Decades of market intelligence a question away

ISI, the proprietary data platform for global market intelligence, has launched AskISI, an AI-powered research capability within EMIS, its emerging markets company and industry intelligence research platform. 

EMIS has provided company and industry intelligence across emerging markets for over 30 years. That intelligence is now available as a conversational experience with AskISI.

Early users have found AskISI can cut the time needed to prepare a single market report by up to two weeks and reduce data compilation across a set of companies from roughly half an hour to seconds. 

“AskISI has transformed the way we conduct research by significantly reducing the time required to gather and analyse information—from 15–20 minutes to as little as 5 minutes. Its ability to synthesise information, provide credible source-backed insights, and deliver fast, targeted answers has greatly improved our team’s efficiency. Most importantly, the information is grounded in actual data, making it highly reliable and helping us avoid the hallucinations often found in other AI tools. 

"As we continue to use AskISI, its impact on streamlining and enhancing our research process keeps growing,” said Filipe Mesquita, Market Intelligence Coordinator at Tigre.

“AI is only as valuable as the quality of the intelligence behind it. With AskISI, we’re combining the power of generative AI with three decades of ISI trusted research and market expertise, helping our clients find answers faster while maintaining confidence in the sources behind them,” said Steve Pulley, CEO of ISI Markets.

“AskISI powered by EMIS is designed to accelerate research. Users can now find trusted answers quickly by leveraging EMIS’s rich ecosystem of research reports, news, and company filings, so they can focus on what they do best: making informed decisions and driving results.” said Diego Obere, EMIS MD.

Key capabilities of AskISI 

Faster research

AskISI delivers answers drawn from EMIS’ 2.7+ M research reports, 40+ M news articles, and company filings. 

Verified sourcing

Every answer is grounded exclusively in EMIS’ proprietary and licensed intelligence, with a direct reference back to the original source document. 

Broader research coverage

AskISI surfaces trends, non-obvious connections, competitive dynamics, and strategic signals that manual research may miss.

Built with EMIS analysts

AskISI’s methodology and outputs have been shaped by EMIS’ own industry and company experts, ensuring answers reflect the standards and context of EMIS’ existing research practice. 

Multilingual research

AskISI supports research across EMIS’s local, niche, and global content, originally sourced in 68 languages, allowing users to work across markets without needing translation. 

Details 

AskISI is available within EMIS today, with plans to roll out across ISI’s other product lines in the coming weeks.

Singapore investors top in the world for AI adoption in finance

- More than three-quarters (76%) of Singapore mass affluent and high net worth (HNW) investors use AI for finance and investment tasks (73% global average)

- Gen X and Baby Boomer adoption in Singapore (both 72%) significantly outpaces global peers (65% and 59% respectively) 

- Despite high adoption, Singapore investors are among the most measured when it comes to acting on AI alone: 40% prefer a hybrid AI-then-adviser sequence before committing  

An HSBC survey from Ipsos* of 600+ Singapore mass affluent and HNW investors finds high AI use is paired with a strong preference for adviser-validated decisions. This group are using AI for finance and investment (76%) at a higher rate than the global average (72%), yet they continue to look to financial advisers to validate AI-generated insights before making investment decisions. 

The results point to an investor base that has embedded AI in its research workflow while placing a continued preference on expert human advice at the moment of decision, HSBC said.

These findings come as HSBC Singapore accelerates the roll-out of adviser-enabled AI, including Wealth Intelligence**, launched in September 2025, and AI Prepare***, launched in May 2026. Wealth Intelligence gives relationship managers access to insights and research from more than 10,000 sources, helping advisers arrive at client conversations better informed, while AI Prepare generates a client engagement pack in seconds. This reduces manual preparation for relationship managers, allowing them to focus on delivering personalised advice and strengthening client trust. 

HSBC and Google Cloud also announced a global multiyear AI partnership on 17 June 2026, with hyperpersonalised wealth management support among its three initial focus areas. The partnership is expected to enable more than 200 new AI use cases across HSBC's global operations within two years. 

The generational spread of that adoption is one of the more striking Singapore-specific findings. Gen X investors report AI use in finance at 72%, against a global equivalent of 65%. Among Baby Boomers, the gap is wider: 72% in Singapore versus 59% globally. AI engagement here is not concentrated among younger investors; it cuts across age groups in a way that distinguishes Singapore from most of the other nine markets surveyed. 

But AI adoption does not translate into reliance. Only 8% of Singapore investors say AI was the single most influential source in their last major investment decision, against 12% globally. And while 43% say AI has increased their appetite for taking calculated risks, that figure sits below the 49% global average, consistent with Singapore's positioning as a more measured market alongside the US (44%), UK (39%) and Taiwan (43%). 

Investors use AI to research and analyse (69%), for strategy support (44%), and to stress-test their own ideas (34%), then bring those findings to a professional adviser for reassurance (79%) and strategic expertise (71%). Four in 10 Singapore investors say their ideal approach is hybrid, with 57% preferring AI and advisers working together, above the global figure (50%). That preference holds across generations: 45% of Singapore Gen Z investors favour the sequence for generating new investment ideas, ahead of their global peers at 38%. 

Ashmita Acharya, Head of International Wealth and Premier Banking, HSBC Singapore, said: "Our new data tells us is that Singapore's investors are using AI in their financial decision-making with discipline. They are doing more of their own analysis, arriving at conversations better prepared, and expecting more of the professional advisers who help them as a result. That is not a challenge to the adviser relationship model; it is setting a higher bar for what good advice looks like.  

"Our investment in adviser-enabled AI, including Wealth Intelligence, AI Prepare, and our broader partnership with Google Cloud, gives our relationship managers the tools to work at the same level of rigour as the clients they serve, and to bring something to the conversation that AI alone cannot; deep experience, empathy, clear judgement and accountability for the outcome." 

Nine in 10 HNW investors in Singapore have embraced AI, compared with 82% globally. Singapore's wealthiest respondents attribute an average 40% of their investment returns over the past 12 months to AI influence, above the 31% average across all Singapore investors surveyed. At the same time, roughly two thirds (65%) say AI makes them feel more in control. These are clients who are already measuring AI's contribution to their portfolio performance; what they are looking for from their bank is a relationship that matches their level of sophistication. 

*HSBC's Human-AI Advantage study was conducted by Ipsos across 10 markets: Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, UAE, UK, US and mainland China. A total of 9,993 mass affluent and high-net-worth investors participated, with fieldwork in January and February 2026. In Singapore, 609 respondents were polled (weighted). 'Mass affluent' is defined as having US$100,000 to US$2 million in investable assets. 'HNW' is defined as those with investable assets of US$2 million and above.

**Launched in Singapore and Hong Kong in September 2025, Wealth Intelligence is HSBC Private Bank's proprietary generative AI platform. It was built by in-house developers and is powered by OpenAI's large language model. The platform synthesises Chief Investment Office research and more than 10,000 external data sources to provide wealth management teams with real-time investment insights. It is being progressively scaled across HSBC's global markets.

***AI Prepare is HSBC’s AI-powered pre-meeting wealth engagement tool. It brings together a client’s financial overview, tailored talking points and investment insights into a single view. It helps wealth management teams prepare more efficiently for client meetings, supporting more informed and personalised client conversations. 

Immersive display, Awesome Intelligence from the Samsung Galaxy A27 5G

- Samsung Galaxy A27 5G joins the A series

- Features Infinity-O display for a seamless viewing experience

- Reliable performance and intelligent tools for more users


Samsung Electronics Company has announced the Galaxy A27 5G, which refines everyday mobile use with an immersive display, reliable performance and integrated AI features. Building on the popular Galaxy A26 5G, the new device is designed to keep up with everyday activities.

Source: Samsung. Samsung Electronics has announced the Galaxy A27 5G.

“The Galaxy A27 5G reflects our commitment to making meaningful innovation more accessible without compromising on quality,” said Ronnie Ng, VP, Head of Mobile Experience at Samsung.

“As mobile experiences become increasingly central to how people connect, learn and stay productive, users expect technology that is both capable and intuitive. By bringing meaningful upgrades across display, performance and Awesome Intelligence features, the Galaxy A27 5G makes everyday innovation more accessible to people.”

With a slim 7.8 mm body, the Galaxy A27 5G is designed to feel comfortable in the user’s hand throughout the day. Powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 Mobile Platform¹, the Galaxy A27 5G delivers a smoother and more responsive experience. A boost in GPU performance delivers smoother graphics for gaming and streaming, while the latest high-speed memory enables faster data transfer speeds and improved power efficiency.

For smoother and more seamless viewing, the Galaxy A27 5G features a 6.7" Super AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. It also introduces an upgraded Infinity-O display, which minimises the visible camera area through a discreet punch-hole design. Together with a reduced and more balanced bezel, this adds screen space and removes distractions to keep content front and centre. The Galaxy A27 5G also introduces a 12 MP front camera that captures a wider range of brightness and richer colours.

With a 5,000 mAh (typical) battery², users can enjoy up to 23 hours of video playback on a full charge, while Super Fast Charging provides up to 45% charge in just 30 minutes.

The Galaxy A27 5G introduces upgrades to its suite of Awesome Intelligence features, making mobile intelligence more accessible. Circle to Search³ with Google now supports multi-object recognition, allowing users to search for multiple items within an image at once in a single gesture. It also allows outfits to be virtually tried on directly from search results, helping users to explore new styles from anywhere.

Object Eraser⁴ has also been enhanced. It now delivers more precise results, making it easier to remove unwanted distractions with more natural-looking edits. Additionally, Voice Transcription⁵ in the Voice Recorder app can now translate as it transcribes, making it easier to capture meeting notes in 22 languages.

Building on the Awesome Intelligence⁶ experiences introduced earlier this year, the Galaxy A27 5G supports a choice of AI assistants, including Google Gemini⁷ and Perplexity⁸. There is deeper integration across more native Galaxy apps as well, including Gallery. The Galaxy A27 5G further supports Bixby⁹ as a conversational device agent.

The Galaxy A27 5G reinforces Samsung’s commitment to long-term support with up to six generations of Android OS and One UI upgrades, as well as up to six years of security updates from the initial global launch date. Built on Samsung Knox with hardware-backed protection from Knox Vault¹⁰, the Galaxy A27 5G keeps sensitive data secure, making device protection easier and more intuitive.

Details

The Galaxy A27 5G is now available in Singapore in Black, Blue and Light Pink¹¹ in two storage configurations: 128 GB (recommended retail price or RRP, S$418) and 256 GB (RRP S$498).

Consumers can now purchase the Galaxy A27 5G through the following channels:

• Samsung Online Store
• Samsung Shop App
• Samsung Experience Stores
• Samsung Official Store in Lazada, Shopee and TikTok
• Selected Consumer Electronics & IT online stores (Best Denki, Challenger, Courts, Gain City, Harvey Norman)
• ZYM Mobile

For added peace of mind, consumers can opt for Samsung Care+¹², which offers comprehensive coverage optimised to users’ needs, including tailored benefits that protect the value of the device.

Consumers who purchase the Galaxy A27 5G between 3 July and 6 August 2026 can enjoy launch offers worth up to S$116¹³, including savings of up to S$50, a 25 W power adapter (worth S$38) and a one-year Samsung Care+ Screen Protect plan (worth S$28), while stocks last. Offers may vary by purchase channel. Terms and conditions apply.

Specifications

	Galaxy A27 5G
Display	6.7” FHD +  *Measured diagonally, the screen size is 6.7" in the full rectangle and 6.5" accounting for the rounded corners. Actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and the camera hole.
	Super AMOLED, Infinity-O Display  Up to 120 Hz refresh rate
Processor	Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 (4 nm) Octa-Core 2.4 GHz (4x), 1.8 GHz (4x)
Dimensions & Weight	162.4 x 78.2 x 7.8 mm, 200 g
Camera	5 MP Ultra-Wide Camera  50 MP OIS Wide Camera  2 MP Macro Camera  12 MP Front Camera
Memory &    storage14	6 + 128 GB (Online exclusive, only available in Blue)  8 + 256 GB  MicroSD: Up to 2 TB
Battery	5000 mAh (typical)  25 W Fast Charging
	*Typical value tested under third-party laboratory conditions. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4,860 mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
OS	Android 16   One UI 8.5
Security	Samsung Knox Vault
Water & dust   resistance	IP6415

1 Snapdragon is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

2 Typical value tested under third-party laboratory conditions. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4,860 mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors. Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, the number of times charged, and many other factors.

3 Circle to Search is a trademark of Google. Service availability may vary by country, language or device model. Requires an Internet connection. Users may need to update Android and Google apps to the latest version. Works on compatible apps and surfaces. Results may vary depending on visual matches. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.

4 Results may vary depending on shooting conditions, including multiple subjects, being out of focus or moving subjects.

5 Voice transcription feature requires Samsung Account login. Only available on the pre-installed Samsung Voice Recorder app or files recorded using the pre-installed Samsung Phone app. Voice recording feature in the pre-installed Samsung Phone app may not be supported in some countries. Audio files must be under 3 hours in duration to be processed. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed. For details, please visit https://www.samsung.com/sg

6 Samsung Account login may be required to use certain Samsung Intelligence features. Samsung does not make any promises, assurances or guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the output provided by Intelligence features. Availability of Awesome Intelligence features may vary depending on the region/country, OS/One UI version, device model or phone carrier. Awesome Intelligence service may be limited for minors in certain regions with age restrictions over AI usage.

7 Gemini feature requires an Internet connection and Google Account login. Service availability may vary by country, language or device model. Features may differ depending on subscription and results may vary. Compatible with certain features and certain accounts. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.

8 Menu names, paths, and screen layouts may vary depending on your device model, software version, or app version. This feature may vary depending on your country, language, model, or app. If the Perplexity app does not appear in the voice wake-up app list, update both the Voice wake-up app and the Perplexity app to the latest version from the Galaxy Store, then try again. Language support for Perplexity may vary by country.

9 Service availability may vary by country/service provider/language/device model/OS version.

10 Security features or hardware/software architecture of Samsung Knox Vault on Samsung Galaxy A series smartphones may differ from those on Samsung Galaxy flagship devices, including S series, Z series, S FE series smartphones and Tab S series tablets launched from 2021 onwards. Availability of Samsung Knox Vault may vary depending on the device model.

11 Colour availability may vary depending on country or carrier.

12 Terms and conditions apply. Samsung Care+ coverage, service type and promotion details may vary by country/region and a deductible (service fee) may apply. To be eligible for Samsung Care+ promotion benefits, registration may be required. For detailed Samsung Care+ information, please visit https://www.samsung.com/sg/offer/samsung-care-plus/mobile/. Care at home and abroad: When in need of Samsung Care+ services during travel, users should contact the visiting country/region's local customer services centre in advance for Samsung Care+ availability.

13 This promo is valid to 6 August 2026 11:59 pm, while stocks last. The products under this promo may vary by retail outlet / platform. Each customer will be entitled to: 

(i) up to S$50 off via e-voucher for each Samsung Galaxy A27 5G 8 + 256 GB smartphone, purchased under this promo; 

(ii) a free 25 W power adapter (without cable) worth S$38; and 

(iii) one-year Samsung Care+ Screen Protect worth S$28. 

Not stackable with other promotions. Samsung reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions and/or amend or withdraw this promo at any time without prior notice and without assigning any reasons.

14 Memory/storage options and availability may vary by country, region or carrier. Available memory/storage capacity is subject to preloaded software.

15 Galaxy A27 5G is rated as IP64. Based on lab test conditions for spraying 10 litres of freshwater per minute from all angles for 5 minutes. Not recommended for beach or pool use. Water and dust resistance of the device is not permanent and may diminish over time due to normal wear and tear.

Alibaba's Qwen Glasses get more AI oomph

Alibaba has made a major upgrade to its Qwen AI Glasses with the introduction of proactive AI services, expanded everyday-life capabilities, and spatial 3D display capabilities. The update marks a significant step in evolving its AI wearables from a passive assistant into an intuitive, anticipatory companion, the company said.

Moving beyond traditional "ask-and-answer" interactions, the new proactive service system enables Qwen Glasses to understand context and act ahead of user requests. By learning user preferences and behaviour patterns and integrating real-time signals such as time, location, and environmental conditions, the AI delivers timely reminders or executes tasks automatically.

For example, the glasses can analyse weather forecasts, individual schedules, and the current location to proactively suggest bringing an umbrella if rain is expected during the morning commute. The device can track how long it’s been worn and user's postures, reminding them to lift their head and stretch.

The proactive capability also supports a range of everyday functions, including morning news briefings, personalised music playlists, workout route tracking, navigation, and fitness milestone tracking. Together, these features enable the glasses to provide continuous assistance throughout the day.

In addition, several core capabilities of Alibaba’s consumer-facing Qwen App will soon be available on the glasses, including ride-hailing, food delivery, trip planning, review searches, and movie ticket purchases. Users can access these services directly through the glasses, minimising phone dependency a range of work and lifestyle scenarios. 

Notably, the upgraded Qwen Glasses pioneers spatial 3D display in AI glasses, using dual optical engines with binocular stereoscopic imaging technology to deliver high-quality 3D visuals. Unlike conventional smart glasses that project flat 2D overlays, Qwen Glasses renders information with depth, layering, and spatial awareness. This allows navigation prompts, information cards, and other content to appear more naturally within the user’s field of view, enhancing readability and comfort.

Source: Alibaba.  Alibaba debuted the Qwen Glasses at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, accelerating its wearable AI strategy and unifying its AI ecosystem under the flagship Qwen brand.

According to Wellsenn XR, a research firm specialising in the smart glasses industry, Qwen Glasses have captured a 53% market share in China based on cumulative online sales since their official launch.

Singtel offers more support to accelerate AI adoption among Singapore SMEs

- New programme to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) move from AI experimentation to real-world implementation 

Source: Singtel. An AI.dea training scenario.

Singtel Singapore has launched AI.dea — an AI business transformation programme, developed in partnership with SIM Academy to help SMEs in Singapore accelerate AI adoption and unlock new opportunities for productivity, innovation and growth.

As AI moves from experimentation to real-world deployment, many businesses continue to grapple with the complexities of implementation, Singtel said, observing that while AI has proven to be a powerful driver of productivity and growth, adoption among Singapore SMEs remains relatively low.

While digital adoption among SMEs in Singapore has grown significantly in recent years, Singtel said that many businesses continue to face challenges in fully realising value from new technologies, particularly in complex areas such as AI.  

According to the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s (IMDA's) Singapore Digital Economy Report 2025*, only 14.5% of SMEs have implemented AI solutions, compared to 62.5% of larger enterprises — a wide competitive gap.  

AI.dea aims to address this gap by making AI accessible, practical and secure for local businesses. The programme will equip SMEs with the capabilities to integrate AI into their operations and compete more effectively in an increasingly digital economy. To boost adoption, eligible SMEs will receive up to 90% in funding from SkillsFuture Singapore.  

Ng Tian Chong, CEO of Singtel Singapore, said, “AI has quickly become a key driver of business transformation, but many organisations are still figuring out where to even begin. Singtel Singapore’s own journey has shown that success with AI requires more than just technology — it takes the right capabilities, governance and mindset. 

"With AI.dea, we are bringing these lessons to SMEs, helping them to adopt AI applications before committing to full-scale deployment so they can realise tangible business outcomes.”   

Ho Seong Kim, CEO of SIM Academy added: “As Singapore advances its National AI Strategy, SMEs — the foundation of our business ecosystem — must be equipped to participate meaningfully in this transformation. As the selected learning partner for this programme, we leverage our expertise in applied, outcome-driven learning to help SME leaders build in-house capabilities, develop actionable adoption strategies, and implement AI with confidence to drive tangible business outcomes.” 

AI.dea is designed to help SMEs overcome common barriers to adoption, including limited in-house expertise, uncertainty around implementation, and concerns around data security and governance.

Through a structured, hands-on approach, participants will design, build and validate real-world use cases tailored to their business needs.

Participants will benefit from:

· Hands-on application: Design and test AI use cases through guided proof-of-concept development

· Expert guidance: Learn from practitioners with experience in scaling AI across organisations

· Governance and security: Build capabilities in AI governance, data protection and risk management

· Strategic roadmap development: Define AI ambition and develop a clear, actionable adoption plan

Advancing SME digital transformation 

The AI.dea programme complements Singtel’s broader suite of SME-focused initiatives:

· TikTok Masterclass: A brand-building and e-commerce enablement programme that helps SMEs to strengthen their digital presence, connect with customers more effectively, and capture growth opportunities in the digital economy.

· Cyber Protect: A tripartite initiative by Singtel, Enterprise Singapore and IMDA to bolster SMEs’ cyber resilience through workshops, curated learning resources, and subsidised cyber solutions, enabling businesses to identify risks, adopt stronger cyber hygiene practices and better protect themselves against evolving cyber threats.

· Cyber Elevate: A training programme which provides cyber risk audits, resilience workshops, and mentorship to help SMEs prepare, detect, respond to, and recover from cyberattacks at heavily-subsidised rates, with support from law firm Drew & Napier and incident response firm Blackpanda as consultants.

· Defence Against Cyber Scams: Developed for large enterprises to upskill and reskill their employees to be better able to identify, combat and prevent scams.

· SPEED: A 15-month initiative aimed at helping SMEs decarbonise through education, energy-efficient technology deployment and continuous improvement strategies. The programme is designed to enable SMEs to go digital and achieve environmental goals at the same time.

As a SkillsFuture Queen Bee, Singtel plays a pivotal role in enabling enterprises – especially SMEs – to upskill, digitalise and innovate. Its end-to-end solutions – spanning mobility and connectivity, to cybersecurity, Internet of Things (IoT) and collaboration tools – are tailored to evolving business needs. 

Details

The programme fee is S$15,000 (before GST), with up to 90% funding available for eligible businesses under the Enhanced Training Support for SMEs programme, supported by SkillsFuture Singapore.

To qualify, companies must:

· Be registered and incorporated in Singapore

· Have at least 30% local shareholding by Singapore citizens or permanent residents (PRs) 

· Have an annual sales turnover not exceeding S$100 million or an employment size of fewer than 200 employees

Businesses interested in the programme can register their interest at https://www.singtel.com/business/smb/solutions/ICT/ai-dea

*Singapore Digital Economy Report (SGDE) 2025

Unapproved AI deployed in Singapore: Qualtrics

Employees in Singapore are experiencing some of the highest levels of organisational change globally, and against this backdrop, they're turning to AI to stay productive, said Qualtrics. Nearly seven in 10 (68%) use it frequently at work, yet only 14% use company-provided tools exclusively, revealing a gap between employee AI success and organisational technology investment in Singapore, according to the Qualtrics 2026 Employee Experience Trends Report.

The research, based on responses from over 1,000 customer-facing employees in Singapore as part of a global study of over 33,000 workers across 24 countries, reveals that 79% of Singapore employees experienced significant organisational change in the past year. This is among the highest rates globally and in response, employees are embracing AI at scale.

Singapore-based findings from the annual study include:

- Almost seven in 10 (69%) of Singapore employees use AI to improve work quality, among the highest rates globally.

- Nearly seven in 10 (68%) use AI frequently at work and 57% feel hopeful or excited about AI (vs 49% globally).

- A relatively small percentage (14%) use strictly company-provided AI tools, which are among the lowest compliance rates studied.

- Fewer than half (42%) experienced new technology adoption in the past year, matching the global rate.

- Singapore customer-facing worker engagement rose 3 points to 62% while global engagement fell 3 points to 65%.

- Nearly three in 10 (29%) Singapore organisations increased listening frequency (requests for feedback), above the 25% global average. When listening decreases, Singapore employee intent to stay drops to 32% (vs 47% globally).  

Singapore employees have turned to AI as a critical tool for maintaining productivity amid organisational change. They report among the highest rates of any market studied for using AI to improve work quality (69% vs 58% globally). Additionally, 41% say AI enables them to accomplish things they previously couldn't do, above the 37% global average, positioning Singapore as a global leader in extracting value from AI at work.

Yet, only 14% of Singapore employees use exclusively company-provided AI tools – among the lowest compliance rates globally. This gap is reflective of just how much Singapore organisations are under-investing in technology, which follows a global trend: under half (42%) of Singapore employees experienced new technologies or tools in the past year, the same as the global metric.

"Singapore employees are navigating exceptional organisational change and they've turned to AI to help them stay productive and adapt," said Steve Bennetts, Head of Growth & Strategy, APAC, Employee Experience at Qualtrics. 

"It’s clear they want to be using AI - the data shows that the majority of employees are already using AI frequently at work, and more than half feel hopeful or excited about it. But they’re bypassing their organisation's policies because the approved tools simply aren't there. This can quickly turn dangerous, with shadow AI introducing serious data security and compliance risks.”

Amid organisational change, customer-facing workers in Singapore showed resilience, with engagement rising 3 points to 62%, bucking the global trend where engagement fell 3 points to 65%. However, employee experience outcomes depend heavily on whether organisations are listening.

Singapore organisations that increased how often they listened to employees saw 86% engagement. But organisations that reduced listening saw engagement fall to just 35%, and intent to stay dropped to 32% (vs 47% globally). Even maintaining the same level of listening isn't sufficient: intent to stay sits at just 54% (vs 64% globally), suggesting Singapore employees have higher expectations for proactive listening investment.

Nearly three in 10 (29%) Singapore organisations increased listening frequency in the past year, above the 25% global average. However, 40% of Singapore employees say they want their leaders to listen more, signalling continued appetite for greater engagement.

“Singapore employees are navigating significant change while organisations underinvest in technology, which makes listening to employee feedback even more critical,” said Bennetts. 

“When companies aren't providing the tools employees need, they must, at a minimum, be hearing employee concerns and acting on them. Our data shows that organisations that prioritise listening see engagement reach 86%. Conversely, those that fail to listen face a major retention crisis, with employee intent to stay dropping to just 32%.”

Singapore employees at organisations that increased listening reported: 

- Eighty-six percent engagement (vs 35% with less listening) 

- Sixty-eight percent exceeding expectations (vs 11% with less listening) 

- Eighty-eight percent inclusion (vs 41% with less listening)

- Eighty-nine percent wellbeing (vs 40% with less listening)  

"The lesson from Singapore is clear: employees want to be productive and embrace new technologies like AI, but they need organisations to provide the right tools and support," said Bennetts. 

"The organisations that invest in approved AI tools and listen to employees during change will capture this innovation strategically. Those that don't will face shadow AI risks while their best people walk out the door." 

Explore

Download the full 2026 Employee Experience Trends Report

*The 2026 Employee Experience Trends Report is based on a survey of 33,831 full-time and part-time employees conducted in September and October 2025. The Singapore sample included 1,056 respondents. Participants globally represented 24 countries across five continents and 30 industries, with organisations ranging from 100 to 50,000+ employees.

Trust and transparency hold the key to APAC checkout: Visa

Visa, a world leader in digital payments, has released new survey* findings on the state of digital commerce in Asia Pacific, revealing that while consumers are increasingly using AI to shop, concerns over security and transparency are creating hesitation at the crucial moment - checkout.

With Asia Pacific’s rapid shift towards digital commerce and mobile-first shopping, the research shows that consumers are drawing a clear line between using AI to help them browse and trusting the same technology to handle their money and personal data, Visa highlighted. Clearly demonstrating how AI is used to spark discovery and securely handle payments is critical if consumers are to feel confident using the technology to shop and pay. 

“The way people shop is changing quickly, with AI now playing a growing role in how consumers discover and choose products,” said TR Ramachandran, Head of Products & Solutions, Asia Pacific at Visa. 

“But as AI becomes part of the checkout experience, trust and control become even more important. Consumers want to understand how their data is being used and feel confident that every transaction is secure. Building that trust is what will determine whether AI-powered commerce can truly scale.” 

Consumers across Asia Pacific are increasingly relying on AI for the early stages of shopping, with 74% using AI-powered tools to discover, track or learn about products. Yet 26% remain unsure if AI recommendations fully align with their best interests, pointing to a desire for greater transparency and user control in AI-powered shopping. 

The research also reveals that this caution is more pronounced among affluent households**, where 39% express higher expectations around how their data is used, compared to 29% among lower-income groups. Digital-first markets such as Australia (38%), New Zealand (37%) and Singapore (34%) also show above-average caution. 

These findings underscore the need for trusted frameworks in AI-driven commerce, an area where Visa is enabling businesses to connect consumers, AI agents and merchants through a secure, scalable trust layer supported by Visa Intelligent Commerce and the Trusted Agent Protocol.  

While consumers are comfortable using AI to compare prices and better understand product features, this confidence fades as transactions become more personal. The study finds that 32% of consumers remain reluctant to share personal or payment information with AI systems, and nearly half (45%) say they would be more open to AI-powered or agentic commerce if they had stronger assurances around payment security.

These findings highlight that while AI can successfully drive discovery, secure authentication and trusted payment experiences are essential to convert interest into action to unlock the full lifecycle of AI-enabled commerce. 

“Consumers are ready for AI to play a more active role in shopping, and agentic commerce has already started scaling beyond concept and into daily life,” added TR Ramachandran. 

“For this shift to accelerate, trust and secure authentication must be in place. With solutions such as Tokenisation and Visa Payment Passkeys, Visa is delivering the seamless and secure experiences customers need — enabling people to shop with greater confidence as AI becomes a more natural part of everyday commerce.” 

Openness to agentic commerce varies across Asia Pacific, revealing that digital maturity does not automatically translate into trust. India and Vietnam lead the region, with 42% of consumers in each market open to using AI for online purchases, indicating strong appetites to experiment with new ways of shopping.

In contrast, consumers in digitally-mature economies show greater reservation towards AI-enabled online shopping, with 14% in Singapore, 14% in Japan and 16% in New Zealand expressing interest. This hesitancy reflects higher expectations for data protection, security and personal control before embracing agentic commerce. The study also found that improved payment security is the strongest enabler of increased adoption in these markets, reinforcing the need for a secure and trusted agentic ecosystem.

*The State of Digital Commerce in Asia Pacific 2025 study was commissioned by Visa and conducted by YouGov in September 2025. The study surveyed 14,764 consumers aged 18 years and above across 14 Asia-Pacific markets.

**For the purposes of this study, “affluent households” refer to respondents with a monthly household income of US$8,000 or above. 

Kaspersky uncovers how people use AI during the holidays

Kaspersky has illuminated a shift in AI usage during the holiday season. Besides being a reliable shopping or planning assistant, AI has emerged as capable of delivering emotional support – particularly among the Gen Z and Millennial cohorts. However, Kaspersky experts warn that placing too much trust in AI can threaten data security.

In the run-up to the Christmas holidays, Kaspersky conducted a survey* to find out how people leverage AI-powered tools to make the most of their free time and streamline holiday preparations, and to highlight the potential cyberthreats that result.

It turns out that AI’s popularity in the 2025/2026 holiday is rather high, with 74% of survey participants indicating they plan to incorporate AI into their holiday activities. The younger generation demonstrated the strongest enthusiasm for AI usage, with 86% of respondents aged 18-34 expressing their intention to resort to AI during the holiday period.

According to the survey, more than half of AI users planned to use the tools during the holidays to search for recipes (56%) or restaurants and accommodation (54%), underscoring AI's ongoing significance in simplifying research processes and reducing search-related time commitments. 

However, AI-as-idea generator also received a great response from the audience. The survey found that 50% of users rely on AI assistance for brainstorming gift ideas, ways to celebrate, or tips on Christmas decoration. The same number of respondents plan to ask AI to generate ideas on how to spend their free time.

During the holidays half of respondents regard AI as a shopping assistant, which can help them to create shopping lists, find the best deals or analyse reviews. The younger generation showed high interest in AI as a budget planner (50%), while older people (aged 55+) are less passionate about allowing AI to manage their expenses (31%), preferring to use it to search for recipes (59%) and generate gift ideas (41%).

Modern AI tools enable holiday shoppers to find offers that perfectly match individual preferences and budget constraints with just a few clicks. However, the reliability of chatbot-generated information remains a significant concern. Kaspersky recommended that shoppers check all links provided by AI before clicking on them, as they may contain malicious or phishing content. To mitigate this risk, cybersecurity experts recommend employing a security solution empowered with AI-based phishing detection tools.

Beyond its capacity to tackle diverse challenges and generate new ideas, AI has assumed a new role: serving as a virtual companion capable of offering emotional assistance. Nearly three in 10 (29%) of those who use AI during holidays consider talking to it when they feel unhappy. Zoomers (Gen Zers) and Millennials show the biggest interest in AI-powered support among all ages, with 35% of respondents voting for this option. The older generation demonstrated a more restrained interest – only 19% of respondents aged 55 and older consider talking to AI when they're upset.

Kaspersky highlighted that while communication with AI services may seem personal and private, most chatbots are owned by commercial companies with their own data collection and processing policies. To enhance data privacy the company suggested:

- Before starting any conversation, review the privacy policy of the AI tool you’re using. Some AI providers may use your emotional conversations to infer information about you, which can be used for targeted advertising or even sold to third-party marketing firms. Check whether you can opt out of using your chats for such purposes as model training or marketing to minimise the amount of data collected.

- Try to avoid sharing deeply personal, identifying, or financial information with AI chatbots. Treat your messages as you would a public social post – never assume absolute confidentiality.

- Stick to AI services from reputable companies with strong privacy and security track records. Avoid using anonymous or unknown bots that could be designed to harvest data. Malicious or fake AI bots may attempt to extract personal information to commit fraud, phishing, or blackmail. To protect your data, use a security solution that prevents clicking on unreliable links.

“As LLM models rapidly evolve, their potential for engaging in meaningful dialogue with users grows as well. However, it's important to bear in mind that they learn to answer from data, most of which is sourced from the Internet, meaning they are prone to regurgitate the error and biases from the text used for training. It’s highly recommended to approach AI suggestions with a healthy dose of scepticism and try to avoid oversharing,” commented Vladislav Tushkanov, Group Manager at Kaspersky AI Technology Research Center.

*The study was conducted by Kaspersky’s market research centre in November 2025. Three thousand respondents from 15 countries (Argentina, Chile, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, KSA, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, UK, and the UAE) took part in the survey.

Indosat, Google Cloud introduce AI-driven smart search in Indonesia

Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (Indosat) has launched an AI-powered semantic search feature for the apps developed for its myIM3 and bima+ brands. Developed in collaboration with Google Cloud, the technology enables searches with greater relevance, personalisation, and efficiency as searches are done through understanding the question rather than just looking for keywords. 

Source: Indosat. A mobile phone showing the myIM3 app.

This capability helps Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform to gain deep insights into customer behaviour and preferences. As a result, searches for services such as data packages, lifestyle features, and loyalty programmes like IMPoin and BonsTri can be dynamically tailored to meet each user's specific needs.

Bilal Kazmi, Director & Chief Commercial Officer Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, said: “With the support of Google Cloud, we are delivering a search system that is not only intelligent but also delivers tangible value, enhancing both user convenience and business performances. This collaboration represents a strategic step towards providing smarter, more personalised, and relevant digital experiences for our customers. 

"At Indosat, we are committed to ensuring that technology makes life easier, brings services closer, and serves as a powerful tool to empower Indonesia in navigating the digital era."

Fanly Tanto, Country Director, Indonesia, Google Cloud, stated: “As an industry-leading organisation in Google Cloud’s Indonesia BerdAIa programme, Indosat has been at the forefront of innovating with advanced, enterprise AI. Vertex AI Search’s in-built understanding of queries in Bahasa and English, the semantic meaning behind queries, and spelling variations will help surface more relevant digital services recommendations that meet the diverse lifestyle needs of millions of myIM3 and bima+ users. 

"This deployment demonstrates how the unique combination of Google Cloud's open platforms and Google-quality search can be seamlessly integrated with an enterprise’s custom-built AI models and existing applications, enabling smarter and more personalised digital experiences for its customers.”  

According to McKinsey’s research in the future of personalisation, 71% of consumers expect personalized interactions from brands. AI-driven personalisation also improves operational efficiency. As part of this launch, Indosat is introducing an interactive campaign, 30 Days of Treasure Hunt, running from August 21 to September 19, 2025. Through AI-powered search gamification, customers are encouraged to search for specific keywords or queries on the official Instagram accounts of IM3 @indosatim3 and Tri @triindonesia, and then access them via the search bar in the myIM3 or bima+ applications.

The most active users each day will have the opportunity to win a variety of e-vouchers, with a total prize pool of up to IDR5.5 M. To participate, customers can download the myIM3 app at https://myim3.co/getnow and the bima+ app at https://bima-3.co/getnow 

In addition, the semantic search technology is further supported by Sahabat-AI, an open-source large language model (LLM) specifically designed for the Indonesian language. Sahabat-AI is built to understand local contexts, including support for various regional languages and dialects, making customer interactions more engaging, relevant, and meaningful across Indonesia.

Redmi 15 5G launches with AI features

Source: Xiaomi. The Redmi 15 5G comes with a 7,000 mAh battery (typical) that offers up to two days of use¹.

The Redmi 15 5G is the latest in a lineup of performance-driven smartphones designed to empower users with all-day reliability, immersive viewing, and effortless creativity.

The new Redmi has a quad-curved back and metal-crafted detailing, combining style with a sleek profile. Powered by the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 Mobile Platform, the smartphone has 5G connectivity, up to 16 GB RAM with memory extension, and up to 2 TB expandable storage⁶. 

At its core is a 7,000 mAh (typical) Xiaomi Surge battery, Xiaomi's largest ever globally. It offers up to 2 days of use¹, 33 W fast charging⁴, and 18W reverse charging.⁴ Through Smart Charging Engine 2.0, Battery Health 4.0 ensures long-term battery reliability. Even at 1% battery, users can still get up to 59 minutes of calling or 7.5 hours of standby.⁹

Redmi 15 5G is also equipped with a 6.9" FHD+ display with up to 144 Hz refresh rate,² 288 Hz touch sampling rate, and TÜV Rheinland certifications for low blue light, flicker-free, and circadian-friendly viewing. The device further offers IP64-rated splash and dust resistance³, plus Wet Touch Technology 2.0 for smooth usage even with damp fingers³. 

For imaging, the 50 MP AI dual camera system is supported by creative tools such as AI Erase¹¹, AI Sky, and Dynamic shots.¹⁰ On the audio side, hi-res audio, Dolby Atmos, and a 200% volume boost offer more immersive entertainment.⁸ 

Running on Xiaomi HyperOS 2,⁷ Redmi 15 5G supports intelligent features such as Circle to Search,¹² Google Gemini,¹³ and Xiaomi Interconnectivity.¹⁴

Details

Redmi 15 5G is available in Ripple Green, Titan Gray, and Midnight Black, in the 8 GB + 256 GB⁵ variant at S$249. It is available for purchase via mi.com, Shopee, Lazada, Xiaomi Stores and other authorised retailers.

¹ Data obtained from the light daily use model of Xiaomi Internal Labs. Results may vary.

² Refresh rate can be adjusted to up to 144 Hz for supported apps.

³ The device with IP64 has been tested to be resistant to splash and dust in the presence of specific laboratory conditions with the classification IP64 ingress protection based on IEC 60529:1989+A1:1999+A2:2013. Splash-proof, waterproof and dustproof features may be degraded due to daily use loss.

Do not charge your smartphone in humid conditions. Real life is different from an experimental environment. Do not immerse your smartphone completely in water or expose it to solutions such as seawater, chlorinated water, or liquids like drinks during daily use. Your warranty does not cover the damage caused by man-made immersion of your device in liquid.

⁴ Supported up to 18 W wired reverse charging, compatible with devices verified through Xiaomi Internal Labs testing. Actual performance may vary depending on battery conditions and other factors. When using this feature, please ensure your phone has sufficient battery and verify the compatibility of the receiving device.

⁵ Available RAM and storage are less than the total memory due to storage of the operating system and software pre-installed on the device.

⁶ The microSD card for expandable storage sold separately; please refer to the actual use.

⁷ Availability of Xiaomi HyperOS 2 features, apps, and services may vary depending on software version and phone model.

⁸ Data compared with Redmi 13. Actual effects may vary depending on software and scenarios; please refer to actual use for details.

⁹ Data obtained from Xiaomi Internal Labs. Actual results may vary.

¹⁰ The Dynamic shots feature is only supported on the 8 GB RAM version and may become available via an over-the-air (OTA) update.

¹¹ The AI Erase feature is only supported on the 8 GB RAM version. 

¹² Available on select devices, and an Internet connection is required. Works on compatible apps and surfaces. Results may vary depending on visual matches.

¹³ The Gemini mobile app available on select devices, languages, and countries. Works with compatible accounts. Internet connection required. Check responses for accuracy. Feature availability varies based on language.

¹⁴ Phones and tablets need to be upgraded to Xiaomi HyperOS 2 with Bluetooth and WLAN settings activated. Log in to the same Xiaomi account, and make sure Settings-Xiaomi Interconnectivity is turned on. Availability of specific features, and services may vary depending on the software version, apps and product model. Please refer to the actual use.

APAC is excited about AI in travel: Booking.com

Booking.com's first Global AI Sentiment Report, drawing insights from over 37,000 consumers across 33 markets globally to explore how people are using, trusting, and responding to AI in everyday life and travel, has revealed a nuanced picture about Asia-Pacific (APAC) consumers.

According to the research, 95% express excitement about AI, 82% are familiar with the technology, and 93% want to use AI in their future travel plans. Zooming out of APAC, there are significant regional differences–while some embrace AI’s potential, others approach it with caution, underscoring the need for responsible implementation that balances opportunity with consumer trust. These new insights and perspectives will help shape the next chapter of AI in travel and beyond, Booking.com said.

The research identified five clear category clusters among APAC consumers, reflecting diverse AI sentiment: 41% identify as AI Enthusiasts, intrigued by AI’s potential, while 15% are AI Advocates, actively championing its benefits and responsible adoption. This enthusiasm is grounded in the belief that AI will make life easier (78%), save time and effort (57%), enhance productivity (49%), and expand learning opportunities (53%). 

However, this excitement coexists with significant caution. About 8% classify themselves as AI Cautious, wary of AI’s development or use, and 6% as AI Skeptics. Notably, one in four respondents (16%) identify as AI Detractors, signalling a meaningful segment resistant to AI adoption.

Across regions, consumer sentiment toward AI varies widely. LATAM leads in enthusiasm (98%) and understanding (89%), while APAC shows strong adoption in daily life, especially in education and transport (41%). In contrast, NORAM and EME remain more cautious, with distrust in AI-generated information highest in these regions (32% and 29% respectively). LATAM stands for Latin America, EME for Europe and Middle East, and NORAM for North America.

Source: Booking.com. Regional breakdowns for the survey around what respondents think about AI, their familiarity about AI, and what they distrust. 

Despite widespread use—98% use AI-powered search and 83% engage with generative tools—trust remains limited. Only 8% fully trust AI, and just 16% are comfortable with it making decisions independently. Most prefer AI as a supportive tool rather than an autonomous decision-maker.

Travel is a key area of AI adoption. Three quarters of global travellers have used AI in planning or during trips, with APAC consumers particularly open to autonomous trip planning (67%). AI is most often used for researching destinations, translation, and navigating transport systems, with growing trust in AI assistants over influencers or peers. There’s also rising demand for AI to support responsible travel, from avoiding crowds to highlighting community-benefiting experiences.

“Generative AI represents one of the most significant technological shifts of our era, opening up new possibilities across industries, including travel. At Booking.com, we’ve been at the forefront of AI innovation for a decade, integrating machine learning and AI to enhance the customer journey at every touchpoint, simplify complexity, inspire curiosity and empower people to shape journeys that feel truly personal. 

"As travellers across APAC look for deeper meaning and connection in every trip, whilst planning their travels with ease, AI is helping to unlock more intuitive and imaginative travel experiences than ever before,” said Laura Houldsworth, MD for Asia Pacific at Booking.com.

“But as we enter this next phase, our responsibility goes beyond technology. Building trust, ensuring transparency, and prioritising safety are critical as we guide travellers, and our industry, into the future.”

Source: Booking.com. A panel discussion about The Promise of AI in Travel during the APAC Trust Summit 2025 in Singapore involved, from left: Laura Houldsworth, MD of Asia Pacific, Booking.com as moderator; Marnie Wilking, Chief Security Officer, Booking.com, who spoke on embedding safety, security, and transparency in every AI interaction; Cheryl Guzman Ng, Senior VP for Marketing & Strategic Partnerships, Alpha JWC Ventures, sharing how startups can scale responsibly with AI; Mary Li, Founder & CEO, Atlas, who detailed how AI can deliver personalised, discovery-led commerce; Kung Teong Wah, GM, Parkroyal Collection Pickering Singapore, discussing elevating guest experiences through sustainable AI innovation; and Jordan Tan, CTO, Singapore Tourism Board, who touched on fostering responsible AI innovation in travel through public-private collaboration.

The report was launched in the region during Booking.com's APAC Trust Summit 2025 in Singapore, during which Houldsworth shared in her keynote how AI’s role in travel is just as much about trust as it is about transformation. Marnie Wilking, Chief Security Officer at Booking.com, followed on with an address emphasising that trust can’t be assumed — it must be earned and re-earned at every step of the customer journey. She shared how Booking.com is using AI proactively to protect users across the travel journey, ensuring security and transparency in every interaction.

Adrienne Enggist, Senior Director of Product, Marketplace at Booking.com, also shared during the event that AI is embedded into the Booking.com platform — from enhancing search to reducing friction — to deliver more personalised, intuitive experiences for travellers. She said: “We’re not using AI to replace human decision-making, but to remove friction and help travellers get to what they really want, faster.”

As part of a vision to make travel more intuitive and human-centric, the company introduced the AI Trip Planner (AITP), which is live in the region in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. The tool is designed to help users explore, plan and book their next trip in a natural, conversational way.

● Partially powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT API and Booking.com’s proprietary machine learning models, the AITP delivers destination ideas, curated property suggestions, and tailored itineraries—within seconds. 

● Users can ask general travel questions or specific queries like “Where’s a good beach destination for October that’s kid-friendly?” 

● Results include visual lists of properties, live pricing, and deep-links to book—allowing seamless switching between chat and the app’s booking interface.

Booking.com has also rolled out several new generative AI-powered features to streamline the travel search experience: 

● Smart filters: Travellers can type what they’re looking for in their own words. AI presents them with the most relevant options by automatically applying the most relevant filters. 

● Property Q&A: Instantly answers user’s questions using information pulled from listings, reviews and photos. 

● Review summaries (beta): Condenses hundreds of guest reviews into concise, meaningful takeaways. These features went live on mobile in Singapore in November 2024, with global rollouts planned as Booking.com expands its AI suite. 

AI also powers the backbone of Booking.com’s Connected Trip experience, across stays, flights, attractions, transport and more. Internal systems use machine learning to continually optimise performance—from content translation and fraud detection to customer support and pricing strategies. To safeguard user trust, the company has developed custom moderation layers for its AI tools, designed to:

● Filter out personal data and non-travel-related content, 

● Keep conversations focused, safe and appropriate, redirecting unrelated queries and blocking inappropriate content, and 

● Adhere to GDPR and international AI ethics frameworks 

All interactions with the AI Trip Planner are subject to clear Terms of Use, and users are encouraged not to share personal data. Chat history is limited to 30 days (three conversations) and is never used to personalise other aspects of the Booking.com experience. Any data retained is stored securely and may be used only to improve the product through anonymised insights. 

Booking.com maintains round-the-clock security operations to monitor for suspicious activity and ensure a safe environment for all users. 

The AI Trip Planner is only the beginning. Booking.com’s long-term ambition is to incorporate generative AI into every step of a journey from end-to-end. At its core, Booking.com believes AI should enhance, and not replace the human elements of travel, so that every step feels seamless, simple and inspired.  

Skilled jobs in Singapore on the rise: Indeed

Higher-skilled jobs related to scientific research and generative AI (gen AI) are growing in demand in Singapore, though the total number of job postings on Indeed declined by 3.7%.

Source: Indeed. Change in Singapore job postings, percentage change. Scientific research and development job vacancies led the pack over the past three months as of end-February 2025.

According to Indeed’s latest Hiring Lab Singapore’s job postings are 50% above pre-pandemic levels, with growth mainly seen in higher-skilled roles like scientific research and development, which rose by 35%. Job postings for security and public safety (+31%) and production and manufacturing (+16%) roles also saw some of the highest gains in the past three months.

As of February 2025, job postings related to gen AI have doubled over the past year. Key gen AI-related roles in demand come from data analytics, scientific research, and software development. Indeed said the growth in such roles shows promise for Singapore’s ambitions to become a regional gen AI hub. The share of Singapore job ads referencing gen AI is now 1.2%, which is 4x higher than countries like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.

Indeed’s data also highlighted that job postings for cleaning and sanitation (-33%), childcare (-19%), and retail (-18%) roles saw the highest decline in terms of job postings. Such jobs are considered those which require fewer skills. The Ministry of Manpower’s Q4 labour report observed a “notable decline” in employment for workers in lower-skilled sectors, such as those in the administrative and support services.

Callam Pickering, APAC Senior Economist at Indeed, commented: “There’s reason to be optimistic about Singapore’s employment outlook despite the month’s mixed results. Higher-skilled roles remain in high demand, with Singapore standing out globally, especially in gen AI and data-related roles. An exciting challenge now is helping workers integrate gen AI capabilities into their skillsets.”

“While more support and service-oriented roles have seen a dip, it’s not necessarily a cause for alarm. With the labour market set to expand, the focus should be on continuous skills development to stay resilient and competitive.”

Samsung introduces new Galaxy A models

Source: Samsung. The new Galaxy A56 5G features Samsung's Awesome Intelligence and the Circle to Search feature from Google.

Samsung Electronics Company has unveiled the Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G smartphones. For the first time, the Galaxy A Series is integrating Awesome Intelligence — including AI-powered features to reimagine creativity — while bringing a safe and long-lasting mobile experience.

“The new Galaxy A Series marks an important step in our mission of AI for all, by opening Galaxy’s incredible mobile AI experiences to even more people around the world,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics.

“With these awesome new features and capabilities, we are excited to unlock limitless creativity on the Galaxy A Series while ensuring a safe, reliable and fun mobile experience.”

Awesome Intelligence is the first comprehensive mobile AI exclusively available on Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G. Powered by One UI 7, the new Awesome Intelligence features bring new search and visual experiences to Galaxy A Series users.

A fan-favourite on Galaxy A Series devices last year, Google’s enhanced Circle to Search¹ makes it easier than ever to search and discover from the phone’s screen. With the latest upgrades, users can now get even more done on their phone. Circle to Search will quickly recognise phone numbers, email addresses and URLs on the screen.

With the recent enhancements to Circle to Search, users can also instantly name the songs they hear without switching apps. Whether it’s a song playing on social media from their phone or music that’s playing from speakers near them, a long-press on the navigation bar and a tap on the music button prompts Circle to Search to identify the song name and artist.

The Galaxy A Series also takes the camera experience to a new level with creator-focused tools, starting with a triple-camera system featuring a 50 MP main lens on all devices and 10-bit HDR front lens recording on Galaxy A56 5G and Galaxy A36 5G for selfies. The Galaxy A56 5G features a 12 MP ultra-wide lens, while the entire Galaxy A Series empowers creativity with intelligent visual editing.

Exclusively available on Galaxy A56 5G, Best Face² makes it easier than ever to capture the perfect group shot by selecting and combining the best expressions or features for up to five people from a motion photo. Whether or not someone has blinked or looked away, Best Face ensures everyone looks his/her best. The Galaxy A56 5G also brings enhancements to Nightography, with Low Noise Mode making its way to the 12 MP selfie camera and additional wide camera support to capture stunning content in low-light settings.

Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G all support the Object Eraser³, allowing users to remove unwanted distractions from photos. Users can manually or automatically select objects to erase. Additionally, Filters⁴ enables custom filter creation by extracting colours and styles from existing photos.

The Galaxy A56 5G and Galaxy A36 5G also introduce a larger display created for a high-quality, immersive viewing experience. Both devices feature a 6.7"⁵ FHD+ Super AMOLED display with brightness levels reaching up to 1,200 nits⁶. New stereo speakers further enhance the experience with rich, balanced sound.

With a long-lasting 5,000 mAh (typical) battery⁷, the new Galaxy A series Series is designed to keep up with users' daily routines. Enjoy movie marathons for up to 29 hours on a single charge on the Galaxy A56 5G and Galaxy 36 5G. Galaxy A56 5G and Galaxy A36 5G support 45 W charging power and Super Fast Charge 2.0 technology. Both models also deliver enhanced performance, as Galaxy A56 5G is powered by the Exynos 1580 chipset and Galaxy A36 5G features the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 Mobile Platform.

Beyond performance, the new Galaxy A Series is built to withstand life’s unpredictable moments. For the first time, Galaxy A26 5G features an IP67 dust and water resistance rating for strong protection against the elements, matching the IP67 rating on Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A56 5G⁸. Additionally, an advanced Corning Glass cover material adds a layer of durability against scratches and cracks⁹.

Now with up to six generations of Android OS and One UI upgrades and six years of security updates, the Galaxy A Series further reinforces its software longevity. 

Thanks to the integration of One UI 7 on the Galaxy A Series for the first time, Samsung is further supporting robust security and privacy. With Samsung Knox Vault, the Galaxy A Series provides an extra, fortified layer of device safety, transparency and user choice – ensuring sensitive data always stays protected. Equipped with the latest One UI 7 security and privacy features, Galaxy A Series users benefit from holistic protection — including enhancements in Theft Detection, More Security Settings and other features.¹⁰

Digital Key on Galaxy A56 5G¹¹ and Galaxy A36 5G devices¹² will be available in certain markets in Asia, Europe, and North America with more markets to follow. This feature allows a Samsung smartphone to be used as a car key.

Details

	Galaxy A56 5G	Galaxy A36 5G	Galaxy A26 5G
Display	6.7" FHD+
	Super AMOLED display Up to 120 Hz refresh rate Vision Booster
	Measured diagonally, the screen size is 6.7" in the full rectangle and 6.5" with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.
Dimensions & Weight	162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4 mm, 198 g	162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4 mm, 195 g	164.0 x 77.5 x 7.7 mm, 200 g
	Device weight may vary by market.
Camera	12 MP ultra-wide camera f2.2 50 MP Main Camera f1.8, AF, OIS 5MP Macro Camera f2.4 12 MP front camera f2.2	8 MP ultra-wide camera f2.2 50 MP Main Camera f1.8, AF, OIS 5MP Macro Camera f2.4 12MP Front Camera f2.2	8 MP ultra-wide camera f2.2 50MP Main Camera f1.8, AF, OIS 2MP Macro Camera f2.4 13 MP front camera f2.2
Memory & Storage	8 GB + 256 GB 12 GB + 256 GB	8GB + 256GB	8 GB + 256GB
	Storage options and availability may vary by carrier, market or region. Actual storage availability may vary depending on pre-installed software.
Battery	5,000 mAh (typical)
	Typical value tested under third-party laboratory conditions. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under the IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4,905 mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
OS	Android 15
	One UI 7
Security	Samsung Knox
Water & Dust Resistance	IP67

*Specifications may vary by market.  All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice.

The new Galaxy A Series is available in a range of colours¹³: the Galaxy A56 5G is available in Awesome Light Grey, Awesome Graphite, Awesome Olive, and Awesome Pink. Galaxy A36 5G is available in Awesome Lavender, Awesome Black, Awesome White, and Awesome Lime; and Galaxy A26 5G is available in Black, Mint and Peach Pink. 

1 Circle to Search sequences shortened and simulated. Results for illustrative purposes only. Service availability may vary by country, language, device model. Requires Internet connection. Users may need to update Android and Google app to the latest version. Works on compatible apps and surfaces. Results may vary depending on visual or audio matches. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed. Works on ambient music only. Will not identify music coming through headphones or if phone volume is off.

2 Best Face is only available for photos taken with Motion Photo turned on. The feature does not generate new facial expressions but selects from frames within the Motion Photo video clip.

3 Results may vary depending on light conditions and/or shooting conditions including multiple subjects, being out of focus or moving subjects.

4 Filters feature is unavailable in the 3:4 64 MP aspect ratio setting. Its availability might differ based on your device model and software version. Filter availability may vary based on resolution and aspect ratio settings.

5 Measured diagonally, the screen size is 6.7" in the full rectangle and 6.5" accounting for the rounded corners. Actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and the camera hole.

6 1,200 nits in HBM (High Brightness Mode).

7 Typical value tested under third-party laboratory conditions. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4,905 mAh. Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, the number of times charged, and other factors.

8 Based on lab test conditions for submersion in up to 1 m of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use. Water and dust resistance of the device is not permanent and may diminish over time due to normal wear and tear.

9 Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ is applied to the front and rear of Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G.

10 Availability, features and specifications provided in the article are subject to change and may vary by market and/or model.

11 Digital Key rollout for Galaxy A56 5G begins in Korea, the UK, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. Features may vary depending on each country or region.

12 Digital Key rollout for Galaxy A36 5G begins in Korea, UAE, the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and the US. Features may vary depending on each country or region.