As AI reshapes the marketing landscape, this year’s forum places a special emphasis on AI integration and automation, featuring an impressive lineup of speakers from global brands including The Coca-Cola Company, Unilever, PepsiCo and TikTok.

The two-day conference will run parallel tracks exploring more than 10 crucial themes, from AI-driven marketing strategies to customer experience optimisation. Dr. Luke Soon from PwC Singapore will present insights on ‘Humanising the future of marketing through AI and Automation’ as part of the conference’s focus on emerging technologies.

Several high-impact panel discussions will address the industry’s most pressing challenges. A notable session, ‘From Productivity to Creativity – How to utilise AI in your Marketing Strategy’, brings together experts from Google, PwC Singapore and First Page Digital to explore practical applications of AI in marketing operations.

Key highlights

• Data & AI innovation: Multiple sessions will explore how brands can harness AI for agile marketing insights, with Intel’s Sahaj Khunteta sharing strategies for driving marketing agility through AI-powered analytics.
• Customer experience focus: The conference features dedicated tracks on personalisation and customer-centric strategies, including a panel on ‘Shaping your digital strategy with Personalised Experiences’ featuring representatives from RBL Bank, Pearson and AEON.
• Social media evolution: Alexander Lim from TikTok will present on ‘Leveraging Gen AI to Create for Commerce’, while other sessions explore emerging social media trends and creator economy strategies.
• E-commerce & omnichannel: Industry leaders from ZALORA Group and MoneyHero will share insights on adapting to changing consumer behaviours in the digital commerce landscape.

The event has attracted top-tier sponsors, with HubSpot serving as the Track Sponsor, while Semrush Enterprise and Brandwatch join as Gold Sponsors. This strong industry backing underscores DMWF’s position as a premier gathering for marketing professionals in the Asia-Pacific region.

HubSpot’s Kat Warboys will be presenting a session on ‘From Hype to Reality: AI’s Evolution from Buzzword to Growth Essential’, highlighting how marketing technology continues to reshape industry practices.

For marketing professionals looking to stay ahead of industry trends and connect with leading innovators, DMWF Asia 2025 promises to be an unmissable event. The conference will feature networking opportunities with in excess of 300 senior-level marketers and more than 50 expert speakers across various sectors.

Those interested in attending or learning more about speaking opportunities can contact the organisers at hello@digitalmarketingwf.com. The full agenda and registration details are available on the DMWF Asia website.

Readers can get 25% off their tickets by using the code TECHWIRE at checkout.

As the marketing landscape continues to transform, DMWF Asia 2025 stands as a beacon for professionals seeking to navigate the intersection of technology, creativity and customer engagement in the digital age.

The post AI takes centre stage at DMWF Asia 2025: marketing leaders converge in Singapore appeared first on TechWire Asia.

“If you resist artificial intelligence, you will be finished.” That was the message of HE Omar Sultan Al Olama, the Minister of State for AI Digital Economy for the UAE government, at the opening of the GITEX 2023 CTO World Congress.

His statement resonated with the crowd at the 43rd edition of GITEX Global, the world’s largest technology and startup exhibition in Dubai, where AI’s influence on companies’ presence cannot be overlooked.

Over 6,000 companies from 180 countries and thousands of attendees flooded to the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) for the five-day event which began on October 16, 2023. The United Arab Emirates’ annual technology event spans 41 exhibition halls, showcasing tech giants and startups specializing mainly in AI, cybersecurity, and mobility. 

The event also expanded significantly across Dubai Harbor, where Expand North Star, a startup focus event hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, took place concurrently. Dubai’s vested interest in AI – the technology that has taken center stage globally this year – was apparent in both events. More than 1,000 AI-infused companies were participating, according to organizers, as concerns over governance, regulations, and job security remain.

“AI needs to be unleashed, rather than confined and restricted,” Al Olama told reporters on the sidelines of GITEX 2023. In sharing the view of his administration, the Minister claimed that “governments’ responsibilities around the world should revolve around increasing awareness, reducing ignorance, and ensuring that people can access AI tools.”

Al Olama believes that the world is entering an era that separates countries that embrace AI and those that don’t. “That’s going to be the key differentiator. If you embrace AI, you will try. If you don’t, unfortunately, you will remain stagnant,” he told reporters.

Governing AI the right way: A hot topic at GITEX 2023

During his keynote address, Al Olama captivated the audience by advocating a global consensus on AI governance. He stressed governing AI use cases rather than the technology itself. He called for discussions to be more solution-focused rather than dominated by fears. “I think the current global discussion on AI governance is a non-starter,” he told reporters about regulating the technology during a media briefing on day two of GITEX 2023.

Al Olama, who became the world’s first minister in the AI field in 2017, believes that governments must openly address concerns around AI. “Fear should not dominate the discussion,” he reiterated. He, however, thinks tackling the issue of deepfakes is a global problem for governments.

“I think deepfakes need to be addressed, because they erode the people’s trust in the content,” Al Olama said. “It’s a big problem, so we must be heavy-handed with deepfakes.” The Minister suggested that governments should also take a firm stance against using tools that create misinformation, as these tools too can erode trust – this time in governments.

The Minister, who was recently named by Time magazine among the 100 most influential people in AI, highlighted the remarkable journey of the UAE as an early adopter of AI. A 2019 report on the Government Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index², which examined over 190 countries worldwide to determine its rankings, has placed the UAE at the top of the Arab world for its readiness to adopt AI technologies. 

By June of this year, special task forces within 30 government entities in Dubai had been formed to harness the power of AI to transform government operations and services. 

Some of those government bodies were present at GITEX 2023, and Tech Wire Asia had the opportunity to visit their booths and peek into their AI innovations.

Digital Dubai

Digital Dubai inaugurated the Dubai Government Pavilion at the GITEX 2023, bringing together more than 40 government and private entities in the Emirate of Dubai. Director general of Digital Dubai, Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, asserted that “the Dubai Government Pavilion at GITEX Global 2023 offers a glimpse into Dubai’s digital future, where emerging and advanced technologies play a central role in ensuring happiness among citizens and residents, offering them easy, quick, and integrated digital services.”

The Digital Dubai platform this year included 40 pavilions, each representing a government or private entity from various fields, who came together to strive for a common purpose – to position Dubai as a global digital hub and an inspiring international capital. Among the services showcased were the Dubai.AI platform, in partnership with the Dubai Center for Artificial Intelligence (DCAI). The platform  allows users to quickly and seamlessly access services and information about Dubai across various sectors. 

Dubai.AI was developed in partnership with government entities in the emirate. It can be populated it with accurate information and services from reliable sources, making that data available to all users.

There was also the ‘Al Maha’ project on cybersecurity, an advanced scanning tool designed to locate all government digital assets on the internet, whether they’re hosted in the UAE or abroad. 

The platform can identify vulnerabilities in these digital assets, classify them by severity, and suggest the most effective methods to address them. Additionally, Digital Dubai is introducing the Application Programming Interface (API) Tester, a portal that lets users, developers, and security officers evaluate and test their API endpoints. The API scanner will identify gaps and weaknesses in the provided API requests, primarily helping developers and users to patch and secure their APIs.

Digitizing Dubai’s Metro

At Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) pavilion were an array of AI projects and initiatives, including a smart gate for paying public transport fares through facial recognition. The RTA plans to roll out the smart gates next year, with plans to test it out at public transport stations where there is less volume of passengers before it will be rolled out across all stations after the Proof of Concept succeeds.

تعتبر البوابة الذكية التي تتيح دفع تعرفة #المواصلات_العامة باستخدام بصمة الوجه جزءاً من خطة الهيئة الاستراتيجية للتحول الرقمي التي تهدف إلى تلبية الاحتياجات التشغيلية والارتقاء بتجربة الركاب. قم بزيارة منصة #هيئة_الطرق_و_المواصلات "S1-E" في معرض #جيتكس2023 من 16 إلى 20 أكتوبر في… pic.twitter.com/dhwp3xVKpS

— RTA (@rta_dubai) October 17, 2023

The RTA plans to adopt the same facial recognition technology in all other modes of public transportation in Dubai, including trams, buses, abra (a traditional small ferry-like boat used to ferry people across the Dubai Creek), and taxis. The RTA’s goal is to move from physical and digital cards to a facial recognition system.

The convergence of AI and Arabic

The UAE has recently made strides in AI, having unveiled two major large language models – the underlying algorithm that powers generative AI – to prove its intentions of becoming a leader in the industry. At one of the government pavilions at GITEX 2023, the LLM models, Jais and Falcon, were showcased, and according to Al Olama, they have been well received by the public.

Jais, an open-source bilingual Arabic-English LLM, was developed through collaboration between Inception, an AI company in Abu Dhabi, the G42 unit, Mohammed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, and Silicon Valley’s Cerebras Systems. Jais is designed to make the Arabic language a prominent player in AI.

Conversely, Falcon is a flagship LLM by the UAE’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII). Falcon 180B is closely ranked just behind OpenAI’s latest GPT-4 and matches the performance level of Google’s PaLM 2 Large, the model that powers Bard, according to the company. 

Driverless police patrol car

Adding to the variety of Dubai’s government entities showing their AI innovations at GITEX 2023 was an autonomous Dubai Police patrol car that could handle the city’s streets. The vehicle, equipped with a drone launcher, radar detector, and surveillance camera, will provide Dubai Police with an innovative and effective method for city patrolling. 

According to a spokesperson, the department has concluded its research and development phase, and the vehicle is currently in production. It will be operational on the city’s streets within the following year.

“It took 65 engineers five years of research to build the vehicle named Autonomous Police Patrol M02,” which, according to the spokesperson, can function with an accuracy rate of 99.9%.

The post What were the highlights of GITEX 2023? appeared first on TechWire Asia.

The prestigious Cloud Expo Asia is back in its 9th edition on 11-12 October 2023 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. As Asia’s most attended technology event, it promises to be a significant rendezvous for technology enthusiasts and professionals alike. The Expo is part of the monumental Tech Week Singapore, bringing together six top technology events under one roof, such as Cloud Expo Asia, Cyber Security World, Big Data & AI World, Data Centre World Asia, eCommerce Expo Asia and Technology for Marketing Asia.

Tech Week Singapore 2023 is set to host a stellar line-up of more than 600 speakers from top-notch organizations and firms worldwide. Gain insights from the leaders of McKinsey & Company, Coinbase, DHL Express Singapore, Doctor Anywhere, Gartner, MTR Hong Kong, NASA, NVIDIA, Keppel Data Centres, and Forrester at Asia’s foremost technology event for businesses.

In the fast-paced digital age, the Expo stands out by emphasizing the critical role of cloud technologies. It will help businesses maintain their competitive edge, ensuring they navigate the complex landscape of digital transformation effectively.

In an era where AI is revolutionizing technology, the event sheds light on its growing and often unnoticed infiltration into daily life, highlighting the surge in interest following the launch of advanced generative AI applications.

Navigating Cloud and AI Innovations at Cloud Expo Asia 2023

In a world where the security landscape is continuously evolving, Cloud Expo Asia stands out as an unmissable event. The Expo plays a crucial role in helping businesses enhance their security posture amidst emerging threats, safeguarding both brand reputation and customer trust. This importance is further underscored by the fact that most companies have not seen significant returns on their cloud investments, highlighting the pressing need for businesses to optimize their cloud strategy.

Harness the power of cloud with Cloud Expo Asia, offering an unparalleled deep dive into the world of cloud computing. This is your opportunity to gain actionable advice from world-renowned experts and solution providers and tackle the pressing challenges facing the cloud community today. As the digital workload continues to grow, keeping up with the latest advancements in cloud technology has never been more critical. Cloud Expo Asia emerges as a significant networking and knowledge hub, ensuring you stay connected with key decision-makers and innovative suppliers to collaboratively address critical issues and meet evolving customer demands.

Delve into hours of top-tier content over two remarkable days, where key opinion leaders guide you through a wide spectrum of current trends, talking points, and solutions. With five distinct theatres, explore the latest in hybrid cloud, AI, sustainability, future workforces, and DevOps, ensuring you remain at the forefront of technological innovation.

Don’t miss the chance to discover innovative solutions on the vibrant exhibition floor. Meet award-winning exhibitors renowned for their impactful and innovative contributions to the data and AI industry. Revolutionize your business by leveraging the knowledge and insights of industry thought leaders and learning about the most influential technology, ideas, and techniques from a wide array of distinguished solution providers.

Tech Wire Asia is a media partner of Cloud Expo Asia and promises to provide comprehensive coverage of the myriad exciting facets and happenings at the event. Ensure you don’t miss this chance to stay ahead in the cloud and technology domain. Gear up for a future-ready learning experience only at Cloud Expo Asia 2023!

The post Cloud, AI, and beyond: Dive into tomorrow at Cloud Expo Asia 2023 appeared first on TechWire Asia.

When Southeast Asia (SEA) region’s premier event for the global electronics manufacturing and design supply chain, SEMICON SEA, took place last year, it was amidst the global semiconductor conundrum. A lot has progressed since then, and the world is undoubtedly better positioned today to deal with excess or shortage of chip supplies. 

One fact remains the same: the significance of the global electronics manufacturing and design supply chain to economies worldwide. In fact, the size and value of semiconductors today indicate their role in international products and operations or the economy in general. 

That being said, after a resounding success last year, SEMICON SEA will return to Penang again this year. “Last year, SEMICON SEA 2022 garnered a record attendance of close to 14,000 delegates,” SEMICON SEA 2023 president Linda Tan said in a statement.

Tan reckons that the volume of attendance demonstrates that industry participants recognize the need to connect, collaborate and innovate to grow and compete. “Thus, we are confident that the event this year will garner similar, if not more, attendance,” she added.

Tan also shared some megatrends that include automation, the growth of artificial intelligence, and soaring demand for electric vehicles, has continued to drive the dynamic semiconductor industry in the region.

“In Malaysia, Penang is leading the charge, with much of these technological advancements taking place in this state. Given this backdrop, we are pleased to return to Penang again and leverage the state’s solid reputation as the Silicon Valley of the East for SEMICON SEA 2023.

Additionally, Penang’s Chief Minister’s special investment adviser Lee Kah Choon highlighted how Penang is one of the most vibrant semiconductor industry destinations. This year’s theme speaks for the state’s focus.

“Having over 50 years of industrial excellence, agility, and resiliency are among the values that Penang strongly upholds. We constantly seize the opportunities arising from global development in a timely manner and continuously source for ways to move up the value chain to stay relevant to the industry,” he shared.

Lee also noted that Penang had demonstrated its significance in the electrical and electronics (E&E) sector by contributing between 56 and 60% of the country’s E&E exports over the past four years. “In 2022, the state reached its all-time high of RM452 billion in total exports and recorded a trade surplus of RM126 billion, representing 49% of the country’s total,” he highlighted, adding that Penang’s commendable performance over the years has made them a well-fitted location to host SEMICON SEA 2023.

What’s happening at SEMICON SEA 2023?

The 28th edition of the SEMICON SEA will be held at the Setia SPICE Arena and Convention Centre. It will welcome in-person delegates and attendees to discuss critical topics driving the industry, including sustainability, smart manufacturing, smart mobility, smart MedTech, and workforce development.

Themed ‘Boosting Agility and Resiliency of the Electronics Supply Chain in Southeast Asia,’ SEMICON SEA 2023 will also gather experts from around the world to explore ways for the electronics industry to build a more robust supply chain as it navigates the current economic downturn and ongoing disruptions.

It is also learned that the SEMICON SEA 2023 would feature highlights such as the ‘CxO Summit’ on boosting agility and resiliency of the electronics supply chain in Southeast Asia, a roundtable discussion on investment opportunities in Southeast Asia, a forum on various economic issues such as market and industry trends, career fair and talks, and many others.

There will also be the launch of SEMI University, an online learning management system comprising courses targeted toward semiconductor and electronics industry professionals. 

Tech Wire Asia is a media partner of SEMICON SEA 2023, which means frequent updates across all our social media handles throughout the three-day event next week. Stay tuned to our social media channels for more updates during the event. 

The post SEMICON Southeast Asia returns to Penang for the third time appeared first on TechWire Asia.

The concept of traditional education has drastically changed over the last several years, and even more so during the pandemic, shedding light on what the long-term future of education may include. Being physically present in a classroom is no longer necessary to learn thanks to the growth of the internet and innovative technologies like video conferencing systems and smart whiteboards.

Nowadays, getting good education whenever and wherever one chooses is made possible as long as one has access to the internet.

According to Zoom Lessons and Education report in collaboration with IBRS at the Zoom APAC Education Summit 2022, there is an urgent need for institutions throughout Asia Pacific (APAC) to prioritize professional development for educators in utilizing technology for teaching. The survey also showed that digital platforms have a dual function in aiding educators’ learning processes.

“The schools that did a really good job of transitioning straight into hybrid learning amid the pandemic, had a digital mindset. And that takes on a particular nuance. It’s not just about applying technology to different components of the education experience separately, but building an integrated digital ecosystem that consolidates systems for students and teachers for greater efficiency,” said Dr. Joe Sweeney, IBRS Advisor.

However, Sweeney believes that the most important lesson is that the way curriculum is developed and created, whether it is for young kids as early as year 1 or as late as university, needs to change.

“Existing curriculum should not be moved online in a wholesale manner, but adapted to bite-sized material that can be moved and slotted flexibly within the overall curriculum. Educators will also be able to share content more readily with each other, which drives peer review and improves teaching practices,” he explained.

Future-proofing education in a hybrid environment

The report also discovered that long instructional phases covering many academic focuses frequently led to students feeling disinterested in a distance learning environment. Learning phases should be more succinct and focused. It is advised to have three phases: a discovery phase for independent learning, a mentorship tutorial phase, and a synthesis phase for knowledge assessment.

Key findings from the report:

• In a hybrid classroom, students learn in a variety of locations. Future learning environments must also take into account parents who supervise their children’s education at home, hybrid teachers and administrators, and other stakeholders.
• All elements of education must be integrated into the technological environment used by schools in a way that is simple, user-friendly, and economical. This should apply to all aspects of student, teacher, and parent collaboration, including curriculum development and learning management.
• The formal technological architecture that can support educational innovation for improved teaching and learning experiences is something that educational institutions should be looking to in the future.

According to Sweeney, the pandemic has shown the education industry’s extreme adaptability, especially how rapidly institutions were able to use digital resources to give students a consistent, accessible learning experience.

“To help educators manage these ever-changing modes of learning, it will be key to integrate the different digital solutions and platforms into one cohesive ecosystem that can accommodate both in-person and virtual mediums of instruction,” he added.

Education in Southeast Asia

The education sector is undergoing a transition, especially as technology increasingly dominates the field. Several ASEAN nations, including Indonesia and Malaysia, are using technology to improve education.

Indonesian students for example are among those who use technology in the classroom the most globally, claims Medium. More than most other students in the world, Indonesian students use technology in the classroom, with 40% of classrooms having IT suites or computer rooms. In addition, Indonesian students use desktop computers at a rate of 50%, which is second only to American students worldwide.

Overall, it is extremely likely that the education sectors in the region will gradually move away from the traditional method of teaching using markers and whiteboards, and more of utilizing PowerPoint presentations, and software to clarify concepts.

Zoom’s Head of APAC, Ricky Kapur, stated that the company has always supported making education available to all people. “This means supporting educators with the right technological platform as they navigate the future of education in a post-pandemic environment, which may look different for each institution. As shown in our report with IBRS, communications technology is pivotal to allowing educators to deliver remote instruction more effectively, purposely and in a way that students feel optimally engaged,” he said.

The post What is the future of education looking like in Asia Pacific? appeared first on TechWire Asia.

Despite this, the speed of evolution of tech requires everyone in the industry to be on the tip of their toes, ready to pounce on the opportunities available for them. In fact, Malaysia’s tech scene has witnessed continuous tech investment and growth, ensuring businesses can make the right decisions.

As such, Wild Digital, Southeast Asia’s leading tech conference powered by Catcha Group, will be a hosting a two-day exclusive tech conference. The Wild Digital Southeast Asia 2022, an in-person event, will be held on the 6th and 7th of September, 2022. It will take place at the Le Meridien Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister, YAB Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob will be delivery the keynote address at the country’s most anticipated tech conference with Minister of Finance, YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul bin Tengku Abdul Aziz also a guest speaker.

With the theme “Unlocking Asia’s Evolving Tech Future,” this year’s event will draw over 1,000 guests and more than 70 speakers, including the leading tech players, disruptors, and analysts in the region.

The in-person event will also showcase the variety of learning and networking opportunities that Wild Digital Southeast Asia 2022 provides. Attendees will gain knowledge of cutting-edge new solutions, hear perspectives on the buzz around Web3 and the metaverse, which is being fueled by the continuous uptick in digital adoption, dive into educational and technical content, and interact with experts from across the industry ecosystem.

Industry experts at Wild Digital Southeast Asia will also discuss the region’s extraordinary tech industry growth and how the COVID-19 pandemic has increased consumer demand for new digital and online-based solutions. The second day of the conference will feature more specialized industry experts to offer their knowledge and views on the next trends and changes in logistics, fintech, and e-commerce.

“When trouble rises, entrepreneurs strive to find ways to overcome the obstacles. Although the reason for the recession is completely different now, it’s a good opportunity to create something that solves problems generated by the shift to the online world. We believe that Wild Digital is a platform that offers valuable insights into the future of Southeast Asia’s tech industry,” said Patrick Grove, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Catcha Group.

In addition, Tech Wire Asia is also a media partner for Wild Digital Southeast Asia 2022. The team will be present during the two day event, with TWA editor Aaron Raj moderating a session as well.

Sign up and enjoy 80% off on General Admission Passes to WDSEA2022. Get tickets here:  https://bit.ly/wdsea22-tickets  

The post Wild Digital Southeast Asia returns in September, unlocking Asia’s evolving tech appeared first on TechWire Asia.

The idea of a digital skills gap is not particularly new. Many people don’t think it exists at all, apparently. However, it cannot be denied that things are evolving, and some people may not be prepared to handle these changes.

In fact, according to the Building Digital Skills for the Changing Workforce report, two out of every three workers are not convinced that they are acquiring digital skills quickly enough to fulfill future job requirements.

In light of this, Huawei introduced Asia Pacific Seeds for the Future 2022 in association with the ASEAN Foundation and the Thailand Tourism Authority (TAT). The program will gather 120 exceptional students from 16 nations in the Asia Pacific region for a 9-day digital boot camp in Thailand from August 19 to August 27.

Through Tech4Good initiatives, participants will be immersed in technology and cross-cultural experiences while also proposing technical solutions to social challenges. This year, there are 120 participants, and 56 of them are women, making the 2022 cohort the most gender-balanced since the program’s inception in the region in 2008.

Asia Pacific Seeds for the Future 2022 marks the first time the program is held since Huawei and the ASEAN Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2021 to expand the program. By taking the participants on a cultural tour of Bangkok, the TAT will also make a substantial contribution to the program this year. These groups are hoping to work together to generate a synergy that will provide attendees with an experience that is unmatched.

Local government authorities and representatives from numerous foreign organizations both attended the inauguration event. Speakers at the event stressed the significance of multi-party collaboration in building a strong ecosystem of digital talent in the region.

The program’s plan in improving talents’ digital skills

According to Jurin Laksanawisit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Thailand, the public and private sectors are currently cooperating to grow ICT personnel in order to keep up with changing trends.

“Personally, I believe that co-training with leading specialized companies such as Huawei will greatly enhance the quality of the education and is an excellent step for advancing digital development with the goal of strengthening the economy to international levels,” he added.

The ASEAN Secretary-General, Dato Lim Jock Hoi, emphasized that the development of a Digital ASEAN will be driven by digital talent and that the private sector may take the lead in bringing this vision to life. In this regard, that’s where Huawei’s Asia Pacific’s initiative: Seeds for the Future Program come in place.

“This project underscores the long-term commitment of Huawei to collaborate and prepare the ASEAN youth for the changing world of work and industry’s demands. I also commend the Huawei ASEAN Academy for working with local stakeholders to train 23,465 ICT professionals from Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia. I hope that such efforts could also be extended to the other ASEAN Member States.”

In Asia Pacific, advanced digital talent development is often carried out through collaborative programs operated by governments, academia, and commercial tech companies. Examples of such initiatives include the ASEAN Academy and Seeds for the Future.

Simon Lin, president of Huawei Asia Pacific, reaffirmed Huawei’s commitment to talent development, saying that the “seeds” stand for the future, hope, and passion. This initiative has been introduced to approximately 140 countries and regions by Huawei, the corporate-level flagship CSR project with the longest history, and has reached more than 12,000 students from 500 universities.

“Digitalization is the driving force for our future. Talent is the key to digital transformation and sustainable growth. We deeply believe that the young generation will grow as the constructors of Asia Pacific when pursuing their tech dreams,” Lin concluded.

The post Huawei launches Seeds for the Future Program 2022 to enhance talents’ digital skills appeared first on TechWire Asia.

In a move that has the potential to revolutionize cybersecurity training, IBM virtually inaugurated its Cyber Range and IBM Security Command Center. The center located in Bengaluru explicitly trains cybersecurity response techniques through highly realistic, simulated cyberattacks designed to prepare everyone from C-Suite through technical staff. 

The first of its kind center was launched by Shri. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology and Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. 

“As India becomes the largest connected democracy in the world, our PM’s vision is that cyberspace will not just become a place for innovation, growth and opportunity, it will also become a place where the future standards and future technologies for securing the cyberspace evolve, mature and proliferate. I believe the Cybersecurity Hub launched by IBM today will go a long way in creating an ecosystem of not just awareness but also capabilities and talent in creating safe cyberspace,” he said.

Commenting on the launch, Sandip Patel, Managing Director, IBM India, said, “One of the biggest challenges impacting the success of the exponentially growing digital economy and that of countries across the world is cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is a global challenge threatening enterprises more vigorously than ever before. We have an opportunity to respond and act now. We need cutting-edge technology and coming together of the entire ecosystem to address this threat. The launch of the IBM Cybersecurity Hub is, in fact, a response to this challenge. It will empower clients to respond to incidents with greater speed, effectiveness, and transparency.”

Asia is now the most targeted region for cyberattacks

According to IBM global analysis, Asia saw more cyberattacks than any other region in the past year while financial services and manufacturing organizations together experienced nearly 60% of attacks.

The 2022 report also detailed how in 2021, ransomware actors attempted to “fracture” the backbone of global supply chains with attacks on manufacturing, which became 2021’s most attacked industry (23%), dethroning financial services and insurance after a long reign.  The rapid rise of cyber-attacks and data breaches should spur more Asian organizations to invest in security solutions, especially in the financial and manufacturing sectors.

The new IBM cybersecurity center will help address the most pressing need of the hour for organizations of all types to accelerate their security strategies and align business priorities with a security-first approach. The cybersecurity sensor is a highly realistic, immersive training simulation environment leveraging industry-leading audio and visual effects. This includes live malware, ransomware, and other real-world hacker tools. These simulations were designed in consultation with dozens of experts from different industries, including emergency medical responders, active-duty military officers, and incident response experts. 

“Preparing for a cyberattack is like fire-drill training. Everyone from executives through to contractors need to understand their own role in an emergency and reinforce the crucial response steps through practice,” said Chris Hockings, IBM Security CTO for the Asia Pacific.

“The new IBM Security Command Center is the first in Asia Pacific enabled to train the entire business in the art of response to a cyberattack event, further enhanced by the real-time experience of our security experts based in the adjoining global Security Operations Center. With Asia Pacific’s enormous growth, diversity, and role in the global supply chain, these capabilities can be a real game changer for helping customers face growing threats in the region.”

IBM also invested its resources to help businesses prepare for and manage the growing threat of cyberattacks to organizations across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. The investment also includes a new Security Operation Center (SOC), part of IBM’s vast network of existing global SOCs – providing 24X7 security response services to clients worldwide.

This includes IBM Managed Security Services and access to IBM’s team of incident response experts. It also comprises IBM Consulting, IBM Garage BM India Software Labs, and IBM Research. This collaborative approach drives meaningful, lasting transformation for clients and fast-track innovation. The center can deliver customized experiences and workshops – including virtually – tailored to organizations’ unique security requirements and objectives, leveraging the IBM Cyber Range Design consulting team.

IBM’s global SOC network now includes 9 locations such as Atlanta in the US, Australia, Costa Rica, Japan, Poland, Saudi Arabia and more. It offers MSS investigation experts to assist with on-the-ground response, dedicated security experts with strong vertical expertise, personalized advisory services combined with a holistic approach to secure hybrid cloud environments. IBM’s SOC model leverages AI, machine learning and automation, bringing together human expertise and advanced technologies to help respond with speed, efficiency and transparency.

The post IBM Cybersecurity Hub to mitigate APAC cyberattacks appeared first on TechWire Asia.

US chipmaker Intel told AFP that after consulting with health officials, it “will move to a digital-first, live experience, with minimal on-site staff” to reduce risk.

Omicron is now the dominant variant of Covid-19 cases in the US, making up 73% of all cases in the US, a 479% increase (12.6%) from the previous week, reported NPR.

As of yesterday, it accounts for 90% of cases in certain states in the US, reported CNBC.

———-

As the world prepared to return to normal, so did major in-person tech conferences — until the new Covid-19 Omicron variant started upending plans.

As nations increasingly report higher numbers of Omicron-infected persons daily, some governments are starting to suspend quarantine-free travel and push for higher vaccination rates.

In the US, Omicron cases have been rapidly rising, prompting several major tech companies to cancel or limit their attendance at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) — the tech industry’s annual mass-gathering in Las Vegas. 

The popular four-day conference, which had planned for a grand return next month, is still scheduled to start January 5, with the press getting an early peek two days before.

But on Tuesday, a number of major tech firms such as Facebook parent company Meta, Amazon, T-Mobile, and Twitter canceled their appearances. Google told AFP that it is  “closely monitoring the situation” and would announce any update regarding its CES plans.

Electric vehicle automaker General Motors, however, has opted to remain at the tech conference, with plans to reveal its new EV model, the Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.

The company had, in January, pledged to exclusively offer electric vehicles by 2035 and end production of combustion-engine ones. 

Tech publications including CNET, The Verge, and TechCrunch also confirmed that reporters would not be sent to cover the event, adding to suspicions that CES might have to be delayed or canceled.

Asian tech conferences disrupted too

Over in Asia, the annual RISE Conference scheduled to take place in Hong Kong in March 2022 has been canceled, with organizers planning for a 2023 return. 

In a fresh blow to an international business hub that has embraced China’s “zero-Covid” strategy, organizers of the tech conference chose to postpone because “uncertainties brought about by the pandemic have continued”.

According to AFP, the move came after organizers flip-flopped on their choice of venue, announcing last December that it would ditch Hong Kong for Malaysia before reversing that decision nine months later.

RISE initially said moving to Kuala Lumpur would expand the organizer’s presence into Southeast Asia.

But as Malaysia faced a fresh surge of Covid-19 cases in the middle of this year, the company behind the event said it was “no longer feasible” to run it in the country.

RISE’s evolving relationship with Hong Kong has drawn attention at a time when major tech firms fret over Beijing’s crackdown on dissent in the financial hub.

Hong Kong has long enjoyed greater online freedoms than mainland China, which deploys the world’s most sophisticated internet censorship network. 

But a national security law imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing last year has given authorities new controls including internet takedown powers.

RISE has previously stated that its choice of venues had nothing to do with Hong Kong politics.

With additional reporting by Agence France-Presse

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The final act of the delayed Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics took place last Sunday, almost eight years to the day after the Japanese capital was awarded the Games. When it comes to major sporting events, scammers have always jumped on the opportunity to ply their trade — and the Tokyo Olympics were no different. This summer games saw fake streaming services as the biggest threat.

Since the Rio 2016 Olympics, online streaming of sporting events has increased. To be fair, it is an international game attracting billions of viewers across the globe — and between cord-cutting and Covid-19, more viewers streamed the recent Summer Olympic games than ever before.  As major sporting events become increasingly digitized, sports officials are increasingly concerned about cybersecurity. Experts reckon digital technologies pose an increasingly diverse set of threats to Olympic events, and the newer forms of threat are likely to have more serious consequences. 

Despite the FBI’s warning that cybercriminals would target the Olympic Games this summer, it did not stop cybercriminals, in fact, most of them are getting extra creative with the campaigns designed to harvest credentials. Two separate reports by Kaspersky experts and Zscaler’s ThreatLabz analyzed Olympic-related phishing attacks and found fake pages offering streaming services, tickets to events that won’t have spectators, and even a fake Olympic Games virtual currency.

Live Streams

During the summer games, Zscaler’s ThreatLabz observed multiple instances of suspicious streaming services that weren’t associated with any of the official Olympic streaming providers. Instead, these websites claimed to provide free access to watch the games online before requesting payment credentials from customers.

After users register for access to these illegitimate streaming sites, they were directed to a fake payment portal that was used to harvest their credit card numbers and other payment information. Most of the streaming transactions observed were from the United States and Europe, with Germany and France leading in transactions. Within the Asia Pacific countries, India and Japan led the way. The importance and popularity of the event make it a target for cyberattacks, with threat actors installing malicious software from ransomware to coin miners.

On the other hand, Kaspersky experts found various phishing pages offering streaming services for the games. The trick is that users have to register to watch. Those registration pages are phishing schemes and, “once a user enters their credentials, they might be redirected to a page that distributes different malicious files,” according to Kaspersky. 

Basically, the fake streaming sites scams highlighted are a double whammy, delivering malware and harvesting user credentials.  To top it off, some fraudsters are still trying to sell tickets to the games even with no live audiences this year.  Kaspersky experts also discovered pages offering refunds for already purchased tickets.

Olympic-themed adware

Zscaler also observed Olympic-themed adware activity during the Tokyo Olympics that claimed to offer free streaming services.

However, users were instead redirected to unrelated sites for online gambling, auto-trading, and other topics. According to their blog posting, it also saw cases where users were redirected to install adware in the form of browser extensions and fake software updaters. 

OlympicDestoyer

To top it off, the sophisticated malware OlympicDestroyer, which first appeared online during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, was also observed in the wild this summer as cybercriminals brought it back for the latest Olympic Games. 

At its core, OlympicDestoryer is a worm that spreads using Windows network shares and drops multiple files onto a victim’s machine that tries to steal their browser and system credentials.

Fake virtual currency 

Kaspersky researchers found a fake virtual token of the event — by cybercriminals masquerading as a charity. To convince people to buy it, the scammers say that the fundraiser will support athletes who are in need of financial support. Kaspersky’s security expert Olga Svistiunova said, “Cybercriminals always use popular sporting events as bait for cyber attacks.

We see that fraudsters have no limits when it comes to creating ways to profit. For example, the phishing that sells an Olympic Games virtual currency shows that cybercriminals are not only using existing baits but are also creating sophisticated and creative ideas.”

A lesson for upcoming Olympics

It is axiomatic as it is, that not all cyberattacks are created equal. Yet when it comes to major sporting events, there has been no coherent effort to categorize the risks that are particular to these types of events, and/or to enable officials to prioritize among the various types of attacks. 

To date, there are four significant categories of cyberattacks on major sporting events: the infiltration of sporting websites and IT systems; tickets-related scams; the hacking and release of sensitive athlete data; and the risk of fans being hacked while attending an event.

This will change—and quickly. The increased ‘technification’ of sports will continue and even accelerate, over the next seven or so years. There are huge possible future risks that will come to fruition as technology continues to change.  Perhaps, past Olympic cyber-related issues and the most recent ones could shed light on how the Olympic movement can keep up with the rapid pace of cybercriminals activity.

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