AsiaPulse

The rise of digital wallets has accelerated the shift toward secure, mobile-based identity verification. Businesses face the challenge of overcoming adoption barriers while meeting the growing demand for friction-less, secure experiences.  In our season finale, we discuss the Rise of Digital Wallets and Holiday Traffic: Is Your Login Experience Ready Joining us is Johan Fantenberg, Director at Pin...

AI in IT has been big on hype, but short on returns. In fact, a recent study revealed just 25% of AI projects have met expected ROI, with only 16% scaled enterprise-wide.  Yet Freshworks’ latest Benchmark Report offers a rare counterpoint showing AI actively delivering measurable, scaled results for IT and employee experience leaders worldwide.  This week, we speak with Simon Man, Managing Directo...

Over the next three years, more than 80% of organisations plan to embed Agentic AI into their operations; introducing autonomous agents that can make decisions and act without human approval.  While this promises significant productivity gains, it also intensifies a growing blind spot in cybersecurity: Non-Human Identities (NHIs) now outnumber employees by a staggering 80:1, yet security teams oft...

We continue our conversation around DronTech Asia 2025 which took place from the 30th of September to the 2nd of October at MITEC Kuala Lumpur. In case you missed it, the conference showcased how drones are transforming industries across agriculture, energy, transportation, infrastructure, services, defence and security, entertainment, and more. It’s not just about technology — it’s about how dron...

If you look at the Singapore tourism sector, the projected economic impact of S$66.1 billion in 2024 (9.8% of GDP) — the pressure is back on hotels, restaurants, and venues to attract and retain skilled staff. But training remains a challenge in a workforce where up to 40% of hospitality staff were foreign nationals pre-pandemic, often speaking multiple languages and coming from diverse cultural b...

According to the World Economic Forum, 39% of core skills required in the workforce will change by 2030. Generative AI expert and co-founder of Straits Interactive, Alvin Toh shares with us his observations about how artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the future of work across Southeast Asia. Plus, we discuss if only certain jobs should have a right to use AI.  This is an Asia Collect...

All the buzz has been cyber resilience and various countries in the region launching their own dedicated cyber defence services for government, What does this mean for governments across SEA and what can we learn from Malaysia? Ahead of CYBERDSA which happens from 30th Sept to 2 oct in Kuala Lumpur, we have Rear Admiral Fadil Bin Abdul Rahman, Director General, Defence> Cyber and Electromagneti...

Following its highly successful inaugural edition in Bangkok, which gathered 68 exhibitors and over 3,400 participants from 41 countries, DronTech Asia 2025 promises to be even bigger. This premier exhibition and high-level conference will showcase how drones are transforming industries across agriculture, energy, transportation, infrastructure, services, defence and security, entertainment, and m...

As telcos accelerate AI adoption, there is growing recognition of the need for responsible AI practices. Data privacy, algorithmic bias, and transparent governance are increasingly becoming baseline requirements for AI initiatives.  What are some of the unique challenges telcos in this region face when implementing AI and GenAI solutions across markets like Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines?...

This week, we discuss the wider implications on Mobile App security with AI. How do we ensure that authentication is done right? We also talk about Appdome’s protection and why it is more effective than MFA or SDKs for stopping account takeovers in Singapore.  Plus, how can mobile businesses in Singapore protect sensitive in-app processes like login and payment from automated attacks? Our guest is...

In May, Fortinet conducted a briefing that addressed critical cybersecurity challenges, with a focus on the growing risks to Singapore’s economy and infrastructure.  In this episode, we’ll explore the alarming rise in cyberattacks, the threat of AI-powered cybercrime, and the need for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to combat these evolving dangers Elliott speaks with...

As organizations across Southeast Asia accelerate AI adoption — from digital assistants to backend automation — they’re unknowingly opening themselves up to a growing threat: API vulnerabilities.  Akamai’s 2025 API Security Impact Study shows that API-related  security incidents are now costing APAC enterprises over US$500K per year — and yet few business leaders know how exposed they truly are. E...

This week, Elliott Danker speaks with Srini Nagarajan, Managing Director and Head of Asia, British International Investment as they discuss energy sustainability across South East Asia as well as how it compares with regions like Europe and America. Srini also gives some insights into some recent announcements by BII as well as their current investment strategy. This is an Asia Collective podcast...

This week, we’re diving into the unseen battlefield of Machine Identity and AI Agent Security—as autonomous systems grow more powerful, securing their digital identities may be the next global security imperative. Elliott speaks with Gal Zror, Security Research Director, CyberArk They explore how identity-first security strategies must evolve to account for synthetic and AI-driven actors as well a...

This week, we discuss some of the trends when it comes to terrorism threats in Southeast Asia plus how conflicts impact global business stability and investment risk. And where is technology in all of this? How is it functioning as a multiplier in the current state?  Explore the interconnected layers of today’s global threat environment—from weaponized tech and decentralized terror networks to ide...

Who has the right to data? Just like oil, if I discover it in my backyard does it belong to me? Plus we discuss the term Technopolitics and how we see the growing entanglement of technology and geopolitics reshaping the way companies design, build, and deploy tech infrastructure. Are we headed toward a 'splinternet'—and what would that mean for global innovation, cybersecurity, and onlin...

As data centre capacity is expected to grow by 18.5% over the next five years, primarily driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, the need for efficient resource management is more urgent than ever.  Current estimates suggest that data centre electricity consumption could double between 2022 and 2026, with the sector already consuming an amount of electricity equivalent to Japan's t...

This week, we find out more about Cybersecurity Malaysia and their mission of collaboration and setting themselves as one of the leaders of cybersecurity in Malaysia and for the region. Dato Dr Haji Amirudin Abdul Wahab, CEO Cyber Security Malaysia speaks with Elliott Danker about their efforts in public awareness as well as the all important collaboration with the private sector. Dato Amir also s...

This week, we discuss if the world still needs a global superpower and if this is becoming a thing of the past? We also talk about the counter terrorism landscape and what exactly does it mean to be a global power in cybersecurity and how the race for this status is shaping up.  Muhammad Faizal Bin Adbul Rahman, Research Fellow (Regional Security Architecture Program) S Rajaratnam School of Intern...

With maritime security and digitalisation becoming critical global priorities, Estonia is bringing its expertise in maritime innovation, cybersecurity, and infrastructure protection to Singapore Maritime Week 2025. This week, Elliott Danker speaks with  Kaupo Läänerand, Deputy Secretary General for Maritime and Water Affairs at the Estonian Ministry of Climate to find out more about Estonia’s expe...

This week, we touch on the role of Southeast Asia and ASEAN when it comes to the relationship with the west What is Malaysia's appeal to the Trump administration as well as ASEAN. Plus, how does a country like Malaysia prioritize when it comes to builateral relationships? Does it put itself first, ASEAN or the West? And is this something other countries will be thinking of?  Director, Thomas...

Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen recently said that “America’s primacy has become the overriding consideration” in its foreign policy, at the expense of bilateral and multilateral ties.  He added that Asia’s image of the US has “changed from liberator to great disruptor to a landlord seeking rent.   So if the US is a landlord seeking rent, how should south east Asia rethink defense? And what...

Since the pandemic, it feels like the world doesn’t want to follow the US lead. How carefully will it be observing the US intervention in the Russia /Ukraine war?  Is there a world leader position up for grabs now or is this the great global de-globalisation?  In this episode, we discuss these as well as the implications of the increasing global dialog with or without the US in attendance.  Dr Sam...

Season 2 of AsiaPulse opens with a look at Geopolitics This week, US President Donald Trump and Russia President Vladimir Putin agreed on a halt in Russian attacks against Ukrainian energy targets - but fell far short of securing a full ceasefire in a highly anticipated phone call. But it felt like Trump lacked a contingency plan and with Putin not barging on his long standing demands, how careful...

AI and GenAI investments in Asia-Pacific are expected to reach $110 billion by 2028, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 24% from 2023 to 2028. This means big changes for the workplace – from how leaders need to lead to the redefinition of jobs. So, how can we work with AI as our co-pilot? This week Elliott Danker speaks with Lem Chin Kok, CEO of technology company AiRTS and Yeo Chuen Chue...