In Singapore, the creative economy is often seen through a hyper-local lens. From government grants tied to domestic outputs to agencies pitching for the same pool of regional clients, the industry often feels boxed in by geography. But this geographic constraint isn’t a matter of capability.

According to the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Singapore’s media exports make up only 7.6 per cent of the country’s total media revenue, a number that has barely moved in years despite high levels of digital competitiveness and global connectivity. In contrast, Singapore ranks among the top in the world for digital infrastructure, business friendliness, and workforce readiness.

This contradiction raises a question: if we have the talent, tools, and infrastructure, what’s holding us back?

A question of mindset, not ability

The limiting factor, increasingly, seems to be mindset. For many creatives, the assumption is that global clients are out of reach unless they relocate, rebrand, or expand physically into foreign markets. While logistical and time zone challenges are real, they are no longer deal-breakers in a post-remote world. What’s more, Singaporeans may actually be among the best positioned to serve global creative markets.

Singapore’s unique education system provides one key advantage. With a bilingual foundation and curriculum that incorporates both Western analytical frameworks and Eastern cultural fluency, Singaporeans are naturally attuned to communicating across contexts. Most graduates are trained to write and think with precision, adapt to varied audiences, and manage stakeholder expectations. Skills that are not just helpful in creative work, but essential when dealing with international clients. This blend of rigour and flexibility is rare, and it allows Singaporean creatives to translate complex ideas across markets with a sensitivity few others can match.

This is especially important in high-growth sectors like tech. Whether it’s fintech, generative AI, or healthtech, the challenge is no longer just building great tools, but explaining them. Singaporean creatives who can navigate technical complexity while adapting communication styles for US, European, and Asian audiences have a genuine edge.

Also Read: Bridging continents: Lessons learned from Singapore and Estonia’s tech journeys

Bridging the gap through systems

Creative storytelling does not scale on talent alone. It scales on process. A clear example is the operating model of Singapore-based video studio VideoPulse, which pairs Southeast Asian creatives with US-based project managers to support clients such as DocuSign and YC-backed startups across time zones. This approach combines cultural understanding with structured coordination, allowing the team to maintain responsiveness and quality control at scale.

A similar systems-driven mindset informed the design of Tracework AI, a workflow documentation tool that helps teams capture internal processes and onboarding guides more efficiently. Making institutional knowledge accessible and repeatable removes bottlenecks that typically slow fast-growing startups.

Together, these examples highlight a broader principle. Lasting creative excellence comes from more than strong storytellers; it comes from operational clarity, trust, and frameworks that scale reliably across teams and markets.

Rewriting the rules of remote creative work

What makes this model work is not just timezone alignment or competitive pricing. It is cultural fluency, operational trust, and design thinking. These are the foundations I rely on when building and scaling a distributed creative team.

By embedding emotional intelligence into how I lead, I have been able to create a remote environment that runs on trust and autonomy. Everyone is paid on time. Feedback loops stay short. Project goals are anchored to business outcomes rather than purely creative execution. This is intentional because I have seen firsthand how easily creative outsourcing can slip into a churn and burn cycle that hurts both quality and people.

It also reflects a broader belief I hold about Southeast Asia. We do not need to mimic Silicon Valley to build world-class companies. When we lean into our own strengths, cost efficiency, bilingual talent, cultural versatility, and adaptability, we create models that are not only sustainable but also globally competitive.

More than just exporting talent

This approach reflects a broader shift in how Singapore can think about creative exports. It’s not just about selling media content overseas. It’s about embedding Singaporean teams in global product, marketing, and strategy cycles. And it requires rethinking how we train, fund, and scale creative businesses.

Also Read: Open source: The secret to boosting Singapore’s startup ecosystem

Rather than chasing one-off commissions, Singaporean agencies can position themselves as strategic partners. This means developing internal capability in client education, onboarding, measurement, and iterative design. It also means investing in thought leadership and visibility, so Singaporean creatives are seen not just as service providers but as strategic collaborators.

The next chapter

For this to happen at scale, institutional support must evolve. Grants and accelerators need to recognise and reward companies that succeed in global markets, even if their outputs don’t look like traditional “local media.” Education systems should continue to push for bilingual, multidisciplinary learning, and industry players must share frameworks and playbooks that help others break through international barriers.

If done well, Singapore could become a powerhouse in creative services, not just in advertising, but in product storytelling, tech branding, and digital transformation. The infrastructure is here. The talent is here. The systems are emerging.

What’s needed now is belief.

Belief that we have something the world needs. Belief that clients abroad will take us seriously. Belief that creative work from Southeast Asia can drive strategy, not just execution.

That belief, and the systems to back it, could turn Singapore’s creative sector from an overlooked asset into one of its most powerful exports.

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The confluence of macro uncertainty, technical breakdowns, and sector-specific stressors has created a volatile environment that tests the resilience of risk assets across the board. This turbulence lies behind Bitcoin’s breach of the US$100,000 level, a psychological and structural support that, once broken, triggered a cascade of leveraged liquidations totaling US$1.3 billion.

This event did not occur in isolation. Instead, it amplified and was amplified by broader financial dynamics, especially the tightening correlation between crypto and equities, particularly the Nasdaq-100, which reached an unusually high 0.95 over the past 24 hours. These developments, layered atop structural pressures in Bitcoin mining and shifting monetary policy expectations, signal more than just a routine correction. They reflect deeper questions about crypto’s role in a risk-on/risk-off world and the sustainability of its recent rally.

The breakdown below US$100,000 marks a pivotal moment for Bitcoin’s price trajectory. This level had served not only as a price anchor but also as a signal of institutional confidence and market maturity. Its breach suggests that sentiment has soured rapidly, possibly due to a combination of overextended positioning and macro headwinds.

The data underscores this fragility. Open interest in Bitcoin derivatives rose 4.21 per cent immediately before the drop, indicating a dense concentration of long positions that were suddenly exposed when the market turned. In leveraged markets, such crowded trades can magnify price moves exponentially, as margin calls force further selling into a thin market. The resulting feedback loop accelerated the decline and pushed many positions underwater. Now, all eyes are on the 200-day exponential moving average around US$95,000. Should Bitcoin stabilise above this level, it could signal that the worst of the liquidation cascade has passed. But a failure to hold would likely invite another wave of forced deleveraging, especially if broader risk sentiment continues to deteriorate.

Also Read: No CPI, no confidence: How data paralysis is fueling crypto’s November slide

Compounding this technical vulnerability is the reassertion of crypto’s tie to equity markets, particularly to the Nasdaq. The 0.95 correlation with the Nasdaq-100 over 24 hours, its highest since June 2025, confirms that institutional participants continue to treat crypto as a risk-on proxy rather than a distinct asset class. This linkage became especially pronounced as technology shares sold off sharply, with the Nasdaq dropping 2.29 per cent amid concerns over AI-related earnings and the fading likelihood of near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts.

According to the CME FedWatch Tool, the probability of a rate cut by January 2026 has collapsed to just 20 per cent, down from 49 per cent a week earlier. This shift reflects increasingly hawkish commentary from Fed officials, who appear reluctant to ease policy despite the recent government shutdown and market volatility. For crypto markets, this means less near-term tailwind from monetary policy and more sensitivity to equity market swings. As long as institutional capital flows remain dictated by macro liquidity expectations, crypto will struggle to decouple from the broader risk narrative.

Adding another layer of pressure is the growing distress in the Bitcoin mining sector. Bitfarms’ announcement that it plans to exit mining by 2027 after reporting a US$46 million quarterly loss highlights the mounting economic challenges facing miners. The company cited unsustainable energy costs and declining profitability, conditions exacerbated by a 41 per cent drop in industry-wide mining revenue since October. Historically, miners have been consistent sellers of Bitcoin, liquidating approximately 1,000 BTC per day to cover operational expenses. As margins compress, this selling pressure could intensify, especially if more miners follow Bitfarms’ strategic pivot toward AI infrastructure. While such transitions may make business sense in the long run, they erode near-term confidence in Bitcoin’s network fundamentals. A sustained decline in network hashrate would be a red flag, signaling that more miners are capitulating under financial stress. This dynamic not only increases selling pressure but also raises concerns about network security and decentralization if smaller operators are forced offline.

The macro backdrop adds further complexity. Although the US government has resumed operations after a 43-day shutdown, the resolution offers little clarity on fiscal sustainability or the path of monetary policy. Markets initially welcomed the end of the impasse, but this relief was short-lived as investors refocused on the Fed’s tightening stance. The modest rise in Treasury yields, 10-year yields climbing to 4.11 per cent and two-year yields to 3.59 per cent, reflects both the removal of shutdown-related uncertainty and a reassessment of rate cut probabilities. Meanwhile, gold declined 1.1 per cent to US$4,151.86 per ounce, suggesting that safe-haven demand weakened as the immediate fiscal crisis abated. The dollar also dipped slightly, closing at 99.16, but this move appears more technical than fundamental. Crucially, Friday’s upcoming US Producer Price Index (PPI) data will serve as a litmus test for inflation expectations. Should the data come in hotter than anticipated, it could further delay rate cut hopes and extend the selloff across risk assets, including crypto.

Also Read: Sea Limited roars back to profit, yet credit loss provisions flash warning signs

Within this environment, sentiment has plunged into Extreme Fear, as reflected by a Fear & Greed Index reading of 22. Historically, such extremes have often marked contrarian buying opportunities, especially in crypto markets where panic selling tends to overshoot fundamentals. However, the current context may be different. Unlike previous fear-driven corrections, today’s selloff emerges against a backdrop of structural shifts, a re-tethering to equity markets, miner distress, and a less accommodative macro regime. These factors suggest that the usual buy the dip narrative may not apply, at least not immediately. For long-term believers in Bitcoin’s value proposition, the current pullback could represent a strategic entry point, but only if one assumes that the macro environment will eventually ease and that mining sector stress is transitory. Short-term traders, on the other hand, must contend with the very real possibility of further downside if equities continue to lead the move or if miner selling accelerates.

In conclusion, this market wrap captures more than a routine correction. It reflects a convergence of technical, macro, and sector-specific pressures that challenge crypto’s independence as an asset class. Bitcoin’s fall below US$100,000, its tight correlation with the Nasdaq, and the exodus from mining all point to a moment of reckoning. The path forward hinges on whether crypto can reassert its unique narrative, decouple from equities, absorb miner sell pressure, and regain institutional confidence in a higher-for-longer rate environment.

Until then, volatility will remain elevated, and the market will stay at the mercy of macro crosscurrents and technical thresholds. Traders and investors alike must navigate this terrain with caution, recognising that the current fear may be justified, but also that in crypto, fear often plants the seeds of the next bull run.

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Eric Jing, Chairman of Ant Group, said the company’s focus is on putting new payment and operation tools powered by AI and tokenisation technology in the hands of SMEs, to fully embrace the next wave of global productivity revolution.

“We are passionate about using frontier technology to support SMEs and the use of AI will really uplift inclusion,” Jing said during a panel discussion titled “Steering the Global Future” during the Singapore FinTech Festival on November 14, 2025.

Jing was joined by Agustín Carstens, Former General Manager, Bank for International Settlements (BIS); Ravi Menon, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN); Ambassador (Climate Action), Singapore & Former Managing Director, Monetary Authority of Singapore, GFTN, and Dr. Razeen Sally who moderated the panel.

From agentic payment to agentic finance: A virtual CFO, and COO for SMEs

On the consumer front, Jing expects the rise of personalised AI financial managers and advisors. On the business front, “Agentic payment is one of the most important forces driving agentic commerce and agentic systems,” Jing said. Ant will focus on democratising AI for SMEs at a time when small businesses engaged in global trade face increasingly complex payment and risk environments.

“Many SMEs may not have sophisticated digital skills or a large workforce to support them in doing business, and this is where AI agents can really play a role in helping them to navigate the landscape,” Jing said.

Antom, the merchant payment and digitisation services arm of Ant International, is using Antom Copilot to support payment integration, merchant onboarding, risk management settings, and chargeback response. Copilot cuts payment integration time by over 90%, boosts chargeback winning rates by 3 percentage points, and shortens chargeback resolution time by 46 percent.

Also read: Ant International debuts iris authentication for smart glasses payments

During the Singapore FinTech Festival 2025, Antom also launched EPOS360, an app that brings point-of-sale (POS) system, payments, banking, lending, and growth support together to help micro, small and medium‑sized enterprises (MSMEs) move from setup to scale efficiently.

“Agentic AI will act like your COO, your CFO. They are stepping in as virtual financial and operational planners and implementers for SMEs, enabling them to compete globally,” Jing said.

He added that the rise of agentic payments and multi-agent systems are already on track, where autonomous AI agents collaborate to execute complex end-to-end transactions.

Advancing cross-border finance with MAS collaboration

“The tokenisation of money that enables global real-time settlement across borders will be particularly beneficial to SMEs and companies doing global trade,” Jing said. “On such important projects, it is necessary to have policy leadership from regulators like the Monetary Authority of Singapore, who provides institutional clarity and brings together an industry ecosystem of collaboration.”

Ant International’s deep collaboration with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) through key initiatives like Project Guardian and PathFin.ai sets an exemplary model of public-private partnership, especially when blockchain and AI have emerged as global themes.

Also read: AI-powered EPOS360 turns small shops into smart businesses

“We are honoured to participate in the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s regulatory sandboxes. They provide the clarity and certainty needed to responsibly deploy cutting-edge technologies while managing risks,” said Jing. “This new technology is up and coming, we cannot shy away from it. Instead, the right way is to harness the technology to get the benefits while keeping in mind the potential risks and challenges.”

Under Project Guardian, Ant International has contributed to pilot efforts in tokenised money and cross-border settlements, demonstrating how real-time, transparent and credible blockchain-based payments can benefit SMEs engaged in global trade.

Driving smarter forecasting through industry–regulator cooperation

Through MAS’ PathFin.ai programme, Ant International is also actively engaging in knowledge exchange on AI implementations. Jing highlighted Ant International’s Falcon Time-Series Transformer (TST) Model — an 8.5-billion-parameter AI model designed for FX and liquidity forecasting. The model has significantly improved accuracy in predicting cash flow and liquidity, helping businesses reduce hedging costs in today’s volatile global economy.

“Through participating in sandboxes, we see benefits and opportunities to improve our products before rolling them out. It has really been a pleasure to be part of that – MAS is taking a very proactive role and it’s enormously valuable,” said Jing.

Ant International, which became independent in 2024, is headquartered in Singapore. The company now collaborates with over 1,400 institutional partners and provides global payment, settlement and digitisation services to 150 million merchants, and a network of global wallets and national QR schemes that together serve over 1.8 billion consumer accounts.

Also read: Ant International releases Falcon TST to boost global AI forecasting

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Pine Labs, a leading digital payments and merchant-commerce platform in India, completed its long-awaited initial public offering (IPO) with a stronger-than-expected listing on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE).

The debut marks one of the most closely watched fintech listings out of India this year, with implications for Southeast Asia’s digital payments and commerce-tech sector.

Capital raise and listing performance

The IPO ran from 7 to 11 November, raising US$439 million through a fully subscribed book-building issue. The company had set an IPO price band of INR 210 to INR221 (approximately US$2.36-US$2.49) per share.

Also Read: Fave acquired by Pine Labs for US$45M, to expand its consumer payments app to India

Despite muted subscription momentum and analyst expectations of a flat debut, Pine Labs listed at US$2.72 per share, a 9.5 per cent premium to its upper issue price.

Subscription strength and post-listing rally

The IPO was subscribed 2.46 times overall, supported primarily by institutional demand.

• Qualified institutional buyers (QIBs): 4 times subscription
• Retail individual investors (RIIs): 1.22 times
• Non-institutional investors (NIIs): 30 per cent

Momentum accelerated after the market opened. Shares surged to US$3.19 on the BSE, up 28.37 per cent from the issue price and gaining 17.22 per cent from the listing price. During intraday trade, the stock held firmly at US$2.93, reflecting sustained buying interest.

Operational turnaround underpins investor confidence

The company enters the public market following a notable operational turnaround.

Key performance highlights include:

• Revenue growth at a 19 per cent CAGR leading up to Q1 FY26
• A swing to profitability in Q1 FY26 from a FY24 loss of US$38.5 million
• EBITDA margin improving sharply to 19.6 per cent in Q1 FY26 from negative territory in FY24

At the upper price band, Pine Labs was valued at an implied 11.2x market cap/sales multiple based on FY25 revenue.

Southeast Asia expansion remains a strategic priority

For Southeast Asia, a core growth region for the company, the IPO unlocks new capital earmarked for international expansion. Pine Labs plans to channel proceeds into:

• Strengthening subsidiaries, including Qwikcilver Singapore, Pine Payment Solutions Malaysia, and its UAE operations
• Investment in technology infrastructure, such as cloud systems, IT assets, and digital checkout points
• Select acquisitions and general corporate initiatives
• Repayment of borrowings

Also Read: Founders face a brutal new reality: Tiny exits, tougher buyers, endless earnouts

This expansion focus aligns with the company’s ambition to deepen its presence across high-growth markets beyond India.

Pine Labs’s successful listing marks a significant moment for India’s fintech sector and offers a fresh benchmark for Southeast Asian startups eyeing public-market pathways amid a more disciplined valuation landscape.

In 2021, Pine Labs acquired Malaysia’s Fave, which provided QR payments and loyalty cashback to restaurant and retailers, in a deal valued at over US$45 million.

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As artificial intelligence reshapes how businesses connect with their customers, one question stands out: can automation scale empathy?

Across Southeast Asia, companies are experimenting with AI tools that promise faster responses, better engagement, and seamless support. But beneath the excitement lies a quieter truth. Technology can make communication efficient, yet meaning and trust still depend on the human touch.

At a webinar hosted by e27 and Sendbird, industry leaders explored this tension between automation and empathy. The conversations reflected a growing awareness that communication technology is no longer just a support function. It has become a defining part of how brands express personality, build relationships, and earn loyalty in a digital world.

The new conversation between humans and machines

AI is changing how people experience brands. From chatbots that resolve simple queries to intelligent assistants that anticipate needs, the boundaries between human and machine interaction are blurring. Yet participants at the webinar agreed that technology alone is not enough.

The most successful companies are those that treat AI as an amplifier of empathy, not a replacement for it. They use automation to handle repetitive tasks so that human teams can focus on the moments that matter most. In this way, AI becomes a bridge, helping brands listen at scale while still responding with care.

Also read: Why digital parks are becoming the backbone of the Philippines’ emerging tech ecosystem

The rise of in-app communication

One of the strongest trends to emerge in recent years is the move toward in-app communication. Rather than forcing users to switch platforms, businesses are embedding chat, voice, and video directly into their own products.

This shift reflects how communication has become part of the user experience itself. Customers want immediacy and context. They expect support and engagement to happen seamlessly, wherever they already are.

Southeast Asia’s digital leaders are embracing this approach. They are integrating conversational AI with in-app messaging to deliver proactive service, targeted outreach, and community-driven interactions. These are not just technical upgrades. They represent a broader evolution toward brands that communicate as living, responsive systems.

What empathy looks like at scale

At the heart of every discussion was a simple insight: communication that feels personal does not have to be one-on-one. It just has to feel intentional.

AI now allows companies to analyse tone, timing, and behavioural patterns to craft interactions that feel recognisably human. But achieving this balance takes discipline. Data needs context. Automation needs oversight. And even the most advanced systems require human creativity to ensure that messages resonate rather than overwhelm.

Speakers emphasised that empathy at scale is less about sentiment analysis and more about design. It is about creating experiences where users feel understood even when no person is typing on the other end.

Also read: Marketing’s next big challenge? Making AI feel human

Rethinking how communication innovation happens

The conversations around Sendbird’s work highlight a broader truth: innovation in communication begins with dialogue. When technology leaders, product builders, and marketers sit together, they surface questions that go beyond tools and features.

What does authenticity mean in an era of AI-driven messaging? How can brands preserve trust when conversations are partly automated? How can local culture shape tone, timing, and relevance?

These questions are shaping a new philosophy of communication in Southeast Asia, one where empathy, context, and cultural intelligence are built into every interaction.

Where the conversation leads next

The future of communication will depend on how well companies combine intelligence with empathy. As automation becomes a given, human understanding will become the differentiator. The best communication strategies of the AI era will not be about replacing people. They will be about scaling what makes people great at connection — empathy, creativity, and care.

If your organisation wants to host discussions around communication, AI, or customer engagement, let’s make it happen. You can reach the Innovate team here.

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This panel at Echelon Singapore 2025 explored the changing startup funding landscape in Southeast Asia, noting a decline in venture capital and a growing reliance on alternative financing. The speakers touched upon various topcis from the expanding role of angel investors and the need for strong communication with backers to the shift toward non-dilutive capital–including grants.

Overall, the panel agreed that startups should leverage their unique value propositions, maintain transparency with investors, and strategically combine options such as debt financing, grants, and angel investment to support sustainable, long-term growth.

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Singapore is a city built on precision, efficiency, and an unwavering commitment to progress. It’s a place where the skyline is shaped by meticulous planning, where industries thrive on cutting-edge technology, and where logic reigns supreme.

And yet, despite all of this structure, my journey in this city has proven to me that human thought and decision-making transcend pure physics.

I’ve spent years working at the intersection of technology, now finance, and space research too. I’be been building ecosystems, creating opportunities, and connecting people across industries that traditionally don’t intersect.

If thought were purely deterministic, every move I’ve made would have been mapped out by a formula. But my life, like the city I call home, is a testament to something far more profound: the power of uncertainty, intuition, and human will.

The gymnast who broke gravity

Before I was in venture capital, before I was in AR/VR, before I was in launching telematics apps, before I was navigating the space industry, before I was forging partnerships in biotech and AI, I was coaching gymnastics.

I worked with a young athlete who, against all odds, went on to qualify for the Olympics. If we break gymnastics down into physics, it’s just force, motion, and balance—muscles contracting at precise moments. But that’s not what makes an Olympian.

What made her great wasn’t just biomechanics.

It was her belief that she could push past her limits, her ability to overcome failures, and the way she rewired her mind beyond what her body initially allowed. Science could explain how she landed her flips, but it couldn’t explain why she refused to give up.

Singapore operates the same way. On paper, this country shouldn’t be the economic and technological powerhouse it is today. It had no natural resources, no safety net of historical wealth.

Also Read: From human to AI: Embracing change and thriving in the new world of work

But human will transformed it into one of the most innovative nations on Earth.

Quantum choices: The science of uncertainty

If success was a simple equation, then anyone could follow a formula and get the same result. But the biggest leaps happen when we embrace the unknown.

Quantum mechanics tells us that at the smallest levels, particles don’t behave predictably. They exist in a state of probability, only choosing a defined state when observed. If the fundamental building blocks of the universe operate on uncertainty, why would our choices be any different?

When I made my first investment in a female-led startup, there was no predetermined outcome. When I left a prestigious role at Meta to chart my own path, I wasn’t following a calculated blueprint. I was betting on intuition.

Physics can predict the trajectory of a rocket, but it can’t predict the gut feeling that tells you to take a risk. It can’t explain the instinct that tells you to walk away from a deal that looks good on paper but feels wrong. And it can’t predict the way Singapore continuously reinvents itself in the face of global uncertainty.

The AI that can’t think like us

I’ve spent years working with AI, but no matter how sophisticated it gets, it still lacks something fundamental: real decision-making.

AI can optimise, analyse, and simulate. But it doesn’t experience intuition. It doesn’t wake up one day and decide, “I’m going to do something completely unprecedented.”

It does what it’s darn told.

When I was breaking into industries where I didn’t fit the mould.

AI would have analysed the odds and told me to quit.

But I didn’t, because human thought isn’t just about logic—it’s about belief, adaptability, and creating new paths instead of following existing ones.

Also Read: The future of humanity: Can we build self-sustaining space colonies?

What this means for the future

If our choices were dictated solely by physics, then Singapore would have remained a fishing village. I would have taken the safe path. And every major innovation would have been predictable. But reality proves otherwise.

The biggest breakthroughs in history, whether in science, business, or personal growth, happen when someone chooses to act despite uncertainty.

I’ve built my career by making decisions that didn’t always make sense on paper. From launching The Outcomes Magazine to curating networks of researchers, investors, and visionaries, my life is a collection of paths that shouldn’t intersect, but they do.

Because the truth is, human thought isn’t just neurons firing. It’s an emergent force, one that bends reality instead of simply reacting to it.

So if you’re here, in Singapore or anywhere else, wondering whether to take that leap, whether to trust your instinct, whether to defy the odds, remember this: you are not a machine following a program.

You are something greater.

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I showed up with no makeup, a t-shirt, jeans, and a smile. Hair pulled back, ready to get down to Osunlade. Because if you know, you know.

But here’s where it gets interesting: I had my first drink surrounded by two astronauts.

One of them? A powerhouse on my team at Advanced SpaceLife Research Institute, someone I wasn’t even supposed to see because her schedule was packed to the minute. The other? The most compact, joyful Japanese space friend you could imagine. But also someone who looked like he could knock your face to the floor if you got in his way.

And yet, here we all were at RasaSpace in Raffles, vibing at my birthday party with Axiom Space in the mix like it was just another Tuesday.

The problem with phones and why I got in trouble

Now, here’s the thing. I tried to take a quick pic, just one. Just to prove this moment actually happened. And guess what? I got in trouble for it.

Sorry Lil.

Because even in 2025, we’re still in this weird place where capturing a moment pulls you out of it. One second, I’m fully immersed in the music, the conversation, the weight of space exploration colliding with nightlife, and the next? I’m staring at a screen, fumbling to turn off the dang flash. This could have been ignored and something that I could’ve just lived.

Also Read: Riding into the future with cowboy hats, AI and wearables

That’s where AI wearables come in.

No phones, no distractions. Just living the moment

The next era of tech isn’t about replacing experiences with digital content. It’s about getting the tech out of the way so you can actually be present.

Imagine this:

• You’re dancing, running, or deep in conversation with a literal astronaut.
• Your AI glasses are capturing the best moments without you even thinking about it.
• No phone to pull you out. No need to break the flow.

It’s not just about documenting your life. It’s about enhancing it without interruption.

This is why we’re building AI-powered wearables that let you experience life hands-free while still keeping the memories. Because honestly? The best moments happen when you’re not trying to frame them for social media.

Not trying to be cooler than everyone.

Or more important.

And if Axiom Space, a Japanese space warrior, and an underground house set at RasaSpace aren’t proof that the future is about living, not recording.

I don’t know what is.

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In a world where automation continues to reshape industries, 5.0 ROBOTICS aims to reimagine automation as an adaptive, collaborative system designed to augment human capabilities rather than replace them.

The Estonian deep tech startup develops advanced robotic automation systems integrated with artificial intelligence (AI). Built upon three key pillars—commercial CNC robots, dual-use defence robots, and the future-focused minifactory concept—the company is pushing boundaries in making manufacturing lighter, smarter, and more accessible.

In partnership with Singapore’s contract manufacturing veteran Giken Sakata, 5.0 ROBOTICS is bringing this vision to Southeast Asia (SEA). The collaboration, formalised in September 2024, focuses on embedding advanced manufacturing technologies within human-centred workflows.

During a visit to the company’s facility at Tallinn University of Technology, e27 observed the products that 5.0 ROBOTICS is building, including the mini factory. Compact, mobile, and versatile, the mini factory is designed to regionalise production, offering companies the ability to automate tasks without the need for sprawling factory floors.

Integrated with multi-axis robots, it allows for rapid reconfiguration based on production needs.

Also Read: Serving up the future: How robots are revolutionising the F&B industry

According to Carlo Lustrissimi, CEO of 5.0 ROBOTICS, the minifactory represents a shift in robotics from large-scale automation to human-centric design. “If we think about robotics, everybody imagines the big automotive assembly lines where humans have disappeared,” he explains.

“The fifth industrial revolution is bringing humans back. Robots should be functional to humans—to help people use their other values and not be stuck doing repetitive tasks.”

Lustrissimi adds that the future of robotics lies in cognitive capabilities, where machines can autonomously generate trajectories and adapt to production processes in real-time. “Today, traditional robotic technology requires pre-programmed trajectories. However, the future is for robots to think through the production process and react accordingly without human pre-configuration. The bottleneck is computing power, but AI is improving, and our estimate is that by 2025 or 2026, we will see affordable products capable of this level of autonomy.”

The minifactory is already positioned as a game-changer for Singapore’s manufacturing landscape, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to adopt advanced automation without prohibitive costs. Lustrissimi emphasises that the next phase of the partnership is to roll out units within Giken Sakata’s ecosystem before expanding into foreign markets.

More ambitiously, the collaboration includes plans to establish a Robotics Academy in Singapore. The academy aims to upskill traditional manufacturing workers and train new talent in 5.0 ROBOTICS technologies.

“It is not just a knowledge partnership but also an operational one,” Lustrissimi shares. “We are also looking to open production of this technology in Singapore.”

Also Read: The transformation of chatbots: From rule-based robots to conversational companions

Founded in 1979, Giken Sakata’s expertise spans plastic injection moulding, precision machining, and complete assembly, supported by operations in Singapore, Indonesia, and China. The company’s partnership with 5.0 ROBOTICS reflects Singapore’s broader push to future-proof its manufacturing sector through the adoption of Industry 5.0 principles of combining technological innovation with human-centric design.

As global supply chains grow increasingly complex, Singapore is strategically investing in advanced manufacturing technologies to maintain competitiveness while creating high-value jobs. 5.0 ROBOTICS’s concept fits neatly into this narrative. Empowering workers rather than replacing them offers a sustainable model for countries like Singapore that are seeking to balance productivity with workforce wellbeing.

A national vision of AI

At a recent presentation attended by e27, Rannar Park, Head of Business Engagement at e-Estonia, highlighted Estonia’s ambitious AI strategy.

“Since 2023, we have over 100 AI use cases in government, built in collaboration with both private and public sectors,” he says.

From AI-driven traffic monitoring systems that optimise emergency response to personalised digital government services, Estonia is showcasing how AI can simplify daily life.

Park shared an example close to home: “In Estonia when a child is born, a digital Estonian is created automatically. Their electronic identity is set up, parental benefits are processed, and employers are notified—all with just a few clicks. It is a beautiful example of using AI to make lives easier.”

As more countries explore AI’s potential, this approach reminds us that the true value of this technology lies not in replacing human workers but in enhancing operations and easing the burdens of everyday tasks. By designing AI systems that support people through process streamlining, we can build a future where technology works alongside humans, empowering them rather than sidelining them.

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Image Credit: Kristiina Tammik

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The AI revolution is no longer on the horizon. It’s here. But as organisations race to deploy AI across their operations, a new challenge has emerged: How do you fuel AI systems when traditional data sources are drying up?

The answer lies in a rising star — synthetic data.

Gartner predicts that by 2027, 75 per cent of AI training data will be synthetic, driven by mounting privacy regulations, cost barriers, and limited access to proprietary datasets. And at ExpertOps AI, we believe synthetic data isn’t just a workaround—it’s a strategic advantage.

Let’s explore how generative AI is changing the game in data synthesis and why enterprises must embrace this shift now.

The problem: AI needs more than just generic data

Most powerful AI models like GPT-4 or Gemini are trained on general-purpose data—Wikipedia articles, books, open web content. But when you deploy these models in specialised domains like healthcare, finance, aviation, or legal services, they often fall short.

Why? Because they lack context and deep domain knowledge.

Without domain-specific training, AI systems tend to guess rather than provide grounded responses—what researchers call “hallucinations.” In fact, studies show up to 20% error rates in AI-generated content without fine-tuning on specialised data.

That’s a big risk, especially in sectors where accuracy, compliance, and trust are non-negotiable.

Also Read: SEA’s startup funding rebounds slightly in March, but y-o-y dip remains steep

The data dilemma: Shrinking supply, rising costs

Fine-tuning AI models requires high-quality, relevant data. But acquiring that data is becoming increasingly difficult:

• Paywalls and restrictions: Platforms like Reddit, Twitter, and Stack Overflow now limit data access or charge premium API fees.
• Data ownership: Critical data is locked behind industry players like Bloomberg or Nasdaq.
• Regulatory barriers: Privacy laws such as GDPR and HIPAA restrict what data can be collected or used.

So how do you fine-tune AI models without massive proprietary datasets?

The post Why synthetic data is the future of AI’s fuel appeared first on e27.