CelcomDigi and Universiti Malaya (UM) are collaborating to drive digital healthcare innovation by leveraging 5G, AI, and extended reality (XR). Through this collaboration, UM will become the first healthcare institution in Malaysia to integrate HoloMedicine, a transformative technology that uses 3D holograms in clinical care and operating theatres.
The initiative aims to enhance surgical precision, improve access to medical care, enable remote expert consultations, and revolutionise medical education through immersive XR technologies. Bridging the digital gap will also position Malaysia as a global leader in health tourism and advanced medical education, providing students and professionals with hands-on experience in complex procedures and treatment strategies.
The three-year partnership is part of CelcomDigi’s broader initiative to advance digital healthcare, enhancing the accessibility, efficiency, and personalisation of care across Malaysia’s healthcare system. By integrating these cutting-edge technologies, the collaboration seeks to transform medical education and healthcare delivery, ensuring that future medical practitioners are equipped with the tools necessary to deliver exceptional care.
The effort will also strengthen Malaysia’s position in the global healthcare ecosystem, empowering healthcare providers with advanced digital solutions and positioning the country as a leader in innovative medical practices.
Autonomous agents and profitability are predicted to define the AI landscape in 2025, according to industry experts. These agents, designed to perform tasks like scheduling or making purchases without direct user input, are gaining momentum due to advancements in reasoning techniques. OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar anticipates rapid progress in this area, emphasising their potential to simplify everyday activities.
The emergence of step-by-step reasoning methods, exemplified by OpenAI’s recent models, has paved the way for this evolution. Friar, who joined the Microsoft-backed company earlier this year, also highlighted the approaching milestone of AGI, predicting its arrival in the near term. Such developments promise to reshape the capabilities of AI, enabling it to surpass human efficiency in economically valuable tasks.
Industry leaders are already witnessing the transformative impact of AI. George Mathew from Insight Partners cited significant productivity gains, such as digital sales teams that operate at a fraction of traditional labour costs. Similarly, Molly Alter of Northzone forecasted 2025 as a turning point for AI profitability, shifting the focus from growth to improved profit margins through streamlined processes.
Beyond startups, established firms are integrating AI into their workflows. For example, BNY Mellon has equipped thousands of employees with tools to create AI-powered agents. CEO Robin Vince highlighted these tools’ ability to deliver insights and solutions that were previously unattainable, underscoring AI’s growing role in enhancing business efficiency and client services.
Singaporean asset manager Keppel and Vietnam’s Sovico Group are in discussions to develop undersea fibre-optic cables aimed at boosting Southeast Asia’s data centre industry. The potential $150 million project would directly link Vietnam with Singapore, a critical regional hub for data infrastructure. However, talks remain fluid, with Keppel reportedly favouring a larger consortium-led project extending from Singapore to Japan, while Sovico supports a direct connection.
The discussions highlight Southeast Asia’s growing demand for AI services and internet capacity, with Vietnam planning 10 new submarine cables by 2030. These cables are also a focal point in the ongoing US-China tech rivalry, with the United States lobbying against the involvement of Chinese contractors, citing security concerns. US officials have reportedly briefed Sovico and other stakeholders on the risks of working with China’s HMN Technologies.
Vietnam, with a rapidly growing digital economy and a population nearing 100 million, currently relies on five undersea cable branches for global connectivity. Expanding its cable infrastructure is seen as key to establishing itself as a regional data hub, despite challenges like power shortages and stringent data regulations. Keppel and Sovico’s efforts, along with other planned projects, signal significant investment in the region’s digital future.
Meta has announced the release of a new AI model, Meta Motivo, designed to enhance the realism of human-like digital agents in the Metaverse. This innovation promises more lifelike movements for avatars, addressing longstanding issues with digital body control. The company believes these advancements will revolutionise character animation and create immersive experiences with highly interactive non-playable characters (NPCs).
Meta’s focus on AI and Metaverse technologies has led to record-breaking investment forecasts for 2024, with capital expenditures projected to reach up to $40 billion. The company has also embraced an open-source approach by making its AI models available for free to developers, fostering innovation across its platforms.
In addition to Meta Motivo, the company introduced the Large Concept Model (LCM), an AI system designed to reimagine language modelling by focusing on high-level concepts rather than predicting text tokens. This system processes entire sentences in multilingual and multimodal contexts, aiming to enhance reasoning capabilities. Meta also unveiled Video Seal, a tool that embeds invisible, traceable watermarks into videos, signalling its commitment to both innovation and security in digital content creation.
These releases reflect Meta’s vision of advancing AI to shape the future of digital interaction and the Metaverse, aiming to establish itself as a leader in cutting-edge virtual and augmented reality technologies.
China is establishing a technical committee to set standards for AI, focusing on areas such as large language models and risk assessment. The committee, announced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, includes 41 members, with representatives from major players like Baidu and renowned academic institutions such as Peking University.
The initiative reflects Beijing’s dual approach of promoting AI development while ensuring safety and ethical oversight. Unlike its earlier hands-off regulation of the mobile internet and e-commerce sectors, China is taking a more proactive stance in shaping AI’s trajectory. Last year, regulatory approval for public-facing chatbots took months, even as domestic companies advanced technologies comparable to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
China’s move comes amid a growing global race to define AI standards. The competition is not only about technological innovation but also about influencing international frameworks for the sector. A report by the Finnish Institute of International Affairs highlights China’s ambition to become a standard-setter in AI, rather than merely following frameworks set by others.
Russia has the potential to improve its global AI standing by 2030, bolstered by local talent and the development of its own generative AI models, according to Alexander Vedyakhin, the first deputy CEO of Sberbank. Speaking at the bank’s AI Journey conference, Vedyakhin highlighted the resilience of Russian developers in navigating Western sanctions, which aimed to limit the country’s computing resources. He emphasised the importance of fostering experimentation to maintain progress in AI.
Although Russia currently trails the US and China in AI innovation by six to nine months, Vedyakhin is optimistic about closing the gap. Instead of building massive data centres, Russia is focusing on smart AI models tailored to its market, similar to Meta’s Llama. These efforts, he said, will ensure technological sovereignty, especially as generative AI gains global importance. For example, Russian language models address local cultural contexts better than English-trained systems, avoiding misunderstandings like misinterpreting cultural dishes.
President Vladimir Putin also underscored the strategic significance of AI, announcing plans to collaborate with BRICS countries to challenge US dominance. Vedyakhin added that while Europe and China face setbacks due to overregulation, Russia’s supportive regulatory environment could be a competitive advantage. Encouraging investment in AI startups and allowing for innovation without severe penalties for mistakes are key to advancing the sector.
Despite a broader decline in venture capital investment in Russia, funding for AI startups continues to grow, hinting at a more diversified market. Vedyakhin also suggested that decentralised autonomous organizations (DAOs), powered by blockchain, could address labour shortages, paving the way for Russia to strengthen its AI ecosystem in the years ahead.
Apple is teaming up with Broadcom to develop its first server chip dedicated to artificial intelligence processing. Expected to enter mass production by 2026, the chip, code-named Baltra, represents Apple’s latest venture into custom hardware aimed at reducing reliance on Nvidia’s high-cost and supply-constrained processors.
The chip will use Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s N3P process, highlighting Apple’s commitment to furthering manufacturing technology. Broadcom, already benefiting from AI-driven growth, saw its shares climb 5% following the announcement.
This partnership builds on Apple’s recent successes in chip growth, including its M-series processors for Mac devices. It also echoes a broader trend among tech giants like Google, which have pursued custom AI chips to enhance their services. With the global market for custom chips projected to reach $45 billion by 2028, Apple’s move furthers its role as a leader in the AI tech industry.
Banks are embracing AI to boost productivity, with significant advancements in coding, task automation, and reporting processes. At the Reuters Next conference, executives from leading financial firms highlighted AI’s transformative potential.
Goldman Sachs has used AI to enhance coding productivity, potentially improving output by up to 30%, according to CEO David Solomon. Similarly, BNY Mellon has enabled employees to build AI tools for daily tasks, reflecting the industry’s drive to streamline operations.
Despite these productivity gains, financial institutions face challenges in monetising AI. Kristin Milchanowski, chief AI officer at Canada’s BMO Financial Group, noted that while AI has reduced reporting times significantly, its impact on revenue generation remains limited.
Future advancements depend on identifying specific use cases, such as optimising trades and attracting clients. Experts agree that AI’s long-term success in banking hinges on precise application and measurable outcomes.
Malaysia has opened a national AI office to shape policies, oversee regulations, and position the country as a regional leader in AI development. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called the move a milestone in the nation’s digital transformation. The office aims to centralise AI strategy, research, and regulatory oversight.
The new agency plans to deliver key initiatives within its first year, including a code of ethics, a regulatory framework, and a five-year AI technology action plan leading up to 2030. Details were revealed on its official website, highlighting its comprehensive approach to managing AI advancements.
The government has also announced collaborations with six global companies, including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, which have invested heavily in Malaysia’s cloud and AI infrastructure over the past year. These partnerships are expected to enhance the country’s technological capabilities further.
Malaysia’s digital economy has significantly contributed to its growth, with the information and communications sub-sector receiving over 71 billion ringgit in approved investments in 2024. These advancements underscore the country’s ambitions to become a regional technology hub.
A revolutionary AI-powered robot named SwagBot is changing the face of cattle farming. Developed by researchers at the University of Sydney, it offers an innovative way to manage livestock while tackling environmental challenges like soil degradation. SwagBot, first launched in 2016, has evolved from a basic herding machine to a sophisticated tool equipped with sensors, AI, and machine learning.
The autonomous robot can assess pasture health, type, and density while monitoring livestock well-being. By guiding cattle to the most nutritious grazing areas, SwagBot reduces the risk of overgrazing and ensures optimal pasture use. Salah Sukkarieh, a University of Sydney professor, highlighted its ability to manage cattle movement fluidly without relying on traditional fences.
Australia’s vast cattle farms, home to about 30 million animals, often face dry conditions and poor-quality pastures. SwagBot offers a game-changing solution by feeding real-time data to farmers, enabling more efficient grazing decisions. Part-time farmer Erin O’Neill noted the robot’s potential to support pregnant cattle by identifying the best-quality pastures for their needs.
SwagBot is still in development but represents a significant step towards integrating robotics in agriculture. As farms increasingly adopt such technologies, they aim to boost productivity, reduce environmental impact, and address challenges in hiring workers for remote locations.
