware attacks. This sort of activity makes it considerably easier for less sophisticated actors to attack businesses independently. 

With the commodification of deepfake services, cybercriminals can easily bypass security measures, leading to devastating consequences such as financial loss and reputational damage. The now infamous case of the Hong Kong finance worker who transferred US$25 million to a fake CFO serves as a cautionary tale to organisations to be more vigilant in the new landscape.

Also Read: From grid to code: Why good cybersecurity will help deliver net zero

High-profile individuals tend to be more prone to spoofing, while government and financial institutions are more attractive targets of ransomware for the amount of sensitive information they hold.

AI model theft and misuse

The potential theft or unauthorised access to AI models developed by startups is another rising issue that will continue to proliferate as more tech startups come onto the scene with proprietary AI solutions over the next couple of years. Stolen models could be misused for malicious purposes or replicated by competitors, leading to intellectual property theft.

Techniques like model extraction attacks pose such a risk, where an adversary prompts the chatbot to divulge information that allows it to recreate its model. Model inversion techniques that enable output data to be used to reconstruct sensitive input data are also gaining ground.

The data is then exposed to further misuse. Adversarial attacks are another form of model misuse that is increasing in prominence, too – they aim to manipulate the model’s inputs to generate incorrect outputs, undermining its reliability and integrity.

AI supply chain attacks

The complex AI supply chain, involving data sourcing, model training, and deployment, presents multiple attack vectors that startups must secure. But this doesn’t only apply to AI software in general, which is experiencing more supply chain attacks.

Bad actors increasingly see software, developer infrastructure and third-party providers as entry vectors into governments and corporations. This is a threat that will only proliferate as organisations continue to integrate AI into their infrastructures.

Cybercriminals will look to attack AI supply chains via a variety of methods, including data poisoning attacks, which involve injecting malicious data into training datasets to compromise the model’s performance and introduce vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, model skewing attacks manipulate the training process to introduce targeted biases, backdoors, or other vulnerabilities into the AI model. 

The expanded requirements and capabilities of data protection and data governance 

To mitigate these risks, startups should implement robust data governance practices, invest in explainable AI technologies, as well as conduct regular audits for bias and fairness to maintain human oversight in critical decision-making processes involving AI. Collaboration with security experts and staying updated on the latest AI threats and best practices is also essential.

Also Read: The ever-present threat: Why businesses need robust cybersecurity

Organisations must adopt a comprehensive approach to data governance, especially when adopting AI to process personal information. In practice, this requires a layered strategy accompanied by accountable data handling practices by humans. With many tech startups seeking to roll out their own AI solutions, adopting a privacy-by-design approach where privacy considerations are integrated into every stage of the development and operation of a system is expected.

Proactive threat intelligence, conducting robust third-party due diligence, and implementing stringent data protection and encryption protocols are valuable precautions. Startups that collect, use, process or disclose personal data with Gen AI, may consider adopting Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) that enable data analysis without compromising personal information, such as differential privacy, federated learning, and homomorphic encryption.

As many technological controls one can take, human error is still one of the key causes of high-profile data breaches, especially in rapidly growing startups. As such, educating employees and executives on data handling best practices and the risks of AI is crucial. 

Educated leaders and staff training are essential in the age of AI

Effective data handling and security, especially when leveraging AI as part of your product or services, hinges on a well-informed workforce that is not limited to IT professionals. Staff training programmes tailored to individual roles and responsibilities should be carried out, including realistic simulations that provide practical experience in handling cyber threats.

There are also internationally recognised courses that integrate data governance, generative AI and privacy security, suited for CTOs and IT personnel in tech startups looking to forward their venture. The International Association of Privacy Professionals’ (IAPP) Certified Privacy Information Technologist (CIPT) course imparts techniques to manage cybersecurity risks while enabling prudent data use for business purposes.

Continuous vigilance and accountability are paramount to strengthening organisational resilience against social engineering tactics and human error-induced breaches. With the right knowledge and training, leaders and employees will be better equipped to successfully implement best practices and processes early in your startup’s stage of growth so that you can sustainably adapt to evolving regulations and business growth.

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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.

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