Sheet after sheet amounting to more than 88 pounds of plastic was pulled out of a dead whale’s intestines in the Philippines. Clogged-up drainage systems exacerbated the impacts of deadly floods in Bangladesh during the devastating monsoon seasons.

Once beautiful lakes and rivers in India and China are now forever tainted by the irresponsible disposal of men. It is irrefutable that the issue of plastic waste has far-reaching consequences. Yet, this exact problem has been tactfully evaded for decades by governments and entrepreneurs alike. 

In 2017, the United Nations deemed that approximately seven billion of the 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic produced from 1950-2017 became plastic waste, ending up in landfills or dumped. The elephant in the room, our capitalistic society avoided re-imagining the final stages of many product life cycles, always opting for the most efficient, cost-effective and fastest way to get waste out of sight.

At the centre of the plastic waste problem stands Asia, a continent that has long chosen to turn a blind eye to its root causes and insidious impacts. Luckily, the effects stemming from decades of ignorance and oversight have finally forced us to divert more attention to this area, following the wave of growing innovations in other more-developed regions in the world, namely North America and Europe.

As we delve deeper into the plastic industry in Asia, I implore you to ponder more about the kinds of solutions the region needs as we evaluate the root causes, main challenges and key innovations that have emerged in Asia in recent years. 

In the first edition of this three-part series on the Asian plastic waste ecosystem, I would like to explore some of the major factors that have contributed to the problem, especially in the context of Asia.

You may ask – why Asia? 

Also Read: How climate tech companies in Asia measure the impact of their work

To begin, Asia stands as the world’s largest plastic-producing region, manufacturing approximately 51 per cent of the total global production of plastic materials. Furthermore, in 2019, statistics released by Our World in Data showed that Asia was the greatest emitter of plastic waste into oceans, at a whopping 80.99 per cent.

Not only does this affirm the extent of plastic produced in Asia, but it also sheds light on the underdevelopment of proper waste management systems in the region that could have facilitated the proper disposal of plastic waste. For comparison, total mismanaged waste from North America and Europe was less than five per cent, speaking volumes about the amount of improvement required of the plastic waste management systems in Asia. 

Coupled with the fact that the recycling systems and technologies in the region are still years behind, it is evident that plastic waste has become one of Asia’s most salient problems. Yet, though many deals and commitments to change have been made, plastic remains firmly entrenched in the region’s economy, especially in Southeast Asia (SEA).

Rising affluence

Firstly, the burgeoning middle class and population growth in many Asian economies have led to the rise of consumerism and a multi-faceted increase in the consumption of plastics.

The past few years of rapid economic growth in this region have led to a collective increase in middle-class income, directly increasing their purchasing power and, in turn, the ability to purchase goods and services both locally and from overseas.

Directly, this translates to an increase in the consumption of goods that contain plastics. More indirectly, this has also resulted in the explosive growth of the packaging industry, exponentially increasing the incidences of companies using single-use plastics to deliver their goods.

Also Read: How to navigate the investment opportunity in climate tech sector

This type of delivery model was pioneered in South and Southeast Asia and has become so “entrenched” that big industries now use it as a “justification”, says Von Hernandez, a renowned Filipino environmentalist and Goldman Prize winner.

Thus, it is arguable that the roots of plastic consumption in Asia lie in socio-economic factors such as rising affluence and a change in consumers’ tastes and preferences. 

Inadequate waste management infrastructure

Secondly, many Asian countries, especially in SEA, often have inadequate waste management infrastructures. Their primary method of disposal is still heavily reliant on landfills and open dumping.

Thus, it is indicative that the investments into the waste management systems are insufficient for good municipal waste management, let alone be enough to inject further value into the system through recycling.

Evidently, only 18 per cent to 28 per cent of recyclable plastic is recovered and recycled in the region, as compared to 38 per cent in Europe. Hence, there is a greater need for governments to prioritise and invest heavily in this area. 

The volume of imported waste 

Yet, while the statistics seem to suggest that Asia should be regarded as the epicentre of the plastic problem, the reality is often much more muddled. There is another part of the narrative that has not been explored much — the percentage of plastic waste that was not generated domestically and, in fact, arose due to developed countries importing their waste to less developed ones, especially those in SEA.

Case in point, about 74 per cent of the exported plastic waste in the world has entered Asia in recent years. From this lens, the plastic problem becomes much more global and interconnected, and thus much more difficult to attribute responsibility to.

Hence, it is pertinent to note that the plastic waste problem is not a regional but a global responsibility. More developed countries with the appropriate technologies and methods should aid less-developed countries, be it formally through international treaties or through technological transfers.  

In this part, I briefly touched on some of the key causes of the growing plastic problem in Asia. In part 2, I will be covering the main problems faced by stakeholders like corporations and regulators as they try to tackle the plastic problem.

This article is part of a three-part series adapted from the Plastics and Circularity Report under the HyperScale Waste-Tech Accelerator 2023 programme. For more information on the programme and how you can be a part of the inaugural Waste-Tech Accelerator problem in the world, find out more here: https://hyperx.global/hyperscale.

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The last four years have seen an exodus by household names such as Birkenstock, IKEA, and Nike from powerhouse marketplace Amazon. Once considered a “must-have” channel in any successful selling strategy, the high-profile exits from the world’s top online marketplace were each triggered by their own catalyst, but all of which centered around customer experience.

Nike withdrew from Amazon citing its desire for more direct, personal relationships with its own customers. Birkenstock pulled its products from Amazon’s virtual shelves due to concerns of brand dilution that arose from counterfeit products and predatory pricing from third-party retailers.

While these withdrawals have not had an impact on Amazon’s position as the world’s top online marketplace, they provide important learnings for both brands and marketplaces here in Asia looking to develop effective customer experience strategies.

Marketplaces still a significant part of the shopping experience

The e-commerce industry continues to be dominated by marketplaces that play a vital role in the shopping journey. A study on the Southeast Asian e-commerce industry revealed that 89 per cent of online purchases in Singapore takes place via marketplaces– even if select brands chose not to list their products, marketplaces remain crucial to an ecosystem that sees brands and marketplaces mutually dependent on each other for their survival.

For brands, particularly smaller businesses, marketplaces provide existing infrastructure and audiences that can immediately be leveraged.

Also Read: From co-working to co-living, these 7 brands in Southeast Asia have got you covered

Marketplaces, on the other hand, need a wide collection of sellers. From these small businesses to large, well-known brands, variety is essential to provide the range of products needed to attract and retain their audiences.

After all, today’s shoppers are savvy and compare offerings, selecting preferences based on a range of criteria including price and customer experience.

How brands and marketplaces can deliver a seamless customer experience

Both brands and marketplaces alike are realising the importance of the overall customer experience. This has seen 89 per cent of companies shifting to a model of competing primarily on the basis of customer experience. As partners, the onus is no longer only on the brands to deliver this experience, but also on the marketplaces, as an extension of the brands.

With this in mind, there are three key things both brands, as well as marketplaces, need to keep in mind when looking to deliver a seamless customer experience.

Deliver a strong brand experience across every touchpoint

The best customer experience is one where every customer who has ever interacted with the brand is able to communicate exactly who the brand is and what they stand for.

Customers should receive a consistent image and experience, no matter if they are purchasing from a retail store, the brand’s website, or a marketplace. This speaks to the products listed, language used, pricing strategy and overall interface.

Also Read: Myanmar-based logistics startup Kargo rebrands to Karzo as it refocusses on the B2B segment

Take, for example, Apple which has become synonymous with the clean, white aesthetic, and conversational tone of language across all their touch points – from the Apple Store employees, to that moment you turn on your Apple product and see “hello” for the first time.

A strong overall brand experience enables brands to inspire confidence and build stronger, sticky relationships with their customers.

Leverage data for a customised experience

Brands and marketplaces today have access to more customer data than ever before, whether through their websites, or their social channels. This also means that the customer of today expects more from brands and marketplaces than ever before, seeking an experience tailored to their needs and wants.

This makes it imperative for all players to leverage this data, responsibly, and in a way that complies with the Personal Data Protection Act, to deliver a personalised experience for each shopper.

Whether displaying suggestions for products they may like or timely reminders on items they have purchased regularly, each personalised aspect of the experience builds loyalty from customers inundated with options.

Recognising the importance of customer experience, J&T Express works with our partners to equip them with insights around buying patterns of their product category segmented by location.

Also Read: 10 ways to get a customer to buy from your e-commerce site

For example, Orbis, a collagen drink brand was looking for advice on their customer outreach strategies. Leveraging the data collected, we understood that Singapore was home to many customers who purchased consumables within the Health & Beauty category.

With this information on hand, Orbis was able to identify their target audience and potential opportunities within Tampines, and further amplify their presence through targeted offline sales events and delivering the right offerings to the right audience. This led to a month-on-month sales growth of 223 per cent supported by a median growth rate of 200 per cent within a seven-month period.

Delivery partners are another extension of your brand

A recent study by J&T Express found that the two most important factors to shoppers in Singapore are having their parcel delivered safely and in good condition, and the cost of delivery.

In fact, 83 per cent of respondents indicated that the overall delivery experience would determine whether they would make a repeat purchase with the same retailer.

As an extension of brands and marketplaces, the responsibility falls on delivery partners to implement the necessary processes to deliver these parcels on time and safely, helping to encourage a repeat purchase by the consumer.

They also need to cater to the changing needs and preferences of consumers who seek convenience and flexibility from their delivery options. Understanding this is key to the experience of our partners’ brands, we offer a range of delivery services, 365 days a year.

Also Read: HostelHunting rebrands into LiveIn.com; to expand into Indonesia, Philippines

Aside from express door-step delivery, our growing network of more than 1,000 collection points island-wide ensures that customers have greater control over their delivery experience. We also offer delivery for our customers seven days of the week, a first in Singapore.

Seamless experiences will help brands and marketplaces rise above

In an increasingly crowded market space where customers are spoilt for choice, it is a seamless customer experience that will help brands break through and retain the attention and loyalty of an increasingly savvy audience.

By focusing on creating the most seamless experience possible, throughout the customer journey and in collaboration with delivery partners, both brands and marketplaces can ensure they stay ahead of the very tight e-commerce race, whether alone or together.

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In this commentary, we take a closer look at the current digital maturity of Singapore’s government and propose key principles for its further advancement in the realm of digital transformation. We reflect on the government’s progress to an advanced stage of digital maturity as defined by Gartner’s Maturity Model and identify areas for improvement, particularly in terms of fluid data sharing, advanced analytics, and predictive AI, including principles that could propel the government’s digital transformation journey forward.

Elevated digital maturity of Singapore’s government

Singapore’s journey towards digitalisation has been marked by the launch of a multitude of public applications, ranging from transactional tools like BizFile to citizen-centric platforms like ScamShield. With strategic initiatives on data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) since around 2015, Singapore’s government has progressed to what we view as Level 3 (Figure 1 below) on the Gartner Digital Government Maturity Model 2.0.

This five-tier model gauges the digital maturity of governments. This ongoing transformation has enhanced citizen services, improved governmental productivity, and empowered more informed decision-making.

Astonishingly, 99 per cent of government services are now digital end-to-end, fostering satisfaction among citizens and businesses alike. The international community has also recognised Singapore’s accomplishments in digital transformation through various rankings and accolades.

Unleashing further potential through digital advancement

While commendable strides have been made, there remains untapped potential for achieving more advanced levels of digital maturity. Bridging the gaps to reach Levels 4 and 5 of the Gartner model requires a focus on seamless data sharing across agencies, the integration of advanced big data analytics, and pervasive predictive AI throughout the government apparatus.

Also Read: Why the growing UHNI population in Singapore is good news for Indian startup ecosystem

Necessity for next-level digital transformation

We advocate for the government to embrace digital transformation to elevate its digital maturity. Several compelling reasons underpin this imperative:

• Navigating uncertainties: In an era characterised by volatility and complexity, enhanced adaptability is crucial. The escalating economic uncertainties, geopolitical tensions, and emerging social challenges underscore the value of bolstering digital maturity. By doing so, the government can effectively anticipate, mitigate, and respond to crises.
• Overcoming legacy constraints: Legacy systems prevalent across agencies are often inflexible, limiting agility and resilience in the face of disruptions. Failure to modernise these systems can engender bottlenecks that hinder nimble responses to change.
• Data accessibility and speed: Siloed government IT systems impede swift access to data across agencies. The current lead time for obtaining core government datasets on the Government Data Architecture (GDA) can be cumbersome. Rapid data mobilisation, as witnessed during the pandemic, necessitates a unified data landscape.
• Harnessing emerging technologies: Cutting-edge technologies present opportunities to grapple with data surges and better serve citizens. This includes employing technologies like computer vision, X analytics, dynamic data stories, natural language processing, metaverse, and predictive AI to derive insights, enhance services, and predict trends.

Principles guiding next-level digital transformation

Outlined below are the key principles that could steer the government’s journey toward next-level digital transformation:

Principle 1: Unified data view

The government is already working towards a consolidated, real-time data view encompassing a wider array of agencies and data types. Doubling down on this initiative would expedite decision-making and enhance data pattern recognition for improved analytics.

Principle 2: Reinforcing AI

With AI making unprecedented advancements in recent months, the technology can positively impact strategic decision-making and service delivery. AI-driven insights derived from comprehensive big data analysis can enable proactive decision-making.

The government should leverage AI for policy prediction and formulating strategies to address diverse economic, social, and environmental variables. Furthermore, AI can be instrumental in optimising city operations and enhancing service delivery across agencies.

Principle 3: Accelerating tech modernisation

To enhance agility and user experience, the government can expedite the modernisation of legacy systems. Flexibility, integration, and user interface must be central to new system design, ensuring seamless data flows and a unified view of information.

Principle 4: Innovating with emerging tech

The government can adopt a two-pronged approach to innovation. This involves proactively identifying emerging technologies relevant to solving key challenges while simultaneously exploring how new technologies can tackle existing problems.

In the face of an increasingly volatile and complex global landscape, Singapore’s government must embrace adaptability across all dimensions, and I believe these four guiding principles will enable Singapore to achieve Gartner’s Levels 4 and 5 of digital maturity.

This transformation will pave the way for a digital government that is adaptable and forward-looking, even as Singapore seeks to preserve its prominence as a Smart Nation on the global stage.

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Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping creative industries, offering powerful tools that enhance artistic expression, streamline workflows, and make creative pursuits more accessible. Platforms like MidJourney and other AI-driven tools allow individuals with no formal artistic training to generate stunning visuals, music, and even literature.

While this democratisation of creativity presents exciting opportunities, it also raises serious concerns about originality, authorship, and the future of human artists, especially fresh graduates entering the field.

The bright side: Accessibility and efficiency

One of AI’s most significant contributions to creativity is accessibility. AI-powered tools lower the barriers to entry for people who may lack technical skills but have strong creative ideas. Someone with no experience in digital illustration can now generate professional-grade artwork in minutes, and writers can use AI-assisted tools to refine and generate ideas more efficiently.

For businesses, AI is a game-changer. It speeds up content creation, helps automate repetitive design tasks, and enables rapid prototyping. Companies can produce high-quality marketing materials, concept art, and branding assets with minimal human input, reducing costs and increasing output. The efficiency AI offers is undeniable, allowing creatives to focus on strategy and high-level conceptual work rather than manual execution.

The dark side: Originality, copyright, and job displacement

However, the integration of AI into creative work comes with serious challenges. One of the most pressing concerns is originality. AI generates work based on pre-existing data, often pulling from millions of images, texts, and sounds without truly “creating” in the human sense.

This leads to questions of authorship—if an AI creates an image based on thousands of existing works, who owns the final product? The artist who input the prompt? The developers of the AI? Or the countless creators whose works were used to train the model?

Also Read: Is AI the end of originality or a new dawn for creativity?

Copyright issues are already causing legal battles. Many artists and photographers have accused AI companies of using their works without consent to train models. The lack of clear legal frameworks means AI-generated content exists in a grey area, making it difficult for human creators to protect their intellectual property.

Beyond legal concerns, there’s also the issue of job displacement. Fresh graduates in art, design, music, and other creative disciplines now face an increasingly competitive market where companies might prefer AI-generated content over hiring human artists. Why pay for a designer when an AI tool can generate 10 different versions of a logo in seconds? This shift threatens the traditional paths that many creatives rely on to build their careers.

AI and the myth of the “non-creative”

Another interesting consequence of AI’s rise is the potential for non-creatives to produce high-quality work. Someone with no artistic background can now generate a gallery-worthy digital painting, raising philosophical questions about what it means to be an artist.

Is creativity about the final product, or is it about the process? If a person uses AI to generate an idea but refines it manually, are they still an artist? These questions challenge the traditional definitions of creativity and talent.

My opinion: Adapt or be left behind

AI is not an existential threat to human creativity, but it is a force that cannot be ignored. Trying to resist AI’s advancement is futile—technology will continue to evolve whether we like it or not. The most successful creatives will be those who learn to integrate AI into their workflow rather than seeing it as competition.

Fresh graduates and emerging artists should focus on what AI cannot replicate—deep human emotion, originality, and personal storytelling. AI can generate content, but it lacks the human experience that gives art its soul. Those who embrace AI as a tool, rather than a replacement, will find themselves at an advantage in an industry that is constantly evolving.

At the same time, ethical concerns around copyright and fair compensation for artists must be addressed. Governments and industry leaders must develop clear regulations to protect human creators while allowing innovation to flourish. Without proper oversight, we risk devaluing human artistry in favour of machine-generated convenience.

Ultimately, creativity is not about how art is made but about the ideas, emotions, and narratives it conveys. AI is just another tool—how we use it will determine whether it enhances or undermines human creativity.

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The latest OpenAI’s version of ChatGPT, an AI-enabled chatbot allows users to generate images of themselves, their pets, films or memes in the distinct “Ghibli” style of Studio Ghibli, the acclaimed Japanese animation studio. Notably, not all users are on board with the “Ghiblification” of images by OpenAI’s new tool. This post looks at the legal issues surrounding this new ChatGPT feature.

Blurring the line between homage and outright infringement

Legally speaking, artistic styles per se may not be protected under copyright law. However, specific characters or scenes like Totoro or a frame from Princess Mononoke are legally protected.

However, when ChatGPT allows a user to generate an image in an ‘Ghibli-style,’ OpenAI may likely be considered as trading off the goodwill of Ghibli’s trademarks (i.e. using Ghibli’s identifiable style) which may lead to a likelihood of confusion among consumers that such a function is indeed endorsed or licensed by Studio Ghibli.

Therefore, if ChatGPT produces a “Ghibli”-fied image that may be too close to the originals, such image may be subject to a potential lawsuit.

Walking on the thin line of copyright law

To date, there isn’t any legal precedent to determine if OpenAI contravenes the copyright law.

AI companies like OpenAI for training data for its models have used the “fair use doctrine” under copyright law as a legal protection. The “fair use doctrine” is a legal grey zone. The doctrine allows limited access to copyrighted materials without prior permission (e.g. quotations, research, teaching, news reporting, and other non-infringing uses).

However, OpenAI is already facing several lawsuits over its approach to scrapping the internet for training data for its models, including plenty of copyrighted material. In 2023, The New York Times, a news company sued OpenAI that the AI company infringed its copyright by using its material without permission to train its AI models.

To summarise, it may be likely that OpenAI’s model was trained on Studio Ghibli’s work. That in turn may raise the question if OpenAI has obtained a license or permission to do such training or not? Therefore, if we may look at the output of generative AI and see identical elements or substantially similar elements in that output, and such type of use was  happening without consent and compensation, it may be problematic.

Also Read: With AI comes huge reputational risks: How businesses can navigate the ChatGPT era

Time to rewrite the rulebook?

Copyright laws, developed centuries for a pre-AI world will need an overhaul. Instead of relying on the courts to interpret the existing copyright law, lawmakers worldwide must act quickly to discuss with a view to modernise copyright law for the age of AI. Should AI creation be copyrighted? What counts as fair use when machines exploit such original work?

A potential compromised scenario may include where artists agree to a system where the AI developers will compensate them as the copyright holders, and credit them where their content is used (in producing AI output).

AI developers should be transparent on data sources such as disclosing how they source their data (e.g. public domain, licensed content, or under fair use). Or they may likely face further legal challenges from copyright owners.

Final thoughts

When Studio Ghibli Co-Founder Hayao Miyazaki saw an AI demo in 2016, he was ‘utterly disgusted’ by it, as captured in documentary footage. He had warned in the past that AI could become ‘an insult to life itself’ if it loses sight of the human soul.

Can we prove him wrong? “Ghiblification” may be just the beginning, as we foresee future clashes between copyright law and AI. The challenge lies in whether we can strike a balance between rewarding innovation and upholding artistic integrity. Lawmakers need to act swiftly to provide regulatory clarity on the fair use of AI for the benefit of all.

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AI is actively changing everything from how founders code software to how governments deliver public services. But while innovation moves fast, regulations often don’t. Across Southeast Asia, we now face a pivotal moment: How can we design an AI playbook that not only protects the public but also empowers local innovation?

As a technology lawyer who regularly deals with emerging companies, I have witnessed firsthand how policymakers usually struggle to strike a balance between enabling growth and mitigating risks. If we want AI regulation to be both relevant and effective for Southeast Asia, we need to get a few key principles right.

Use “soft law” before “hard law”

Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystems are still evolving. Imposing punitive AI laws too early may drive innovation underground or offshore. Instead, governments can first adopt soft law tools. 

The approaches taken by Singapore and Malaysia are notable as they include national AI principles, voluntary codes of conduct, and model governance toolkits serve as examples of how countries can use soft law tools to encourage AI adoption.

These approaches create legal clarity without immediately introducing penalties. They also allow startups to adopt “ethical by design” practices which is especially important for founders looking to expand into more regulated jurisdictions later.

Build institutions that can keep up with AI

Even the best written law may be meaningless without capable institutions to monitor, enforce, and evolve with the emerging technologies. Governments must invest in up-skilling regulators, judges, and public servants in AI literacy.

In Malaysia, the government has formed The National AI Office (NAIO) to drive Malaysia’s AI agenda, and assist with other agencies and relevant stakeholders in establishing a path towards making Malaysia an AI driven economy. 

Also Read: AI, GenAI, and beyond: Navigating the next wave of tech investments in SEA

Start with high risk AI use cases

Not all AI is the same. A chatbot that suggests playlists has a different risk profile different from an algorithm that decides whether a person gets a loan approved or a longer prison sentence. Governments may wish to prioritise regulating high risk use cases affecting fundamental rights like privacy, employment, or access to justice as areas that may require guardrails to prevent misuse.

Focusing early regulatory energy on these sensitive domains prevents overreach. It also avoids drowning founders in compliance burdens when they’re building low risk applications. AI regulations should be proportionate, risk based, and scalable

Don’t copy paste Western models

The temptation to adopt existing laws from other continents such as the EU style AI Act laws may be understandable, but may not always be wise. Southeast Asian countries are diverse. 

What may likely work in Singapore might not even be suitable for Indonesia or even Vietnam. A blanket regulatory framework risks stifling innovation, especially in smaller digital economies.

In the past few years, the approach by policymakers has been to build principle-based guidelines that are adaptable to their country’s regulatory maturity and digital readiness. In Malaysia, The Artificial Intelligence Governance and Ethics Guidelines (AIGE) was launched in 2024 that sets out seven key principles of AI to voluntary adopt responsible and ethical AI practices.

Additionally, the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics also serves as a useful reference for entities in the ASEAN region seeking to adopt AI in commercial applications. The document sets out proposed governance framework, national and regional recommendations, real life use cases, and AI risk impact assessment template. The Expanded ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics – Generative AI looks at risks of Generative AI and recommends a range of policy recommendations for its responsible adoption.

Align with core national values and constitution

In Malaysia, in addition to the Federal Constitution, we also have the Rukunegara, a set of national principles that underpin the country’s values. In Malaysia, NAIO (of which I am a member under the AI Governance and Ethics Working Group) is examining the local context that may be relevant to operationalising the country’s AI governance models and exploring practical, meaningful ways to implement AI ethically.

Also Read: Navigating market trends and risks: Leveraging GenAI in banking treasury functions in APAC

In other Southeast Asian countries, a constitution may likely be the supreme law of the land that uphold values around dignity, equality, and community. In other words, AI regulations shouldn’t exist in a vacuum but be grounded in local values and culture. 

Engage startups and local innovators early

Usually, laws are drafted by government agencies, lawyers, and academics with little inputs from those actually building the technologies. This may be a missed opportunity. 

Startups are usually first movers in deploying AI and can offer real world insights on where guardrails are needed, and what’s practically enforceable. Therefore, policymakers should seek to involve founders, ecosystem enablers like accelerators, and investors early in the consultation process. For instance, investors’ involvement in drafting the AI playbook may ensure regulatory frameworks align with innovation pathways and long-term value creation.

Regulatory co-design models, including AI focused hackathons, regulatory roundtables, and structured sandbox environments are activities that both sides can learn from each other and in real time. These collaborative platforms allow rules to be tested and iterated before becoming law, ensuring they are both practical and innovation friendly.

Final thoughts

The AI journey should be co-created by all of us, policymakers, ecosystem enablers, investors, and founders alike.

With the right regulatory support by the policymakers, I am confident that Southeast Asia may perhaps even move beyond merely as AI consumers. Our local founders have the tools and talent to build the next generation of AI native solutions. We may even emerge as a serious hub for AI innovation.

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When Aunty Good Good first started talking to AI, she did not expect to make anyone laugh. She just wanted to help people, especially those who did not grow up with technology, understand what all the fuss was about.

Aunty Good Good is my light-hearted social media character, a curious, outspoken aunty who loves food, travel, and cheeky conversations with technology. She was born from a simple idea. If midlifers like me could laugh while learning about AI, we would stop fearing it and start exploring it.

So one day, she looked at ChatGPT and said, “Eh, you can talk Singlish anot?”

The internet replied with a big collective “lah”.

Those videos filled with playful Singlish banter between Aunty Good Good and AI began showing that technology does not always have to be atas, or fancy. It can be shiok, friendly, and even a bit kaypoh.

That moment when AI replied in Singlish revealed something powerful. The fastest way to make technology human is to make it laugh with us.

When AI feels too serious for ordinary people

Many older adults, especially in Asia, find AI intimidating. It talks too perfectly. It answers too fast. And most of the time, it does not sound like us.

When something feels foreign, people hesitate. They fear pressing the wrong button, saying the wrong thing, or breaking the AI.

That is where humour and culture become important. They remind us that technology does not have to be perfect. It just has to connect.

When Aunty Good Good speaks Singlish to AI, she is not mocking technology. She is translating comfort, showing that you do not need to be a tech expert to start learning. You can be yourself, accent and all.

Also Read: A prettier you: How AI avatars make storytelling easier for midlifers

Why local voices matter in a digital world

In a world filled with machine voices, local language becomes an anchor of identity. Whether it is Singlish, Taglish, or Manglish, these cultural quirks reflect who we are and how we connect.

When AI learns from these voices, it becomes more inclusive, not just smarter. It learns how we feel, not just what we say.

Imagine AI that understands when “can lah” means yes, but “can meh” means doubt. That is not just language processing. That is empathy in code.

And that is what the next phase of AI should be about. Helping machines understand people, not just prompts.

The power of play in digital learning

Behind the humour, there is also a serious insight. Play builds confidence. When adults joke with AI, they stop fearing it.

It is the same reason we teach children through play. Laughter opens the brain for learning. Curiosity keeps the door open for growth.

Aunty Good Good’s Singlish lessons are not just funny videos. They are digital inclusion tools. They help midlife learners step into AI’s world one lah at a time.

Also Read: Stop comparing AIs: How faithfulness builds clarity

From language to legacy

There is a quiet message in all this fun. AI can be a bridge between generations.

Younger people teach the tools. Older ones teach the culture. Together they create something both timeless and new.

If AI can speak Singlish, it can speak the language of belonging. And maybe that is what we need most, not just smarter machines but warmer conversations.

Closing thought

So next time you hear Aunty Good Good chatting with AI, do not laugh at her. Laugh with her. Because that is how learning begins, with curiosity, comfort, and a touch of chaos.

And maybe the real question is not whether AI can speak Singlish, but whether it can listen with heart.

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One of the most memorable moments in my 2025 happened just a few weeks ago, when I got hired as a writer by (signed an NDA not to reveal the company’s name, so let’s just call it an e-commerce agency) and got kicked out three days after signing my contract. If you’re familiar with how badly Erik Ten Hag performed at Leverkusen, well, at least he survived until day ten, a privilege I didn’t have.

They called me one day in September and told me it would begin with a three-month probation period, followed by a performance evaluation. Three days later, I was called into HR and told we had to part ways. I repeat, after three days in.

I’m not sure if this start and finish in the same week approach is becoming common in workplaces today, but no organisation should feel ethically justified in terminating someone after only three days without any warning or chance to improve. According to Seek, firing an employee without providing a reasonable opportunity to address concerns violates basic fairness expectations, making such actions appear arbitrary and irrational.

However, being someone raised with Asian values, I tend to look for positives in every situation. After hours (or days) of reflecting, here’s what I discovered.

Adaptability in modern workplaces

One of the most immediate things I learned was how adaptability has become an integral norm in modern workplaces, as it ensures that employees have what it takes to engage in challenges and meet the expectations set at their organisations. The increasing demand and flow of modern workplaces lead to an increase in employers’ expectations of what their employees can and should do.

Also Read: How your HR team can help with crisis management

In my case, I realised I didn’t hit the ground running fast enough, which likely contributed to the decision. Data from Morton Fraser MacRoberts shows that 20 per cent of new employees fail probation, and 30 per cent leave within the first 90 days. Not quite three days, but I suppose mine was a special case. Either way, the numbers show that adaptability is critical for survival.

Being proactive and taking initiative matters

Adaptability helps you survive. Proactivity helps you thrive.

Today’s focus on work-life balance sometimes discourages employees from going the extra mile, but the reality is that initiative remains one of the few things that clearly differentiates us from AI. If machines are catching up on execution, then human judgment, intent, and initiative become more valuable than ever.

Going the extra mile also applies beyond workplaces. In relationships, effort strengthens connection. In marketing, it separates brands from the rest. The same applies professionally. Taking initiative signals commitment and helps build trust early on.

The whole experience taught me something simple: no one is responsible for our growth except us. If we want to stand out, especially when we are still new and have little influence over culture or processes, we have to do more than what is asked. And with AI always advancing, determination may be what keeps us ahead.

Do you agree that human determination will always take us ahead in the race against AI?

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Granite Asia has achieved the first close of its pan-Asia private credit strategy, Libra Hybrid, securing more than US$350 million in commitments as investor appetite for non-dilutive financing accelerates across the region.

Anchored by Temasek, via its private credit platform Aranda Principal Strategies, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, and the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA), the strategy targets a total fund size of US$500 million.

Additional capital commitments came from global institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, Granite Asia’s general partners, and the firm’s 25-year network of founders and entrepreneurs.

Also Read: Granite Asia launches US$250M Libra Fund to power Asia’s mid-market growth

Granite Asia has already deployed and committed roughly 30 per cent of the fund across six transactions, with more deals currently in execution. The strategy expands the firm’s long-standing track record in tech investing, which spans over 500 companies and 63 IPOs globally, into the fast-growing private credit arena.

Meeting rising demand for flexible, non-dilutive financing

Private credit has emerged as a key financing alternative for Asian businesses navigating supply-chain redesigns, market expansions, and technology-driven modernisation. Granite Asia aims to provide structured, non-dilutive capital to profitable enterprises undergoing such transitions.

“We’re seeing strong demand for private credit from companies undergoing transformative growth, redesigning supply chains, expanding into new markets, or modernising through technology,” said Ming Eng, Managing Partner at Granite Asia, who leads the firm’s private credit strategy.

“These businesses require not just financing solutions beyond traditional equity or debt, but a trusted partner with specialised expertise and a deep regional track record. This dynamic creates a compelling opportunity for our investors: access to Asia’s growth through a capital-preserving credit strategy that delivers stable yields, augmented by structured upside through value-add, such as revenue sharing, designed to pursue equity-like returns without taking on equity-like risk,” Eng added.

Jenny Lee, Senior Managing Partner at Granite Asia, added: “Private credit is a natural extension of our platform and reflects the evolving capital needs of the visionary founders and businesses we back. It strengthens our ability to provide comprehensive financing solutions –from equity to credit — built on the same discipline, insight, and long-term partnership that define Granite Asia. It reflects our proven ability to leverage our unique strengths and ecosystem to innovate and unlock value – partnering up with the region’s leading investors to drive growth across Asia.”

Growing team and pan-Asia coverage

To support its expanding private credit footprint, Granite Asia has doubled the size of its credit team this year, with Eng leading regional efforts. Momentum across the broader platform—which now spans venture, growth, and credit strategies with over US$6 billion in assets under management—continues to build amid rising demand for flexible capital solutions.

The Libra Hybrid strategy integrates credit investing with the firm’s deep tech expertise and operational value-creation capabilities. Its pan-Asia presence and proprietary sourcing channels, which include relationships with founders, corporates, financial institutions, and broader ecosystem partners, further strengthen deal flow and regional coverage.

Why private credit matters for Asia’s scaling companies

Private credit, typically structured as secured loans or mezzanine debt, offers an alternative to both equity and traditional bank financing. With more predictable income through interest and fees, it generally carries lower risk and provides moderate liquidity compared with private equity.

For Southeast Asia’s startup and mid-market ecosystem, Granite Asia’s first close marks a meaningful injection of capital at a time when bank lending remains constrained and scaling companies increasingly seek flexible, non-dilutive funding to support growth and digital transformation.

Also Read: Granite Asia, Integral form US$100M JV to drive Japan-global tech expansion

Asia’s private credit market has expanded rapidly over the past three to four years, with the sector projected to grow from US$59 billion in 2024 to US$92 billion by 2027. Growth drivers include a rising middle class, urbanisation, infrastructure demand, and the retrenchment of traditional SME lending. Direct lending IRRs have hovered around 13–14 per cent, offering a yield premium compared with public markets.

A portfolio spanning Southeast Asia’s digital economy

Granite Asia’s portfolio includes many of the region’s most prominent tech and digital leaders, such as Sea Group, Grab, Gojek, Tokopedia, Bukalapak, OYO Rooms, Zalora, Carousell, Razer, PatSnap, ShopBack, RedDoorz, Klook, Lazada, Traveloka, Gogoro, Ninja Van, Carro, Kata.ai, and VGI Global Media — companies that collectively represent Southeast Asia’s rapid expansion in e-commerce, fintech, logistics, and digital media.

As the firm doubles down on its integrated venture, growth, and credit platform, the Libra Hybrid strategy positions Granite Asia at the forefront of a private credit wave reshaping how Asian businesses finance modernisation and scale.

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The global financial markets entered a holding pattern this week, caught between resilient labour market data and the looming Federal Reserve decision. Investors showed restraint, refraining from aggressive positioning as they awaited clarity on interest rate policy, but beneath the surface of this apparent calm, a subtle recalibration of risk sentiment was already underway.

In traditional markets, mixed equity performance, rising Treasury yields, and a firmer dollar reflected persistent uncertainty. In a parallel universe, the crypto market surged more than two per cent in just 24 hours, driven by a confluence of technical, institutional, and regulatory forces that suggest a growing divergence in how macro signals are interpreted between legacy finance and digital assets.

The US labour market continues to defy expectations of softening. The latest JOLTS report revealed job openings rose to US$7.67 million in the September to October period, well above the US$7.15 million forecast. This data point reinforces the narrative of underlying economic strength, which in turn complicates the Federal Reserve’s path toward easing.

Despite this, many strategists still anticipate a 25 basis point rate cut at the December FOMC meeting. Such an expectation hinges on the assumption that recent softness in inflation readings and subtle shifts in labour dynamics will ultimately outweigh the headline strength in job openings.

Treasury yields responded accordingly, with the 10-year yield climbing to 4.184 per cent and the two-year jumping to 3.611 per cent, signalling that markets remain sceptical about the durability of any dovish pivot. Meanwhile, the dollar edged higher, pushing USD JPY to 156.88, though expectations of a Bank of Japan rate hike in December could reverse that trend through narrowing yield differentials.

Also Read: Fed decision looms: Crypto cracks under US$3.07T as ETFs bleed US$3.47B in one month

Within this traditional macro framework, equities exhibited fatigue. The S&P 500 dipped 0.1 per cent, the Dow Jones fell 0.38 per cent, and only the Nasdaq managed a modest gain of 0.13 per cent. This divergence within US indices underscores the market’s preference for growth-oriented tech exposure amid macro ambiguity.

Regional Asian equities mirrored this cautious tone, closing mixed as traders braced for the Fed’s verdict. The prevailing strategy calls for consolidation in portfolios, with a tilt toward non-US value and mid-cap plays to generate alpha, suggesting that global diversification remains a prudent hedge against US-centric policy risk.

But while traditional markets tread water, crypto roared back with conviction. Bitcoin rose 2.96 per cent, and Ethereum surged 9.02 per cent, lifting the broader market by 2.49 per cent. This move was not speculative froth but rather a technically driven rally with institutional fingerprints and regulatory validation.

At the heart of the action was a classic short squeeze. Over US$163 million in BTC shorts were liquidated in 24 hours, the largest such event since November 25, after prices vaulted above the 94,400 resistance level. This created a self-reinforcing cycle.

As shorts were forcibly closed, their covering purchases pushed prices higher, triggering even more margin calls. Perpetual futures funding rates, which had been negative for nearly 10 days, flipped positive to 0.00218 per cent, confirming a shift in trader sentiment from defensive to optimistic.

Crucially, this rally was not just retail-driven momentum. Institutional demand re-emerged with tangible force. US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded US$1.55 billion in net inflows this week alone, reversing a period of outflows and pushing total assets under management to US$124.24 billion. This re-engagement suggests that institutional players view current levels as attractive entry points, especially if they anticipate a dovish tilt from the Fed.

Further evidence came from on-chain data showing a single entity, likely Bitmain, acquiring US$432 million worth of Ethereum, highlighting strategic accumulation at a time of macro uncertainty. Notably, crypto’s 24-hour correlation with the Nasdaq 100 spiked to 0.72, its highest since October. This strong linkage implies that both markets are responding to the same macro catalysts, namely softening Fed rhetoric and the potential for declining real yields, which historically serve as tailwinds for risk assets.

Perhaps most significant was the regulatory development from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. In Letter 1188, the OCC clarified that federally chartered banks can act as intermediaries for crypto transactions without holding the underlying digital assets on their balance sheets. This guidance removes a longstanding legal grey area and provides banks with a clear pathway to participate in the crypto ecosystem as service providers.

Coupled with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s launch of a tokenised collateral pilot, the regulatory landscape is shifting from adversarial to enabling, at least for institutions. The impact is twofold. On one hand, it reduces operational and compliance risk for traditional finance players looking to enter crypto markets.

On the other hand, it could inadvertently raise barriers for retail participants if compliance overhead increases. Still, the net effect is bullish, as institutional capital requires regulatory certainty before deploying at scale.

Also Read: Markets rally on Fed easing bets: Here’s why Crypto’s move is different

From a strategic standpoint, these developments align with a broader thesis. Crypto is evolving from a speculative asset class into a component of diversified institutional portfolios. The recent rally reflects not just a technical rebound but a recalibration of market structure. Leverage is being shed and rebuilt more sustainably, institutional inflows are stabilising spot prices, and regulatory clarity is lowering systemic friction. Even so, caution remains warranted.

The Fear and Greed Index sits at just 30 out of 100, signalling that market participants are still operating from a defensive posture. Much now hinges on the Fed’s tone in its upcoming statement. A dovish signal, perhaps acknowledging progress on inflation or hinting at a December cut, could catalyse a broader risk-on rotation, extending gains across both equities and crypto.

One key question lingers. If Bitcoin dominance continues to wane, will altcoins like Ethereum and Solana sustain their momentum? Ethereum’s nearly 9 per cent surge suggests strong conviction in its post-merge fundamentals and institutional utility, especially as layer two adoption accelerates. Solana, though not mentioned in the data provided, often benefits from spillover demand during ETH rallies due to its high throughput architecture and growing DeFi activity. If the macro backdrop turns favourable, capital rotation into these higher beta assets could intensify.

In sum, while traditional markets remain in a holding pattern dictated by central bank uncertainty, crypto markets are exhibiting signs of structural maturation. The rally is not merely a reaction to price action but the result of deeper forces. Deleveraging, renewed institutional interest, and regulatory progress form the pillars of a healthier, more resilient market, one that may still be volatile but is increasingly influenced by fundamentals rather than pure sentiment.

As the Fed prepares to speak, all eyes will be on whether its message validates the growing optimism in risk assets or reins it in with a reminder of persistent inflationary pressures. Either way, crypto is no longer an isolated sideshow. It is now a barometer of institutional confidence and macro adaptation in a rapidly shifting financial 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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