TIC Council’s Post

Last week, I attended SMEICC25, hosted by the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI), seeking fresh insights into local industry trends and a perspective beyond my usual tech bubble. The dominant theme was digital transformation, a focus amplified by this year's National Day Rally's emphasis on AI adoption. In Singapore, government prioritisation typically signals incoming support mechanisms, making widespread adoption almost inevitable. However, the ground reality presents a more nuanced picture, with significant barriers around technical expertise, organizational change management, and demonstrable AI returns. The SCCCI's findings underscore these challenges: • 40.9% of SMEs lack sufficient internal expertise and resources • 36.7% face staff resistance to change • 34.6% struggle with uncertainty around transformation outcomes These statistics illuminate a crucial insight: successful transformation extends far beyond technology adoption, it requires addressing human capital, organisational culture, and change readiness. This reflection leads me to question our approach: apart from the usual PSG, EDG and rather than pushing AI as the starting point, how might we focus on strengthening digital fundamentals within local businesses first?

📽 What frameworks exist in #SoutheastAsia to govern #AI and other technology issues? And why is the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (#DEFA) so important? In this interview, Dr. Karthik Nachiappan, Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS-NUS), National University of Singapore, discusses regional approaches to AI governance and explains why cooperation between regulators and SMEs is essential. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gHN8yAYw

The 2025 Global Industrial Internet Conference held in Shenyang, China, brought together government and business representatives from over 10 countries to emphasize open cooperation in harnessing AI's opportunities. Participants from sectors including mobile communication, AI, and high-end manufacturing discussed advancing intelligentization, network connectivity, and digitalization in economic development. Experts highlighted AI as a strategic technology driving a technological revolution, industrial transformation, and productivity growth. They stressed the urgency of promoting healthy, orderly AI development through international collaboration. Brazil's telecommunications secretary noted the country's lag in data center infrastructure and called for partnerships with nations possessing stronger digital infrastructure. Challenges such as governance frameworks and technical standards were also addressed, with calls for inclusive policies and global cooperation to guide AI’s future. Participants underscored the need to strengthen dialogue, trust, and consensus-building to ensure AI’s healthy, united development and avoid leaving any country behind. China was recognized for its active role in global AI governance, having launched the Global AI Governance Initiative in 2023 and spearheaded a 2024 UN resolution on AI capacity building. Attendees expressed willingness to collaborate with China, with Pakistan's business leader expressing hopes for enhanced Sino-Pakistani cooperation in the digital economy and intelligent infrastructure development. #AI #China https://lnkd.in/g2mbEyHr

Listened to a talk and a discussion by Ines Lam About how the current emerging multipolar era can be viewed by ASEAN as a challenge or an opportunity. Some really good points she made: The PH should double down on its strength in Services Vietnam will be hard to compete with in manufacturing given the consistent investments and efforts they’ve put in. ASEAN needs to view itself as more than a cost arbiter, but as a consumer. AI can empower the service sector, but we need to rise to higher value chain activities

AI in Malaysia: Policies or Punchlines? Look — every week, I see CEOs and ministers talking about “AI is the future.” But here’s the truth: without real AI policy, Malaysia is setting itself up to be a customer, not a creator. You want to know what “AI strategy” sounds like right now? It’s like saying: “Don’t worry, we’ll build the car later. For now, let’s just buy petrol and hope for the best.” 🤦♂️ We need 3 urgent moves: 1️⃣ AI Safety Standards – Not copy-paste from the West. OUR version. Data sovereignty. Our values. 2️⃣ Regulatory Sandbox – Give startups freedom to test AI under government supervision, not wait for some foreign model to tell us how. 3️⃣ National AI Guardrails – Because if we don’t set rules now, in 5 years we’ll be negotiating with machines… and they don’t care about “Rukun Negara.” This is not about hype. This is about jobs, sovereignty, and survival. CEOs – stop posting “AI is cool” and start demanding policy frameworks. Politicians – stop giving speeches about “digital nation” and start funding actual AI governance labs. Malaysia has talent. What we don’t have yet is the courage to regulate before the crisis hits. Otherwise, in 10 years, our kids won’t be asking, “Who runs Malaysia?” They’ll be asking, “Who coded Malaysia?” #AI #AIPolicy #MalaysiaTech #DigitalSovereignty #FutureOfWork #TechLeadership #AISafety #InnovationPolicy #DigitalEconomy #AIRegulation #TechForGood #AIEthics #NextGenMalaysia

AI is advancing rapidly, but without common global standards, cross-border trade faces barriers such as delays, higher costs, and disrupted collaboration. Governments and industry leaders must: 1. Align with global standards (like ISO, IEC, NIST), 2. Encourage cross-border
 collaboration, 3. Make AI standards part of procurement. The future of trade depends on trusted, connected technology. Shared #AI standards across borders makes that possible.

Malaysian Manufacturers: Your biggest competitor isn't another local business. It's the AI-powered factory you DON'T own yet. While some dismiss AI as 'too complex' or 'too expensive', the reality is stark. Globally, AI-driven factories are seeing production increases of up to 30% and slashing operational costs by 15-20% through predictive maintenance, enhanced quality control, and optimized supply chains. Meanwhile, many Malaysian SMEs are still battling manual inefficiencies, reactive breakdowns, and unpredictable market swings. This isn't just about efficiency; it's about survival in the 4th Industrial Revolution. Waiting for 'the right time' is no longer an option. Every day without AI is a day your competitors (local or international) gain an insurmountable advantage, eating into your market share and eroding your bottom line. The gap is widening, and complacency is the costliest strategy. Agree or disagree? Defend your answer below. Are you ready to embrace AI and future-proof your manufacturing, or are you comfortable being left behind? I'll personally engage with every thoughtful comment for the next 3 hours! #AIinManufacturing #MalaysianSME #Industry40 #DigitalTransformation #ManufacturingMalaysia #AIIA #Productivity #FutureofWork #BusinessAutomation #MalaysianBusiness #TechInMalaysia #AIStrategy

State of AI Safety in Chinac 2025 | prepared by Concordia AI 安远AI This report offers a comprehensive examination of #China’s evolving approach to #artificialintelligence #safety, #governance, and #policy implementation. In reviewing its findings, it becomes evident that China is moving rapidly to institutionalize #AIsafety within a framework that blends centralized regulatory authority with industrial-scale experimentation. The report documents that between 2020 and 2024, Chinese agencies issued more than 50 policy guidelines directly addressing AI safety, covering domains from algorithmic transparency to generative model risk. Particularly striking is the dual-track strategy: while state-led institutions enforce guardrails, #privatesectorfirms, particularly in #Shenzhen, #Beijing, and #Hangzhou, are advancing proprietary #risk-mitigation technologies. The data show both ambition and tension. For instance, the report highlights that firms adopting state-aligned safety protocols reported compliance cost increases averaging 14% of their AI R&D budgets, yet these same firms also achieved faster regulatory approvals and 19% higher market adoption rates relative to non-compliant peers. A volatility index constructed on Chinese AI equities indicates that companies integrating safety standards exhibited 0.25 lower return volatility, suggesting that compliance is evolving into a stabilizing economic factor. Additionally, scenario modeling projects that by 2030, China could capture 38% of global AI market share, but only under conditions where safety governance remains credible and harmonized with international norms. Absent such alignment, the report suggests systemic risks could erode up to 1.2% of annual GDP #growth through regulatory fragmentation and reduced #foreigninvestment inflows. In conclusion, my reading of this report is that China’s AI safety trajectory is both a domestic policy imperative and a global economic variable. By embedding safety standards into industrial practice, China is seeking not only to mitigate risks of large-scale AI deployment but also to establish first-mover influence in setting international governance norms. The trade-off, however, lies in balancing the #costs of compliance with the imperatives of innovation speed. For global #policymakers and #industryleaders, the lesson is clear: AI safety, when embedded within national strategy, is no longer merely a technical concern but a structural determinant of economic competitiveness and geopolitical leverage.

State of AI Safety in Chinac 2025 | prepared by Concordia AI 安远AI This report offers a comprehensive examination of #China’s evolving approach to #artificialintelligence #safety, #governance, and #policy implementation. In reviewing its findings, it becomes evident that China is moving rapidly to institutionalize #AIsafety within a framework that blends centralized regulatory authority with industrial-scale experimentation. The report documents that between 2020 and 2024, Chinese agencies issued more than 50 policy guidelines directly addressing AI safety, covering domains from algorithmic transparency to generative model risk. Particularly striking is the dual-track strategy: while state-led institutions enforce guardrails, #privatesectorfirms, particularly in #Shenzhen, #Beijing, and #Hangzhou, are advancing proprietary #risk-mitigation technologies. The data show both ambition and tension. For instance, the report highlights that firms adopting state-aligned safety protocols reported compliance cost increases averaging 14% of their AI R&D budgets, yet these same firms also achieved faster regulatory approvals and 19% higher market adoption rates relative to non-compliant peers. A volatility index constructed on Chinese AI equities indicates that companies integrating safety standards exhibited 0.25 lower return volatility, suggesting that compliance is evolving into a stabilizing economic factor. Additionally, scenario modeling projects that by 2030, China could capture 38% of global AI market share, but only under conditions where safety governance remains credible and harmonized with international norms. Absent such alignment, the report suggests systemic risks could erode up to 1.2% of annual GDP #growth through regulatory fragmentation and reduced #foreigninvestment inflows. In conclusion, my reading of this report is that China’s AI safety trajectory is both a domestic policy imperative and a global economic variable. By embedding safety standards into industrial practice, China is seeking not only to mitigate risks of large-scale AI deployment but also to establish first-mover influence in setting international governance norms. The trade-off, however, lies in balancing the #costs of compliance with the imperatives of innovation speed. For global #policymakers and #industryleaders, the lesson is clear: AI safety, when embedded within national strategy, is no longer merely a technical concern but a structural determinant of economic competitiveness and geopolitical leverage.

State of AI Safety in Chinac 2025 | prepared by Concordia AI 安远AI This report offers a comprehensive examination of #China’s evolving approach to #artificialintelligence #safety, #governance, and #policy implementation. In reviewing its findings, it becomes evident that China is moving rapidly to institutionalize #AIsafety within a framework that blends centralized regulatory authority with industrial-scale experimentation. The report documents that between 2020 and 2024, Chinese agencies issued more than 50 policy guidelines directly addressing AI safety, covering domains from algorithmic transparency to generative model risk. Particularly striking is the dual-track strategy: while state-led institutions enforce guardrails, #privatesectorfirms, particularly in #Shenzhen, #Beijing, and #Hangzhou, are advancing proprietary #risk-mitigation technologies. The data show both ambition and tension. For instance, the report highlights that firms adopting state-aligned safety protocols reported compliance cost increases averaging 14% of their AI R&D budgets, yet these same firms also achieved faster regulatory approvals and 19% higher market adoption rates relative to non-compliant peers. A volatility index constructed on Chinese AI equities indicates that companies integrating safety standards exhibited 0.25 lower return volatility, suggesting that compliance is evolving into a stabilizing economic factor. Additionally, scenario modeling projects that by 2030, China could capture 38% of global AI market share, but only under conditions where safety governance remains credible and harmonized with international norms. Absent such alignment, the report suggests systemic risks could erode up to 1.2% of annual GDP #growth through regulatory fragmentation and reduced #foreigninvestment inflows. In conclusion, my reading of this report is that China’s AI safety trajectory is both a domestic policy imperative and a global economic variable. By embedding safety standards into industrial practice, China is seeking not only to mitigate risks of large-scale AI deployment but also to establish first-mover influence in setting international governance norms. The trade-off, however, lies in balancing the #costs of compliance with the imperatives of innovation speed. For global #policymakers and #industryleaders, the lesson is clear: AI safety, when embedded within national strategy, is no longer merely a technical concern but a structural determinant of economic competitiveness and geopolitical leverage.