AI upskilling at heart of Singapore’s new job strategy

Singapore has launched a $27 billion initiative to boost AI readiness and protect jobs, as global tensions and automation reshape the workforce.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stressed that securing employment is key to national stability, particularly as geopolitical shifts and AI adoption accelerate.

IMF research warns Singapore’s skilled workers, especially women and youth, are among the most exposed to job disruption from AI technologies.

To address this, the government is expanding its SkillsFuture programme and rolling out local initiatives to connect citizens with evolving job markets.

The tech investment includes $5 billion for AI development and positions Singapore as a leader in digital transformation across Southeast Asia.

Social challenges remain, however, with rising inequality and risks to foreign workers highlighting the need for broader support systems and inclusive policy.

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AI toys change the way children learn and play

AI-powered stuffed animals are transforming children’s play by combining cuddly companionship with interactive learning.

Toys such as Curio’s Grem and Mattel’s AI collaborations offer screen-free experiences instead of tablets or smartphones, using chatbots and voice recognition to engage children in conversation and educational activities.

Products like CYJBE’s AI Smart Stuffed Animal integrate tools such as ChatGPT to answer questions, tell stories, and adapt to a child’s mood, all under parental controls for monitoring interactions.

Developers say these toys foster personalised learning and emotional bonds instead of replacing human engagement entirely.

The market has grown rapidly, driven by partnerships between tech and toy companies and early experiments like Grimes’ AI plush Grok.

At the same time, experts warn about privacy risks, the collection of children’s data, and potential reductions in face-to-face interaction.

Regulators are calling for safeguards, and parents are urged to weigh the benefits of interactive AI companions against possible social and ethical concerns.

The sector could reshape childhood play and learning, blending imaginative experiences with algorithmic support instead of solely relying on traditional toys.

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Malaysia and Huawei drive AI workforce training push

Malaysia has intensified its push to build an AI-ready workforce, with Huawei pledging to train 30,000 local professionals under a new initiative. The plan aligns with Malaysia’s National Cloud Computing Policy, balancing sovereignty and digital economy competitiveness.

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo stressed that AI adoption must benefit all Malaysians, highlighting applications from small business platforms to AI-assisted diagnostics in remote clinics. He urged collaboration across industries to ensure inclusivity as the country pursues its digital future.

Huawei’s Gartner recognition for container management highlights its cloud-native strength. Its Pangu models and container products will support Malaysia’s AI goals in manufacturing, healthcare, transport, and ASEAN industries.

The programme will target students, officials, industry leaders, and associations while supporting 200 local AI partners. Huawei’s network of availability zones in ASEAN provides low-latency infrastructure, with AI-native innovations designed to accelerate training, inference, and industrial upgrades.

The government of Malaysia views AI as crucial to achieving its 2030 goals, which aim to balance infrastructure, security, and governance. With Huawei’s backing and a new policy framework, the country seeks to establish itself as a regional hub for AI expertise.

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Indonesia promises to bolster digital sovereignty and AI talent on Independence Day

Indonesia marked its 80th Independence Day by reaffirming its commitment to digital sovereignty and technology-driven inclusion.

The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, following President Prabowo Subianto’s ‘Indonesia Incorporated’ directive, highlighted efforts to build an inclusive, secure, and efficient digital ecosystem.

Priorities include deploying 4G networks in remote regions, expanding public internet services, and reinforcing the Palapa Ring broadband infrastructure.

On the talent front, the government launched a Digital Talent Scholarship and AI Talent Factory to nurture AI skills, from beginners to specialists, setting the stage for future AI innovation domestically.

In parallel, digital protection measures have been bolstered: over 1.2 million pieces of harmful content have been blocked, while new regulations under the Personal Data Protection Law, age-verification, content monitoring, and reporting systems have been introduced to enhance child safety online.

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Alibaba unveils AI agent to transform global trade for SMEs

Alibaba International has introduced Accio Agent, a new AI tool that simplifies and accelerates cross-border trade. The company says it is the world’s first AI platform explicitly tailored for business-to-business transactions, aiming to help small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) design products, research markets, and connect with distributors in just minutes.

Unlike traditional processes that often stretch into weeks, Accio Agent combines multiple product development and distribution stages into a single streamlined workflow. From drafting prototypes and checking compliance rules to identifying suppliers and finding distributors, the tool automates roughly 70 percent of the tasks typically requiring a team of specialists.

Alibaba International Vice President Kuo Zhang described the launch as a direct response to challenges SMEs face in competing globally.

‘This is an AI agent designed to act as a sourcing manager, product developer, engineer, and market researcher all at once,’ he said, calling it a practical fix for everyday hurdles in international trade.

The platform arrives at a time when micro-businesses are increasingly shaping global commerce. A recent Alibaba survey found that 40 percent of SMEs worldwide operate as single-person companies, often constrained by time and resources.

Accio Agent, armed with data on one billion products and 50 million distributors, offers these smaller firms a way to scale their operations without adding staff.

The broader context also suggests strong momentum for AI in e-commerce. Research from Coherent estimates that AI-related applications in the sector will soar from $7.7 billion in 2025 to nearly $38 billion by 2032.

Meanwhile, UN Trade and Development reports that the value of global trade reached a record $33 trillion in 2024, underscoring the size of the market Alibaba aims to reshape.

Quiet cracking fuels debate on AI mental health role

A new workplace trend known as ‘quiet cracking’ describes employees who stay in their roles while feeling increasingly disengaged and emotionally drained.

Unlike quitting, where workers reduce effort, quiet cracking refers to those who continue to meet expectations yet feel like they are breaking inside.

Experts say the phenomenon usually develops gradually, with workers reporting fatigue, stress and frustration instead of open dissatisfaction. Many feel unable to speak up for fear of losing their job or facing uncertainty in the broader labour market, leaving them silent.

Critics argue that labelling such behaviour risks encouraging weakness instead of resilience, but supporters warn that ignoring the issue may worsen mental health challenges.

Some workers are turning to AI for support instead of seeking human assistance. Generative AI tools offer low-cost and constant access for advice and empathetic responses.

Advocates suggest AI could expand mental health support where professionals are scarce, while opponents caution that relying on AI instead of qualified therapists could carry significant risks.

Whether quiet cracking becomes a lasting workplace concern or fades as a passing trend remains uncertain, for now, it highlights the growing debate about how technology might play a role in addressing modern mental health struggles.

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ChatGPT dominates mobile AI market

ChatGPT’s mobile app has surpassed $2 billion in worldwide consumer spending since its launch in May 2023, according to Appfigures. Revenue from January to July 2025 alone reached $1.35 billion, a 673% increase from the same period in 2024.

The app has also dominated downloads, with an estimated 690 million lifetime installs, including 318 million added in 2025. India leads in total downloads at 13.7%, followed by the US, which accounts for 38% of revenue.

Competitors such as Grok, Claude, and Copilot remain far behind, with Grok generating just $25.6 million in 2025.

Consumer spending per download reinforces ChatGPT’s lead, averaging $2.91 globally and $10 in the US. The figures highlight OpenAI’s dominance in the mobile AI assistant market, despite ongoing criticism from X owner Elon Musk, who has alleged that the App Store suppresses competition.

Apple has rejected these claims.

The AI market continues to heat up as Microsoft integrates OpenAI’s GPT-5 into its Copilot offerings. Elon Musk has predicted intense competition, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has downplayed Musk’s criticism, emphasising innovation and collaboration as the sector expands.

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AI agents tipped to outnumber humans online

Parag Agrawal, the former Twitter chief executive removed after Elon Musk’s takeover in 2022, has re-entered the technology sector with a new venture.

His company, Parallel Web Systems, is developing AI tools designed to help AI agents gather and analyse information online without human input.

The company’s first product, Deep Research API, outperforms human researchers and advanced models such as OpenAI’s GPT-5 on specific benchmarks.

Agrawal revealed that the system already supports millions of tasks daily and is used by coding agents to locate documents and fix errors. Parallel has secured 30 million dollars in funding and employs around 25 staff.

Agrawal had been Twitter’s chief technology officer before succeeding Jack Dorsey as chief executive in late 2021. After leaving the company, he returned to academic research and coding instead of joining other struggling firms.

He has argued that the internet will eventually be dominated by AI agents rather than human users, predicting that individuals may soon rely on dozens of agents to act on their behalf.

His views echo predictions from Coinbase developers, who recently suggested that AI agents could become the most significant users of Ethereum.

They propose that autonomous systems can handle stablecoin transfers and e-commerce transactions, enabling services from self-driving taxis to AI-powered content platforms.

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HTC enters the AI smart glasses race with Vive Eagle

HTC has entered the increasingly competitive world of AI-powered smart glasses with its newly unveiled Vive Eagle. Once a smartphone giant, the Taiwanese company is now betting on wearable tech to reassert itself against rivals like Meta, Google, Samsung, and Apple, all racing to define the next big computing platform.

The Vive Eagle is available only in Taiwan, priced at around $520. Lightweight at just 49 grams, the glasses combine style with function, offering Zeiss sun lenses and frames in multiple colours.

However, their built-in Vive AI voice assistant sets them apart, and it can translate text into 13 languages by pointing the wearer’s gaze. Users can also set reminders, take notes, and even get restaurant recommendations, features modelled to compete with existing rivals.

Meta, the most visible player in this space, has already established global sales with its Ray-Ban smart glasses and is now working on advanced ‘super-sensing’ technology to identify people, places, and objects in real time. Apple, meanwhile, is quietly preparing its entry, with reports suggesting smart glasses powered by Apple Watch–grade chips and integrated Siri, which are expected to debut around 2027.

Google has showcased how its Gemini AI could merge seamlessly with smart wearables, demonstrating live translation, navigation, and object recognition during a TED 2025 preview of its Android XR platform. Samsung, too, is preparing its Project Haean glasses, designed for comfort, gesture control, and fitness tracking, powered by Qualcomm’s latest XR2 Plus Gen 2 chip.

For HTC, the challenge will be to break through this crowded field. While Vive Eagle’s translation and assistant features offer practical appeal, its limited release in Taiwan raises questions about whether HTC intends to scale globally or remain a niche player in its home market. In a sector where timing and reach are everything, the company’s next move will determine whether the Eagle soars or struggles to leave the nest.

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The dark side of AI: Seven fears that won’t go away

AI has been hailed as the most transformative technology of our age, but with that power comes unease. From replacing jobs to spreading lies online, the risks attached to AI are no longer abstract; they are already reshaping lives. While governments and tech leaders promise safeguards, uncertainty fuels public anxiety.

Perhaps the most immediate concern is employment. Machines are proving cheaper and faster than humans in the software development and graphic design industries. Talk of a future “post-scarcity” economy, where robot labour frees people from work, remains speculative. Workers see only lost opportunities now, while policymakers struggle to offer coordinated solutions.

Environmental costs are another hidden consequence. Training large AI models demands enormous data centres that consume vast amounts of electricity and water. Critics argue that supposed future efficiencies cannot justify today’s pollution, which sometimes rivals small nations’ carbon footprint.

Privacy fears are also escalating. AI-driven surveillance—from facial recognition in public spaces to workplace monitoring—raises questions about whether personal freedom will survive in an era of constant observation. Many fear that “smart” devices and cameras may soon leave nowhere to hide.

Then there is the spectre of weaponisation. AI is already integrated into warfare, with autonomous drones and robotic systems assisting soldiers. While fully self-governing lethal machines are not yet in use, military experts warn that it is only a matter of time before battlefields become dominated by algorithmic decision-makers.

Artists and writers, meanwhile, worry about intellectual property theft. AI systems trained on creative works without permission or payment have sparked lawsuits and protests, leaving cultural workers feeling exploited by tech giants eager for training data.

Misinformation represents another urgent risk. Deepfakes and AI-generated propaganda are flooding social media, eroding trust in institutions and amplifying extremist views. The danger lies not only in falsehoods themselves but in the echo chambers algorithms create, where users are pushed toward ever more radical beliefs.

And hovering above it all is the fear of runaway AI. Although science fiction often exaggerates this threat, researchers take seriously the possibility of systems evolving in ways we cannot predict or control. Calls for global safeguards and transparency have grown louder, yet solutions remain elusive.

In the end, fear alone cannot guide us. Addressing these risks requires not just caution but decisive governance and ethical frameworks. Only then can humanity hope to steer AI toward progress rather than peril.

Source: Forbes

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