Former S Korea President Moon Jae-in indicted for bribery

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Previous South Korean president Moon Jae-in has been charged with corruption related to his ex-son-in-law’s employment at an airline, according to the prosecution.

Prosecutors contend that his past son-in-law, who was only identified by his nickname Seo, had much experience in the aviation sector but was hired in trade for the firm’s CEO leading a state-funded company.

Moon, who ruled the nation from 2017 to 2022, is best remembered for his efforts to broker a peace deal with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

He joins a long list of South Korean president whose political jobs have been ruined by incident, from death to death.

Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted from office this quarter as a result of his unexpected declaration of martial law, is also facing criminal charges.

Former senator Lee Sang-jik has also been charged, according to lawyers, in addition to Moon. He is facing charges of corruption and faith breach.

Lee was given a six-year prison sentence in 2022 for stealing business money.

Lee, the leader of the affordable ship Eastar Jet, was appointed in 2018 as the mind of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, the same year Seo was appointed senior director of Thai Eastar Jet, his firm’s company.

Seo received about 217 million won ($ 150, 000, or £113, 000 ) in salary and housing support between 2018 and 2020, which prosecutors claim are bribes intended for Moon.

In a Reuters report, prosecutors claimed that Seo was hired despite having “any related experience or qualifications in the airport industry.”

He “frequently left his job for extended times” and “doed not perform his duties in a way that was appropriate for the position,” the statement continued.

Moon Da-hye’s girl, the former president’s child, was the subject of a bribery investigation last September when her home was searched.

Moon’s accusation comes as part of a string of cases involving representatives in his presidency. Moon’s past national security advisor and defense secretary were charged earlier this month with reportedly leaking intelligence to activists.

When the government changes hands, rival politicians are frequently the target of political rivalry, which is frequently alleged to be politicised in the government’s prosecution services.

The People Power Party’s are currently in power under the leadership of acting president and prime minister Han Duck-soo.

The prosection is being condemned by Moon’s Democrat Party, which describes it as a “politically motivated move aimed at humiliating a former senator.”

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Trump pushing India into high-stakes, high-risk China clash – Asia Times

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No president has felt the sting of US President Donald Trump’s tax war as strongly as India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite the fact that no other leader has. Caught in a high-stakes political connect, India is grappling with an philosophical problem: balancing its crucial economic ties with China against the beauty of the American business.

The Trump administration imposed a 26 % “reciprocal” tax on American goods on April 2, 2025, putting New Delhi in tense negotiations to gain access to the country’s largest export location, the US.

India’s response has betrayed a shocking respect, as evidenced by the rapid and significant trade work cuts on Harley-Davidson scooters and American-made whiskey liquor amid a large pledge&nbsp to lift down trade barriers. New Delhi has furthermore announced plans to buy more US strength and protection products in a bid to appease Trump.

The Trump administration has used a 90-day relief on the tariffs to pressure India into a more comprehensive National strategy to isolate China financially and carefully. US Vice President JD Vance made a notable four-day visit to Delhi on April 22 as part of this political unpleasant.

Ostensibly a family affair—Vance, with his Indian-origin wife and children, framed the trip as a nod to his Sasural ( “in-laws” ) and his kids ‘” Nana-Nani” ( maternal grandparents ) —the visit’s true purpose is to tighten the screws on India and secure its alignment against Beijing.

Trump uses the rod of tariffs to fudge Modi’s wishes in his second term, replacing the vegetable of American investment moving from China to India in his first.

Ajay Seth, the secretary of economic affairs, claimed this week that the” first order” hit from 26 % tariffs on India could reduce GDP by between 0.2 % and 0.5 %, which he said was” not a significant impact.” However, underscoring the urgency of the situation, New Delhi planned to transport both its chief trade communicator and finance secretary to Washington this week before the terrible Kashmir problems.

India’s plight is rooted in its divided financial fact. To produce ultimate products for trade, especially to the US, its business center, which is frequently just an “assembly line,” relies heavily on Chinese transitional goods, raw materials, funds equipment, technology, and investment.

In 2024-25, China accounted for over 14 % of India’s full international trade, while India’s goods contributed a simple 1.9 % to China’s international trade, highlighting a striking imbalance. India can import Chinese components, arrange them, and trade finished goods to the US now because a 35 % value addition there qualifies as enough for a “rules of origin” certificate.

Nevertheless, this type makes India susceptible to a proportion readjustment. Tilting toward the US challenges Chinese retribution that could drown its production ranges, leaning toward China threatens to renounce US market access.

India’s fundamental problem is this. Beijing may impose a bombardment of punitive measures, both explicit and implicit, that would deteriorate India’s economic trajectory, erode its security, and weaken its regional influence, much like it did in 2020 in a punitive response to the tensions in the Himalayas.

China’s most immediate tool would be business adjustment, exploiting India’s$ 100 billion deal gap in 2024-25. India’s exposure to Chinese and allied markets may be restricted by Beijing’s imposing steep tariffs or non-tariff obstacles, such as stringent quality checks, on American exports like agro products, textiles, and leather goods.

China might restrict exports of important inputs, including smartphone components, pharmaceutical precursors ( 70 % of India’s supply ), and industrial machinery, even more severely. In 2020, when India tightened attention on Chinese opportunities, Beijing retaliated by blocking engineers ‘ and technicians ‘ visits and technology shipments, a methodology it may rise to even more damaging effect immediately.

Such restrictions would stifle India’s tightly bound smartphone, pharmaceutical, and solar energy sectors, which are all closely linked to Chinese supply chains. China could further skew the trade balance, shrinking India’s export revenues, by selectively lowering imports of Indian goods.

With China constituting over a third of India’s foreign trade, these measures could precipitate a severe economic contraction, hobbling India’s industrial ambitions and global market competitiveness.

China has another means of squeezing India with financial leverage. Beijing could stifle trade financing for Indian businesses by tightening payment terms, putting off processing, or restricting credit flow through Chinese banks with$ 3.24 trillion in foreign exchange reserves and significant influence in global finance. After India’s 2020 ban on Chinese apps, Chinese investors curtailed funding to Indian startups, a precedent that could expand to broader sectors.

China might halt investments in recently approved joint ventures like Vivo, Suzhou Inovance, and ZNShine if India’s US alignment is further strained, undermining India’s plans for manufacturing growth and technology transfer.

By putting Indian projects prioritizing them, China may have a more subtle impact on India’s access to multilateral financial institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank or the New Development Bank. These financial chokeholds could starve India’s industrial and infrastructure initiatives, limiting its ability to scale up domestic production or diversify away from Chinese inputs.

China might target India’s nascent digital and defense sectors in the technological sphere. Chinese tech companies like Huawei and ZTE have a share of the power behind India’s 5G networks and smart city projects. Beijing could derail India’s digital infrastructure by restricting access or withholding technical support.

In a report from the Harvard Belfer Center for 2021, China’s dominance in semiconductors, 5G, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence was highlighted. India’s newly established semiconductor industry and defense manufacturing, which depend on Chinese inputs for advanced electronics, could be hampered by an embargo on semiconductors or high-tech components.

China could also complicate operations for its tech firms in India, halting solar panels or telecom equipment supplies. Such alterations would halt India’s advancement in technology and weaken its strategic abilities, particularly in defense systems that are crucial for battling regional threats.

An even greater existential risk is posed by China’s stranglehold on critical raw minerals ( CRMs) and rare earth elements ( REEs ). In 2023, India identified 30 critical minerals vital for electric vehicles ( EVs ), semiconductors, defense equipment, and renewable energy, including lithium, cobalt, gallium, titanium, graphite, silicon, bismuth, tellurium, and REEs like neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium.

India is the fifth-largest store in the world with 6.9 million metric tons of REE reserves, but its processing and refining capacity is inestimable. It imports 60 % of its REE imports from China, and over 40 % of its six CRMs, including graphite ( 42.4 % ), lithium ( 82 % ), silicon ( 76 % ), titanium ( 50 % ), and lithium ( 85.6 % ), lithium ( 82 % ), and titanium ( 50.6 % ) ) and lithium ( 42.4 % ) of those products. Beijing controls 87 % of global REE processing, 58 % of lithium refining and 68 % of silicon refining.

India’s plans for 30 % EV penetration by 2030, its semiconductor manufacturing plans, and its defense production, which rely on REEs for missiles, radar, and guidance systems, could be devastated by a Chinese export ban. India’s smartphone sector, which relies heavily on Chinese components, and its pharmaceutical sector, which relies on China for 70 % of its precursors, would experience severe shortages.

While India seeks alternatives through the Mineral Security Partnership and Australian partnerships, decoupling from China’s dominance could take decades. Thus, India’s industrial and strategic goals would suffer a terrible blow if an embargo were to be implemented.

China might use its diplomatic position to isolate India from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO ) and BRICS by portraying its US support as a betrayal of collective interests. In 2024, China’s foreign ministry condemned such alliances, and Beijing could rally SCO members like Pakistan and Russia to obstruct India’s initiatives.

China might strengthen ties with Brazil, South Africa, and other newly incorporated nations in BRICS , which would marginalize New Delhi. Regionally, Beijing could intensify Belt and Road Initiative projects in India’s neighbors—Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bangladesh—eroding India’s” Neighbourhood First” policy.

Chinese ambassador Chen Song emphasized BRI’s role in South Asia in 2023, signaling Beijing’s desire to encircle India. Such maneuvers would undermine India’s regional influence, isolate it diplomatically, and alienate it from its allies in the Global South, and make it appear as a Western proxy.

If India persists in antagonizing China, Beijing could escalate to hard measures. As seen in the 2020 Galwan clash, border tensions may rekindle with incursions in Ladakh or Arunachal Pradesh. China deployed 100 advanced rocket launchers along the Line of Actual Control in 2021, indicating its readiness to escalate.

Naval exercises in the Indian Ocean, leveraging ports like Gwadar, Hambantota and Chattogram, could challenge India’s maritime dominance. India’s telecom, energy, and banking sectors could be targeted by cyberattacks, such as the 2020 Mumbai power outage brought on by Chinese state-sponsored organizations, potentially suffocating its economy.

Proxy threats made by Pakistan or Myanmar, which are potentially armed by China, could put strain on India’s security apparatus on multiple fronts.

Soft power offers China a subtler tool to destabilize Modi’s domestic standing. A goodwill gesture was made in 2024 to allow Indian pilgrimages to begin at Tibet’s Kailash Mansarovar, a sacred site for Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists. These communities may react negatively to a new ban, putting strain on Modi’s political standing.

In Washington, India’s trade talks with the US this week will test Modi’s ability to navigate this minefield. Beijing clearly has the upper hand with its outsized role in India’s supply chains and minimal reliance on Indian trade.

Modi might have to balance the risks of defiance against the risks of dependence as a result of a mistake that could plunge India into economic turmoil, compromise its security, and weaken its reputation globally.

Bhim Bhurtel is on X at&nbsp, @BhimBhurtel

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Zoho forges strategic partnership with Cradle to empower Malaysia’s startup ecosystem

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  • 4,400 Indonesian companies will receive US$ 10 million in funds from Zooho.
  • Startup founders are supported by the collaboration at all phases of their trip.

Gibu Mathew, VP and GM of Zoho APAC joins the stage with other strategic partners of Cradle Fund's MYStartup NXT – micro conference in Cyberjaya with Chang Lih Kang, minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI)]

A global technology company, Zoho Corporation, has announced a strategic partnership with Malaysia’s leading center for early-stage startups, Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd ( Cradle ).

The companies stated in a combined statement that Zoho may expand its Zoho for Startups program through Cradle’s MYStartup Single Window platform, an integrated hub that supports business owners at different stages of their journey, as part of this cooperation.

Malaysia is the next Asean nation to participate in this program, according to them. The program is in line with Zoho’s global goal of providing startups with the tools they need to build and grow their businesses.

Chang Lih Kang, minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation ( MOSTI), who witnessed the strategic partnership, make the announcement at MYStartup NXT, a micro-conference held in Cyberjaya.

In order to provide 4, 400 Malaysian startups with access to its comprehensive suite of business applications, Zoho has committed over US$ 10 million ( RM44 million ) in Zoho Wallet credits as part of the partnership. Each participating startup may get credits that are one-year old, giving them the freedom to experiment with and follow tools that are specifically designed for their growth and operational requirements.

The Zoho for Startups program claims to have worked with over 18, 000 companies globally since its founding in 2017 through collaborations with more than 200 startups, startups, and startup-enabling organizations.

This option will be available to businesses in Malaysia within Cradle’s extensive habitat, which includes businesses in their early stages through Series B. To ensure broad awareness and engagement, the program may be promoted through several contacts, including WhatsApp organizations, emails, occasions, and social media. Startups does use through the website MYStartup Single Window. mystartup. gov. My ) to enroll in the program and use Zoho’s alternatives for their upcoming development.

” At Cradle, we think businesses develop more quickly when they are properly positioned and surrounded by the appropriate ecosystem.” To enable that, our partnership with Zoho aims to give members easy access to top-notch software solutions that can propel their next big step. We are opening doors to international prospects and assisting companies in building with confidence through the MYStartup Single Window program, according to Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group CEO of Cradle.

However, Kuppulakshmi Krishnamoorthy, Global Head – Zoho for Startups, stated that the program “operates like a lift model, responding to the environment’s proactiveness, while pursuing Zoho’s growth strategy for the region.” Malaysia is rapidly developing its innovation landscape, supported by the government and with liberal policies. We want to make this partnership one of the most beneficial for Malaysia because of our extensive knowledge running the program in more than 10 areas, including India.

The rapidly expanding startup ecosystem in Malaysia offers an exciting opportunity to interact with a powerful, tech-savvy community, according to Gibu Mathew, vice president and general manager, Zoho APAC. This is the perfect time to launch Zoho for Startups because of strong state support and creative members. We look forward to seeing how Malaysia’s attractive habitat embraces our solutions, which are already popular with companies like Zoho CRM, Zoho Workplace, Zoho Books, Zoho Creator, Zoho Desk, and Zoho One.

Zoho is looking into opportunities to support various government-led business initiatives by speaking or speaking at appropriate cohort events in addition to offering wallet credits. This reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to providing businesses with the tools needed for success and creating a green company habitat in Malaysia.

This collaboration represents a major step in promoting innovation, fostering innovation, and fostering the growth of the upcoming wave of successful technology firms in Malaysia.

Visit Zoho for Startups for more details and to learn how your business can benefit from this system.

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Applications for Digital Village Accelerator cohort 4 closes on 30 April 2025

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  • 6 selected companies will get up to US$ 34,000 in seed money, coaching & investment exposure
  • For the 1st time, the program is available to companies planning to set up in Sarawak within 6 weeks

The Digital Village Accelerator ( DiVA ), an initiative by the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation ( SDEC ), is now accepting applications for its fourth cohort. This six-month programme supports early-stage digital startups with a minimum viable product ( MVP ) to build, validate, and scale their ventures.

According to SDEC, six startups will be selected to receive up to US$ 34,000 ( RM150,000 ) in seed funding, personalised mentorship, business development support, pilot opportunities, and investor exposure, culminating in a final Demo Day. Programs are available until 30 April 2025.

SDEC CEO Sudarnoto Osman commented that the company is thrilled to remain empowering modern companies through DiVA, in line with its aim to create a vivid ecosystem that drives technological development and financial growth in the region. “At SDEC, we recognise that today’s companies are tomorrow’s business leaders. It is crucial to help these tech companies because they play a major role in driving creativity, creating jobs and new businesses, generating income, and shaping the future of business, ” he said.

DiVA is not just an accelerator – it is a rocket into Sarawak’s thriving online border that encourages individuals to take challenges and think creatively. “Nurturing the business ecology not only benefits individuals but also the societies and economies through remedies used in improving knowledge, care, and sustainability initiatives, ” Sudarnoto added.

In a major shift this month, DiVA has expanded its eligibility requirements. For the first time, the program is available to startups no already based in Sarawak but planning to establish procedures in the position within the next six weeks. This choice reflects SDEC’s devotion to attracting top-tier entrepreneurs and accelerating the growth of Sarawak’s modern economy.

“Sarawak is fast emerging as a hub for technical development, and we are happy to assist catalyse this momentum through DiVA. This program gives founders the money, structure, and networking they need to go further, faster, ” said IskandarShafi’i, co-founder at Growth Charger.

Now in its fourth cohort, DiVA is spearheaded by SDEC in collaboration with Growth Charger as the accelerator partner. It serves as a flagship initiative under the Sarawak Digital & Innovation Ecosystem.

Notable alumni from previous cohorts include Neuon AI, recognised for its award-winning artificial intelligence platform, and Sinisana Technologies, which developed the world’s first blockchain-traceable sustainable pallet. These success stories underscore DiVA’s role in nurturing high-impact innovation.

Applications can be submitted at diva. sarawak. digital by 30 April 2025.

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Breaking growth barriers: Scale Up by Endeavor returns to empower Malaysia’s next wave of high-potential entrepreneurs

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  • Applications are available from April 7 through May 2025.
  • Participants are given access to the Mission system, mentoring, and access to a founders ‘ community.

Scale Up by Endeavor Cohort 6 at their demo day & graduation ceremony last year

As Scale Up by Mission makes its sixth demographic debut, inviting ambitious founders to embark on a radical development journey, Malaysia’s entrepreneurial landscape is set to resurrect. The company stated in a statement that this lineup program is intended to help high-potential, early-stage businesses achieve flexible success.

Over 50 pioneering Indonesian startups, including CapBay, BloomThis, Kiddocare, Healthmetrics, and TRAPO, have been supported by Scale Up by Mission since its founding. These businesses have continued to receive substantial funding, grow regionally, and have a global impact. Undertaking Malaysia is now inviting the next generation of owners to add this elite group.

Why does Endeavor Scale Up?

Shan Li Tay, the program’s managing director for Endeavor Malaysia, describes the program as a “launchpad for owners major about scaling their companies with proper guidance.” She continues,” Founders gain valuable insights, accelerating their route to effective growth, and connections to Endeavor’s international network.”

Individuals in Cohort 6 may have access to:

  • A strong and enduring network of regional members, peers, instructors, and advisors, including leading business owners and entrepreneurs, is a part of the community.
  • Curated coaching: Up to four specialized mentoring sessions are included in the personalized, hands-on advice from seasoned business leaders.
  • Launchpad into Endeavor: Often the first brand for the network and network of Endeavor, the program encourages the world’s fastest-growing entrepreneurs to dream bigger, level faster, and give it back. It also shares Endeavor’s values and mission.

Making the way for Malaysia’s upcoming major success stories

The Scale Up by Mission program, &nbsp, played a significant role in developing our approach and connecting us with the appropriate people. Endeavor Entrepreneur Ang Xing Xian, co-founder & CEO of CapBay, an alumnus of Cohort 1, said,” So much so that we continued to participate in Endeavor’s Local Selection Panel ( LSP) and International Selection Panel ( ISP), where we gained even more value at each step.

” Completing both LSP and ISP gave us useful insights as well as access to outstanding officials and coaches, which have helped us size more quickly. We’re in a better position to make an impact in the finance sector with the support of Endeavor, he said.

For founders trying to navigate Malaysia’s active startup landscape, Scale Up by Endeavor has had the power to change their minds. ” We’ve seen amazing growth from our students, and we’re excited to welcome the following wave of creative members to join us,” said the president.

For this very competitive program, applicants from all sectors are encouraged to use. Software were started on April 7 and are tentatively scheduled to close on May 28. Click here for more information and to use.

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Singapore’s first train hotel will be open for bookings in second half of 2025

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Yap Eai-Sy, JTC’s director for New Estates Business Development and Marketing, stated in a statement that” Train Pod@one-north is a transition from Tiny Pod’s shipping container resort testbed at one-north.” LaunchPad can help with goods growth and development in addition to providing a place to test new ideas. Companies like Tiny Pod can use the LaunchPad ecology to work with different like-minded individuals to transform vision into reality.

One-North, Haw Par Villa, and Gardens by the Bay are also run by TinyPod as shipping container accommodations. &nbsp,

In the second quarter of 2025, Train Pod@one-north orders may be made through this site.

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Malaysia semiconductor IC Design Park strengthens global semiconductor collaboration with Brazil and AWS

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  • Collaboration shows M’sia’s push to result in transistor innovation &amp, talent
  • Advanced Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia associates with ChipInventor on expertise programs

Malaysia Semiconductor IC Design Park marked a key milestone in global semiconductor collaboration with new strategic partnerships involving Brazil, Chip Inventor, and Amazon Web Services ( AWS). Supported by the Embassy of Brazil in Malaysia, Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and the Innovation Diplomacy Programme, the announcement was made during the” Delivering Next Gen of Chip Builders” function, focused on business coaching, personal conversations, and cross-border assistance.

This partnership underscores Malaysia’s motivation to result in semiconductor development and talent development. The Malaysia-Brazil collaboration aims to strengthen ties in IC design and manufacturing, combining Malaysia’s strong ecosystem with Brazil’s design expertise to help joint investments, technology transfer, and local leadership.

Highlighting local innovation, Alphaswift Industries—a top winner of the 7th Selangor Accelerator Programme ( SAP ) by Sidec—successfully designed and prototyped a silicon chip using Chip Inventor’s cloud-based EDA platform. The device is now available for processing at Silterra, showcasing Malaysian startups ‘ growing function in the global device business. The progress was demonstrated lived by Alphaswift CEO Dr Shian Lee and ChipInventor development boss Dr Rafael Vidal Aroca.

To further create native talent, the Advanced Semiconductor Academy of Malaysia is partnering with ChipInventor on programs like the National Semiconductor Excellence Programme and Global Semiconductor Exchange Programme. These aim to provide students and professionals with important skills in microprocessor style, testing, and confirmation.

Chip Inventor’s system, hosted on AWS’s high-performance facilities in Malaysia, enables safe and flexible chip design processes. This not only strengthens Malaysia’s online ecosystem but also supports international implementation of cloud-based semiconductor devices. The AWS Asia Pacific ( Malaysia ) Region plays a key role in accelerating local digital transformation.

Together with Brazil, Chip Inventor, AWS, and ASEM, Malaysia Semiconductor IC Design Park continues to position itself as a catalyst for global semiconductor growth—driven by innovation, skilled talent, and international collaboration.

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TECHtalks: Malaysia tackles AI adoption fears amid push to become high-tech nation

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  • Malaysia leads region in tech talent despite local doubts over AI readiness
  • Minister urges the workforce to embrace AI as an enabler while building technological sovereignty

Malaysia aims to become a high-tech nation by 2030, but must overcome challenges of scepticism and AI anxiety while leveraging its strengths in science and engineering talent.

During the TECHtalks event held at Universiti Malaya yesterday, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Chang Lih Kang, addressed concerns about Malaysia’s technological readiness while highlighting the country’s current ranking of 33rd out of 133 countries in the 2024 Global Innovation Index.

“We want to be a high-tech nation by 2030,” Chang stated, while confronting several challenges facing the nation’s technological ambitions.

Dispelling local talent cynicism

Chang countered widespread scepticism about Malaysia’s talent capacity by highlighting that within the Global Innovation Index’s 82 sub-indicators, Malaysia ranks first in three categories: percentage of science and engineering graduates, high-tech exports, and creative goods exports.

“Our problem is fear. We always fear that we are losing out,” Chang said. “We thought that we are not good enough, that others are better. This is a very wrong perception.”

Addressing AI workforce anxiety

The minister also addressed anxieties surrounding AI potentially replacing the Malaysian workforce.

“Whenever there’s new emerging technology, people would be really anxious about being replaced, but I can assure you that is not going to happen. AI is an enabler,” the minister assured.

“We have the ability to continuously learn, which cannot be replaced by any technology,” he added.

With 97% of Malaysian companies being SMEs and only 13% having adopted AI technology, Chang emphasised the importance of maintaining an open mind and learning new skills such as AI, robotics, or coding.

“You just need to know a little bit more than your profession,” Chang advised.

The real impact of AI on employment

Ts Habsah Nordin, Petronas’s Head of AI Centre of Excellence, shared key findings from Talentcorp during the event. “620,000 jobs, about 17-18% of the 3.5 million jobs, are expected to be impacted,” she said, clarifying that “impacted” doesn’t necessarily mean job losses, but rather the creation of new types of jobs.

According to the World Economic Forum, 22% of global jobs will undergo restructuring by 2030. A Forbes article further indicates that 70% of jobs will experience skill shifts by 2030 due to AI impact, with 29% of core job skills changing due to AI advancements.

“Therefore, if we do not disrupt ourselves, AI will disrupt us,” Habsah warned.

“Even at my age, in order to undertake the role of being the Head of AI Centre of Excellence, I felt that I needed to equip myself with the right competency, so I went for my certification as an AI transformation leader in the US,” she added.

Five types of agility needed

Habsah outlined five essential types of agility needed to navigate the paradigm shifts caused by AI:

  1. Self-awareness: Understanding one’s own capabilities and limitations
  2. Mental agility: Thinking critically and navigating complexity
  3. People agility: Working differently and collaboratively across changing roles
  4. Change agility: Navigating through evolution of change through both mindset and productive learning
  5. Results agility: Rapidly building results with tangible outcomes

Malaysia’s nascent AI sovereignty

While the government remains committed to transforming Malaysia into a high-tech nation, scepticism surrounding AI adoption and advancement persists among Malaysians, alongside concerns about overdependence on foreign investors for technological development.

During a Q&A session, Zach Othman, co-founder and CEO of AI startup Lekir Tech, raised concerns about Malaysia’s AI sovereignty, noting the country’s dependence on foreign technology such as Amazon Web Services, which forms the core framework of many local products.

Chang acknowledged this challenge: “At the moment, it’s not easy to talk about AI sovereignty because we are at a very nascent stage where our priority is to develop the technology, make our population more AI-savvy, and increase the adoption of AI, as well as trying to help our AI startups to flourish.”

“However, we are also developing our own large language model so that we can have our own set of data instead of relying entirely on our foreign investors,” he added.

Government investment in AI education

The minister also revealed that following last year’s RM20 million allocation to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia to establish an AI faculty, the government will commit an additional RM50 million to five universities for specialised AI development in different sectors.

These include Universiti Malaya (AI in medicine), Universiti Putra Malaysia (cybersecurity), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (large language models), and Universiti Sains Malaysia (semiconductors).

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Google Cloud appoints Hana Raja as country manager for Malaysia

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  • may submit a review to Malaysia and Singapore’s country director Serene Sia
  • brings 16 years of experience to shaping business strategies and benefits.

Hana Raja ( pic ) has been named as the country manager of Google Cloud’s business in Malaysia. She will be in charge of Google Cloud and Google Workspace’s regional go-to-market strategy and operations, as well as working closely with Google’s business transformation team to implement enterprise-grade, AI-powered sky systems.

Hana is in charge of overseeing both the public sector, business business, and enterprise segments under the leadership of Serene Sia, country director, Google Cloud, in Malaysia and Singapore.

Following management positions at Cisco and Bain &amp, Company, Hana joins Google Cloud. She brings over 16 years of experience advising and working with senior executives of well-known companies in the public sector, including those in the financial services, retail, customer packaged goods, care, mechanical, power, and utilities, to develop sustainable development plans and enhance customer experiences.

Hana joins us as we enter a new era of the expansion of Google Cloud in Malaysia, according to Serene Sia. We’re also supporting large-scale initiatives like AI at Work 2.0 with the Ministry of Digital and National AI Office, Teraju AI Selangor with the State Government of Selangor, and the Gamuda AI Academy by supporting large-scale initiatives like a sovereign cloud with Dagang NeXchange Berhad, a Google data center, and a Google Cloud region.

Hana will play an important role in advancing our growth journey in this crucial market with her vision, experience, industry network, and focus on people and culture. We are confident that her leadership will enable more neighborhood organizations to flourish in the up-to-date digital economy, which is estimated to be worth up to US$ 70 billion ( RM311 billion ) by 2030, she continued.

Hana Raja stated that” Google Cloud has established itself as a trusted partner for data- and AI-powered innovation for Malaysian organizations, providing best-in-class infrastructure, platform services, industry solutions, and consultancy expertise to supercharge how they interpret and act on crucial information. I’m excited to work for Google Cloud and carry out this crucial work.

We have ambitious plans for growing in Malaysia, and I’m excited to develop our partner ecosystem and local team. We can expand the scope and breadth of our collaborations with government and businesses by building on the company’s successes to date. She continued,” This will ultimately make Malaysia’s position as a global technology hub stronger by accelerating the delivery of next-generation digital services to better serve Malaysians.”

Organizations in Malaysia have turned to Google Cloud to support their expansion and address pressing business issues. These include startups like Asia Mobiliti, Carsome Group, and Mindvalley, as well as public sector bodies like the Ministry of Digital, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education, the State Government of Selangor, the National AI Office, the National Digital Development Authority, and the Malaysia Productivity Corporation.

Google made a$ 2 billion ( RM9 billion ) investment in a new Google data center and the Malaysian Cloud region in May 2024. Elmina Business Park, Selangor, where construction of these facilities began in October 2024. This investment is a part of Google’s ongoing partnership with the Malaysian government to improve the country’s digital competitiveness and promote AI innovation.

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AI power play: who, how and now of the tech changing everything – Asia Times

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Artificial intelligence ( AI ) has seen rapid growth, transforming industries and daily life. From bots to superior conceptual designs, AI’s skills continue to expand, driven by effective businesses investing heavily in research and development.

” The development of AI is as important as the design of the microcontroller, the individual computer, the Internet, and the smart phone”, wrote Bill Gates in 2023. ” It may change the way people work, learn, travel, get health care, and communicate with each other”.

In 2025, companies such as OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and emerging challengers like DeepSeek have pushed the boundaries of what large language models ( LLMs) can do. Additionally, business solutions from Microsoft and Meta are making AI equipment more accessible to companies and developers alike.

This article explores the latest Artificial designs available to the public, their advantages and drawbacks and how they compare in the dynamic AI environment.

AI designs rely on considerable computational resources, especially large language versions ( LLMs) that require large data and processing power. The leading AI designs undergo difficult education procedures that involve billions of parameters, consuming substantial energy and equipment.

Important AI players invest in cutting-edge technology and marketing strategies to improve effectiveness while maintaining high efficiency. The harmony between computing power, speed, and pricing is a significant factor in differentiating these AI models.

The Dynamic Landscape: Best AI Models

OpenAI’s ChatGPT

ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is one of the most recognized and commonly used AI types in the world. Built with a dialogue-driven style, ChatGPT is designed to reply follow-up questions, challenge incorrect facilities, admit mistakes, and accept improper calls. Its versatility has made it a leading AI tool for both casual and professional use, spanning industries such as customer service, content creation, programming, and research.

ChatGPT is ideal for a wide range of users, including writers, business professionals, educators, developers, and researchers. Its free-tier accessibility makes it an excellent starting point for casual users, while businesses, content creators, and developers can leverage its advanced models for enhanced productivity and automation.

It is also among the most user-friendly AI models available, featuring a clean interface, intuitive responses, and seamless interaction across devices. However, organizations that require custom AI models or stricter data privacy controls may find its closed-source nature restrictive, particularly compared to open-source alternatives like Meta’s LLaMA.

The latest version, GPT-4o, is available for free-tier users and offers a strong balance of speed, reasoning, and text generation capabilities. For users seeking enhanced performance, ChatGPT Plus provides priority access and faster response times at a monthly subscription cost.

For professionals and businesses requiring more robust capabilities, ChatGPT Pro unlocks advanced reasoning features through the o1 pro mode, which includes enhanced voice functionality and improved performance on complex queries.

Developers looking to integrate ChatGPT into applications can access its API, a type of software interface. Pricing starts at approximately$ 0.15 per million input tokens and$ 0.60 per million output tokens for GPT-4o mini, while the more powerful o1 models come at a higher cost. A token is defined as a fundamental unit of data, like a word or subword, that an AI model processes to understand and generate text.

One of ChatGPT’s greatest strengths is its versatility and conversational memory. It can handle a broad range of tasks, from casual conversation and creative writing to technical problem-solving, coding assistance, and business automation. When memory is enabled, ChatGPT can retain context across interactions, allowing for a more personalized user experience.

Another key advantage is its proven user base—with hundreds of millions of users worldwide, ChatGPT has undergone continuous refinement based on real-world feedback, improving its accuracy and usability. Additionally, GPT-4o’s multimodal capabilities allow it to process text, images, audio, and video, making it a comprehensive AI tool for content creation, analysis, and customer engagement.

While a free version exists, the most powerful features require paid subscriptions, which may limit accessibility for smaller businesses, independent developers, and startups. Another drawback is an occasional lag in real-time updates, even though ChatGPT has web-browsing capabilities, it may struggle with the most recent or fast-changing information.

Lastly, its proprietary model means users have limited control over modifications or customization, as they must adhere to OpenAI’s data policies and content restrictions.

Google’s Gemini

Google’s Gemini series is renowned for its multimodal capabilities and its ability to handle extensive context, making it a versatile tool for both personal and enterprise-level applications.

General consumers and productivity users benefit from Gemini’s deep integration with Google Search, Gmail, Docs, and Assistant, making it an excellent tool for research, email drafting, and task automation. Business and enterprise users find value in Gemini’s integration with Google Workspace, enhancing collaboration across Drive, Sheets, and Meet.

Developers and AI researchers can leverage its capabilities through Google Cloud and Vertex AI, making it a strong choice for building AI applications and custom models. Creative professionals can take advantage of its multimodal abilities, working with text, images, and video. Meanwhile, students and educators benefit from Gemini’s ability to summarize, explain concepts, and assist with research, making it a powerful academic tool.

Google Gemini is highly accessible, especially for those already familiar with Google services. Its seamless integration across Google’s ecosystem allows for effortless adoption in both personal and business applications.

Casual users will find it intuitive, with real-time search enhancements and natural interactions that require little to no learning curve. Developers and AI researchers can unlock advanced customization through API access and cloud-based features, though utilizing these tools effectively may require technical expertise.

The current versions, Gemini 1.5 Flash and Pro, cater to different needs, with Flash offering a cost-efficient, distilled option and Pro providing higher performance. Meanwhile, the Gemini 2.0 series, designed primarily for enterprise use, includes experimental models like Gemini 2.0 Flash with enhanced speed and multimodal live APIs, as well as the more powerful Gemini 2.0 Pro.

Basic access to Gemini is often free or available through Google Cloud’s Vertex AI. Still, advanced usage, especially when integrated into enterprise solutions, was introduced at$ 19.99–$ 25 per month per user, with pricing adjusted to reflect added features like a 1-million-token context window.

Gemini’s main advantage over other AIs is that it excels in processing text, images, audio, and video simultaneously, making it a standout in multimodal mastery. It also integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace, Gmail, and Android devices, making it a natural fit for users already in the Google ecosystem. Additionally, it offers competitive pricing for developers and enterprises needing robust capabilities, especially in extended context handling.

However, Gemini’s performance can be inconsistent, particularly with rare languages or specialized queries. Some advanced versions may be limited by safety testing, delaying wider access. Furthermore, its deep integration with Google’s ecosystem can be a barrier for users outside that environment, making adoption more challenging.

Anthropic’s Claude

Anthropic’s Claude is known for its emphasis on safety, natural conversational flow, and long-form contextual understanding. It is particularly well-suited for users who prioritize ethical AI usage and structured collaboration in their workflows.

Researchers and academics who need long-form contextual retention and minimal hallucinations, as well as writers and content creators who benefit from its structured approach and accuracy, will find Claude an essential and beneficial AI assistant.

Business professionals and teams can leverage Claude’s” Projects” feature for task and document management, while educators and students will find its safety guardrails and clear responses ideal for learning support.

Because Claude is highly accessible for those seeking a structured, ethical AI with a strong contextual understanding, it is moderately suitable for creative users who may find its restrictive filters limiting and less ideal for those needing unrestricted, fast brainstorming tools or AI-generated content with minimal moderation.

Claude 3.5 Sonnet, on the other hand, is the flagship model, offering enhanced reasoning, speed, and contextual understanding for both individual and enterprise users. For businesses and teams, the Claude Team and Enterprise Plans start at approximately$ 25 per user per month ( billed annually ), providing advanced collaboration features.

Individual users can access Claude Pro, a premium plan that costs around$ 20 per month, offering expanded capabilities and priority access. A limited free tier is also available, allowing general users to explore basic features and test its functionality.

Unlike most AIs, Claude excels in ethical AI safety, extended conversational memory, and structured project management, making it ideal for users who require reliable and well-moderated AI assistance. Its intuitive interface and organization tools enhance productivity for writers, researchers, educators, and business professionals.

However, there are instances when availability constraints during peak hours can disrupt workflow efficiency. Claude’s strict safety filters, while preventing harmful content, sometimes limit creative flexibility, making it less suitable for highly experimental or unrestricted brainstorming sessions. Additionally, enterprise costs may be high for large-scale teams with extensive AI usage.

DeepSeek AI

DeepSeek, a newcomer from China, has quickly gained attention for its cost efficiency and open-access philosophy. Unlike many established AI models, DeepSeek focuses on providing affordable AI access while maintaining strong reasoning capabilities, making it an appealing option for businesses and individual users alike.

” DeepSeek R1 is one of the most amazing and impressive breakthroughs I’ve ever seen—and as open source, a profound gift to the world”, said Marc Andreessen, former software engineer and co-founder of Netscape.

Being an excellent choice for cost-conscious businesses, independent developers, and researchers who need a powerful yet affordable AI solution, DeepSeek is particularly suitable for startups, academic institutions, and enterprises that require strong reasoning and problem-solving capabilities without high operational costs.

It is highly accessible for individuals due to its free web-based model, and even developers and enterprises benefit from its low-cost API. However, organizations requiring politically neutral AI models or strict privacy assurances may find it less suitable, especially in industries where data security and regulatory compliance are paramount.

The latest model, DeepSeek-R1, is designed for advanced reasoning tasks and is accessible through both an API and a chat interface. An earlier version, DeepSeek-V3, serves as the architectural foundation for the current releases, offering an extended context window of up to 128, 000 tokens while being optimized for efficiency.

DeepSeek is free for individual users through its web interface, making it one of the most accessible AI models available. However, for business applications, API usage comes at a significantly lower cost than US competitors, making it an attractive option for enterprises looking to reduce expenses.

Reports indicate that DeepSeek’s training costs are drastically lower, with estimates suggesting it was trained for approximately$ 6 million, a fraction of the cost compared to competitors, whose training expenses can run into the tens or hundreds of millions.

One of DeepSeek’s biggest strengths is its cost efficiency. It allows businesses and developers to access powerful AI without the financial burden associated with models like OpenAI’s GPT-4 or Anthropic’s Claude. Its open-source approach further enhances its appeal, as it provides model weights and technical documentation under open licenses, encouraging transparency and community-driven improvements.

Additionally, its strong reasoning capabilities have been benchmarked against leading AI models, with DeepSeek-R1 rivaling OpenAI’s top-tier models in specific problem-solving tasks. As Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark wrote in his” Import AI” newsletter,” R1 is significant because it broadly matches OpenAI’s o1 model on a range of reasoning tasks and challenges the notion that Western AI companies hold a significant lead over Chinese ones”.

A notable problem with DeepSeek is that its response latency, especially during periods of high demand, makes it less ideal for real-time applications where speed is crucial. Censorship and bias are also potential concerns. DeepSeek aligns with local content regulations, meaning it may sanitize or avoid politically sensitive topics, which could limit its appeal in global markets.

Additionally, some users have raised privacy concerns due to its Chinese ownership, questioning whether its data policies are as stringent as those of Western AI companies that comply with strict international privacy standards.

Microsoft’s Copilot

Microsoft’s Copilot is a productivity-focused AI assistant designed to enhance workplace efficiency through seamless integration with the Microsoft 365 suite. By embedding AI-powered automation directly into tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams, Copilot serves as an intelligent assistant that streamlines workflows, automates repetitive tasks, and enhances document generation.

Ideal for businesses, enterprise teams, and professionals who heavily rely on Microsoft 365 applications for their daily operations, Microsoft’s Copilot is particularly beneficial for corporate professionals, financial analysts, project managers, and administrative staff who need AI-powered assistance to enhance productivity and reduce time spent on routine tasks.

However, organizations that prefer open-source AI models or require flexible, cross-platform compatibility may find Copilot less suitable, especially if they rely on non-Microsoft software ecosystems for their workflows.

Microsoft 365 Copilot is available across Microsoft’s core productivity applications, providing AI-powered assistance for document creation, email drafting, data analysis, and meeting summarization.

The service costs approximately$ 30 per user per month and typically requires an annual subscription. However, pricing can vary based on region and enterprise agreements, with some organizations receiving customized pricing based on their licensing structure.

One of Copilot’s most significant advantages is its deep ecosystem integration within Microsoft 365. For businesses and professionals already using Microsoft Office, Copilot enhances workflows by embedding AI-driven suggestions and automation directly within familiar applications.

Its task automation capabilities are another significant benefit, helping users generate reports, summarize meetings, draft emails, and analyze data more efficiently. Furthermore, Copilot receives continuous updates backed by Microsoft’s substantial investments in AI and cloud computing, ensuring regular improvements in performance, accuracy, and feature expansion.

In contrast, one of the significant drawbacks of Microsoft’s Copilot is its ecosystem lock-in—Copilot is tightly coupled with Microsoft 365, meaning its full potential is only realized by organizations already invested in Microsoft’s software ecosystem. Limited flexibility is another concern, as it lacks extensive third-party integrations found in more open AI platforms, making customization difficult for businesses that rely on a broader range of tools.

Additionally, some users report occasional response inconsistencies, where Copilot may lose context in long sessions or provide overly generic responses, requiring manual refinement.

Meta AI

Meta’s suite of AI tools, built on its open-weight LLaMA models, is a versatile and research-friendly AI suite designed for both general use and specialized applications. Meta’s approach prioritizes open-source development, accessibility, and integration with its social media platforms, making it a unique player in the AI landscape.

It is ideal for developers, researchers, and AI enthusiasts who want free, open-source models that they can customize and fine-tune. It is also well-suited for businesses and brands leveraging Meta’s social platforms, as its AI can enhance customer interactions and content creation within apps like Instagram and WhatsApp.

Meta AI is highly accessible for developers and researchers due to its open-source availability and flexibility. However, businesses and casual users may find it less intuitive compared to AI models with more refined user-facing tools. Additionally, companies needing strong content moderation and regulatory compliance may prefer more tightly controlled AI systems from competitors like Microsoft or Anthropic.

Meta AI operates on a range of LLaMA models, including LLaMA 2 and LLaMA 3, which serve as the foundation for various applications. Specialized versions, such as Code Llama, are tailored for coding tasks, offering developers AI-powered assistance in programming.

One of Meta AI’s standout features is its open-source licensing, which makes many of its tools free for research and commercial use. However, enterprise users may encounter service-level agreements ( SLAs ) or indirect costs, especially when integrating Meta’s AI with proprietary systems or platform partnerships.

Meta AI’s biggest advantage is its open-source and customizable nature, allowing developers to fine-tune models for specific use cases. This fosters greater innovation, flexibility, and transparency compared to closed AI systems.

Additionally, Meta AI is embedded within popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, giving it massive consumer reach and real-time interactive capabilities. Meta also provides specialized AI models, such as Code Llama, for programming and catering to niche technical applications.

Despite its powerful underlying technology, Meta AI’s user interfaces and responsiveness can sometimes feel less polished than those of competitors like OpenAI and Microsoft. Additionally, Meta has faced controversies regarding content moderation and bias, raising concerns about AI-generated misinformation and regulatory scrutiny.

Another challenge is ecosystem fragmentation, with multiple AI models and branding under Meta, navigating the differences between Meta AI, LLaMA and other offerings can be confusing for both developers and general users.

AI’s impact on the future of technology

As AI adoption grows, the energy demand for training and operating these models increases. Companies are developing more efficient AI models while managing infrastructure costs.

Modern AI models, particularly those known as large language models ( LLMs), are powerhouses that demand vast computational resources. Training these models involves running billions of calculations across highly specialized hardware over days, weeks, or even months.

The process is analogous to running an industrial factory non-stop—a feat that requires a tremendous amount of energy. The rise of AI assistants, automation, and multimodal capabilities will further shape industries, from customer support to content creation.

” The worst thing you can do is have machines wasting power by being always on”, said James Coomer, senior vice president for products at DDN, a California-based software development firm, during the 2023 AI conference ai-PULSE.

AI competition will likely drive further advancements, leading to smarter, more accessible, and environmentally conscious AI solutions. However, challenges related to cost, data privacy, and ethical considerations will continue to shape the development of AI.

AI companies are actively addressing concerns about energy consumption and sustainability by optimizing their models to enhance efficiency while minimizing power usage. One key approach is leveraging renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to supply data centers, which significantly reduces their carbon footprint.

Additionally, advancements in hardware are being developed to support more energy-efficient AI computation, enabling systems to perform complex tasks with lower energy demands. These innovations not only help reduce environmental impact but also contribute to long-term cost savings for AI companies.

Beyond technological improvements, regulatory policies are being introduced to ensure AI growth aligns with environmental sustainability. Governments and industry leaders need to work together to establish guidelines that encourage responsible energy consumption while promoting research into eco-friendly AI solutions. However, the fear of governmental regulation often makes technology leaders hesitant to collaborate.

One voice at the forefront of global AI governance is Amandeep Singh Gill, the United Nations Secretary-General’s envoy on technology, who emphasizes the importance of collaborative governance in AI development —and sustainable development needs to be part of this cooperation and coordination.

” ]W] e have to find ways to engage with those who are in the know”, he said in a September 2024 interview in Time. ” Often, there’s a gap between technology developers and regulators, particularly when the private sector is in the lead.

When it comes to diplomats and civil servants and leaders and ministers, there’s a further gap. How can you involve different stakeholders, the private sector in particular, in a way that influences action? You need to have a shared understanding”.

No matter the level of collaboration between the private and public sectors, companies need to aggressively explore emission-mitigation methods like carbon offset programs and energy-efficient algorithms to further mitigate their environmental impact.

By integrating these strategies, the AI industry is making strides toward a more sustainable future without compromising innovation and progress.

Balancing innovation and responsibility

AI is advancing rapidly, with OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, DeepSeek, CoPilot and MetaAI leading the way. While these models offer groundbreaking capabilities, they also come with costs, limitations, and sustainability concerns.

Businesses, researchers, and policymakers must prioritize responsible AI development while maintaining accessibility and efficiency. The Futurist: The AI ( R ) evolution panel discussion held by the Washington Post brought together industry leaders to explore the multifaceted impact of artificial intelligence ( AI ) on business, governance, and society.

Martin Kon of Cohere explains that his role is securing AI for business with an emphasis on data privacy, which is essential for” critical infrastructure like banking, insurance, health care, government, energy, telco, etc”.

Because there’s no equivalent of Google Search for enterprises, AI, Kon says, is an invaluable tool in searching for needles in haystacks–but it’s complicated:” Every year, those haystacks get bigger, and every year, the needles get more valuable, but every enterprise’s haystacks are different. They’re data sources, and everyone cares about different needles”. He is, however, optimistic on the job front, maintaining that the new technology will create more jobs and greater value than many critics fear.

” Doctors, nurses, radiologists spend three and a half hours a day on admin. If you can get that done in 20 minutes, that’s three hours a day you’ve freed up of health care professionals. You’re not going to fire a third of them. They’re just going to have more time to treat patients, to train, to teach others, to sleep for the brain surgery tomorrow”.

May Habib, CEO of Writer, which builds AI models, is similarly optimistic, describing AI as “democratizing”. ” All of these secret Einsteins in the company that didn’t have access to the tools to build can now build things that can be completely trajectory-changing for the business, and that’s the kind of vision that folks need to hear. And when folks hear that vision, they see a space and a part for themselves in it”.

Sy Choudhury, director of business development for AI Partnerships at Meta, sees a vital role for AI on the public sector side. ” ]I ] t can be everything very mundane from logistics all the way to cybersecurity, all the way to your billing and making sure that you can talk to your state school when you’re applying for federal student–or student loans, that kind of thing”.

Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA ), who led the House AI Task Force in 2024, acknowledges the need for” an institute to set standards for AI and to create testing and evaluation methodologies for AI” but emphasizes that” those standards should be non-compulsory …” And while agreeing that AI is” a very powerful tool”, he says that it’s still” just a tool”, adding that “if you concentrate on outcomes, you don’t have to worry as much about the tools …”

But some of those outcomes, he admits, can be adverse. ” ]O ] ne example that I use a lot is the potential malicious use of AI for cyber fraud and cyber theft”, he says. ” ]I ] n the pantheon of malicious uses of AI, that’s one of the ones that we at the task force worried the most about because we say bad actors are going to bad, and they’re going to bad more productively with AI than without AI because it’s such a powerful tool for enhancing productivity”.

Consumers can also do their part by managing AI usage wisely—turning off unused applications, optimizing workflows, and advocating for sustainable AI practices. AI’s future depends on balancing innovation with responsibility. The challenge is not just about creating smarter AI but also ensuring that its growth benefits society while minimizing its environmental impact.

Sharon Kumar is a technology editor at The Observatory, where he provides analysis and critical perspectives on the rapidly evolving tech landscape. As a seasoned MAANG tech professional with over a decade of experience in program management, strategic planning, and technology-driven business solutions, including AI and system performance optimization, Kumar has a deep understanding of emerging trends, digital infrastructure, and software development.

This article was produced by The Observatory, a project of the Independent Media Institute, and is republished with permission.

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