EdgeConneX, a global data center operator with regional headquarters in Singapore, is firmly set on catalyzing this shift. By deploying edge data centers across key markets in the Asia-Pacific region and forming strategic partnerships with local industry leaders, the company will establish a robust network infrastructure that aligns with recent escalating data demands through cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The APAC data center market is fit to burst

Source: Shutterstock

Kelvin Fong, EdgeConneX’s Managing Director for the APAC region, said: “Cloud technology and the increasing adoption of AI, are likely to lead to significant expansion into markets beyond the traditional APAC markets of Singapore and Hong Kong.” These new markets are developing now in India and Indonesia due to burgeoning digital transformations in their economies and throughout the region.

Mr. Fong noted that governments in Southeast Asian countries are also being more proactive and supportive towards digital infrastructure development. Leaders have picked up on how digital advancement can lay the foundation for exponential economic growth in the coming years, by attracting new skill sets, creating employment opportunities, and fostering innovation and global competitiveness.

Fiber investment has also worked as a data center investment driver. Don MacNeil, EdgeConneX’s Chief Revenue Officer, said: “Investments in fiber optics hold great significance, both domestically and across the wider region. They are notably simplifying the challenge of connectivity and adding essential network diversity.”

How EdgeConneX is reaching APAC

Malaysia

Government digitalization in Malaysia has spurred interest in expanding its data center infrastructure. Mr. Fong said: “The local government is playing a catalytic role by facilitating land sales, ensuring power availability, and streamlining administrative processes. These efforts are attracting data center operators and end-users to the area.”

Malaysia was also taking advantage of the data center moratorium in Singapore, which was only lifted in 2022, and attracted much of the country’s outbound traffic. As a result, the industries in Johor and Kuala Lumpur have seen significant growth and are now key markets.

He added that there are new opportunities for “mega-campuses” in Greater Kuala Lumpur rather than just the center, where limitations on space and power availability make it expensive. Mr. Fong said: “In fact, they have already opened up some of the technology parks just to cater to the hyper-scalers.” Last year, EdgeConneX unveiled its plans to build data centers in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Jalil in Greater Kuala Lumpur, and Cyberjaya, with nearly 300 MW of total capacity. Malaysia’s dense network connectivity, power availability, multiple port cities, and connections to 22 submarine cables position it as a strategic data center destination.

Indonesia

Indonesia is Asia’s third most populous country, and its population is still growing, so data demands are likely to continue escalating in parallel. In 2022, EdgeConneX acquired the GTN data center, which allowed the company to gain an initial foothold in its ninth market in Asia. In September this year, it secured $403.8 million in investment to support the growth of a 120 MW hyper-scale data center campus in Jakarta. As well as the capital, Mr. Fong says that Eastern Java and Batam are becoming key data center markets in Indonesia. He said: “They’re not just drawing in international demand, but also experiencing substantial domestic interest. With a thriving community of e-commerce and fintech enterprises in Indonesia, there’s a significant surge in locally-driven demand.”

China

In December 2021, EdgeConneX unveiled its new strategic partnership with leading Chinese data center provider Chayora to help expand its solutions throughout the mainland, including in Tianjin and Greater Shanghai. Tech Wire Asia recently spoke with Chayora CEO James Wei, to discover his insights on how China can sustain a thriving data center landscape going into 2024.

Philippines

In 2022, EdgeConneX forged a partnership with Aboitiz InfraCapital to capitalize on its extensive local market knowledge, as well as its land and power assets in the Philippines. Presently, discussions are underway with potential customers about breaking ground.

Mr. Fong noted: “Aboitiz brings a wealth of essential components to the table for success in the market. With ownership of power resources and real estate, as well as involvement in the construction industry, they offer crucial assets. These complement our [EdgeConneX] global data center platform, build, and operational capabilities, which is why we’ve partnered with Aboitiz.”

India

EdgeConneX has partnered with Adani Enterprises, India’s largest multi-infrastructure organization, since 2021. The joint venture ‘AdaniConneX’, has already set up a data center in Chennai and aims to build out 1 GW of data center capacity by 2030.

Mr. MacNeil stated: “Adani not only brings just the local infrastructure expertise of the Adani Group but, more importantly, the infrastructure supporting power transmission and generation. Adani Group has a similar goal for renewable, sustainable energy; to be at 25 GW by 2025, and it’s well underway. So, in many cases, India has the advantage of significant, fresh investment on all aspects – not only digital infrastructure but also the broader infrastructure requirements.”

Challenges faced by the APAC data center industry

One of the main challenges of expanding the data center industry in Asia is doing so sustainably. Getting access to renewable energy directly, rather than via carbon offsetting, can be difficult in certain countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. Mr. Fong said: “The region’s commitment to sustainability is evident, with countries like Indonesia and Malaysia planning to significantly ramp up their renewable energy generation in the coming years. These initiatives will eventually power the burgeoning data center industry, ensuring a greener and more sustainable digital future for Southeast Asia.”

EdgeConneX is making significant strides in sustainable data center development, even in countries where it is less straightforward. For example, the deal struck for the hyper-scale data center campus in Jakarta was explicitly for ‘sustainability-linked senior facilities’, meaning it will be equipped with sustainability capabilities. Adjustments will be made to the financing terms when EdgeConneX meets certain Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) concerning the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of data centers, the use of renewable electricity, and achieving safety goals.

Looking to the future

Source: Shutterstock

As Mr. MacNeil noted, “Over the next 24 months, we will see the impact of the next wave of data center expansion, driven by AI, building on the already healthy pace of growth of Cloud. All of that also driving the virtuous infrastructure expansion in connectivity through terrestrial fiber optics and submarine cable expansion – it’s exciting to be a part of this wave.”

According to the Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report 2023-2024, the region posted a 9 percent growth rate in digitally deliverable exports from 2015 to 2022, outpacing the global average of 6.8 percent. Now, the continuation of this growth is paired with ambitious sustainability and net-zero goals, pledged by many APAC countries including China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.

EdgeConneX’s strategic vision and collaborations aim not only to meet the burgeoning demands of Cloud and AI but also committed to contributing to growth in a responsible and sustainable manner across the Asia-Pacific data landscape.

Mr. Fong said: “This sets the momentum for our investments in Indonesia and Malaysia. We aim to seize this market opportunity as it begins to rise. Therefore, pinpointing the optimal locations and timing is crucial for our success in this endeavor.”

To explore EdgeConneX’s comprehensive array of cutting-edge data centers throughout the Asia-Pacific region, and to inquire about tailored data center solutions for your business, visit the EdgeConneX website today.

The post The view of APAC data centers in 2024: Trends, challenges, and EdgeConneX’s impact appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

The transformative role of AI in shaping the future of the built world is unfolding rapidly. From construction sites to engineering design, AI technologies are revolutionizing the way we build, optimize, and manage infrastructure.

In construction, AI is capable of providing valuable insights for decision-making based on the data it analyzes. This includes having access to real-time visibility. Traditionally, construction leaders relied on outdated designs, lagging schedules, and performance metrics lacking real-time insights. AI changes this landscape. Real-time visibility allows adjustments that uplift project profitability, reduce delays, and enhance safety.

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AI also helps improve maintenance and safety schedules. AI algorithms analyze sensor data to predict equipment failures. By identifying potential issues before they escalate, construction companies can reduce downtime, improve safety, and save costs. Predictive maintenance ensures that machinery operates efficiently and minimizes unexpected breakdowns.

For AI in engineering, the ability for plants to have smart production lines is just one of the many capabilities AI offers. This also helps businesses minimize waste, and improve overall efficiency.

At the same time, AI-powered sensors detect anomalies in infrastructure, ensuring safety and longevity. Whether it’s bridges, dams, or high-rise buildings, real-time monitoring helps prevent catastrophic failures. AI models can also analyze energy consumption patterns in buildings and industrial facilities. By optimizing heating, cooling, and lighting systems, engineers reduce environmental impact and operational costs and meet sustainability requirements.

Another interesting capability for AI in engineering is in design simulation. AI assists engineers in creating innovative designs. Whether it’s simulating fluid dynamics, stress analysis, or material behavior, AI-driven simulations enhance product performance and reliability.

While AI promises immense benefits, challenges remain. Ensuring data quality, interdisciplinary collaboration, and ethical considerations are crucial. Engineers must stay updated on AI advancements and embrace continuous learning.

Image of Gamuda_s Autonomous Tunnel Boring Machine in Malaysia

AI in engineering and construction in Malaysia

As a developing nation, Malaysia continues to build new infrastructures to meet the demands of the industry. The country is already home to the most number of skyscrapers in the region and does not look to be slowing down in building more.

Apart from that, Malaysia is also actively constructing new rail networks to connect the capital to more cities around the country. While there are several huge construction and engineering companies in Malaysia, Gamuda Berhad has been leveraging technology for some time in its operations.

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Gamuda recently announced expansion plans with Google Cloud to make enterprise-grade generative AI capabilities accessible and useful to every Gamuda employee, empowering them to more efficiently and innovatively deliver engineering, construction, and public infrastructure projects in the region.

“Always a forerunner in technological adoption, generative AI for Gamuda is another step forward in our continuous digital innovation journey to transform a highly traditional industry, which is engineering and construction. Through the Gamuda Innovation Hub, we’re breaking new ground with a digital and data-driven approach for construction while upskilling talent in Google Cloud competencies to set them on new career paths in our industry,” said John Lim Ji Xiong, Group Chief Digital Officer, Gamuda Berhad.

“Google Cloud is our cloud provider of choice because of their vast expertise in planetary-scale data management and cutting-edge AI, coupled with the intuitiveness of their developer platforms and tools. These make it very easy for our workforce to even build their own gen AI tools to address challenges in their work—in a manner that is private and secure.”

In implementing generative AI, Gamuda developed the Gamuda Digital Operating System (GDOS), which is a standard ecosystem of tools for every Gamuda project where enterprise data is consolidated and underpinned by a unified data cloud platform. This includes data from mission-critical systems like Autodesk Construction Cloud and SAP S4/HANA. Notably, this follows the successful migration of Gamuda’s SAP S4/HANA systems from Amazon Web Services (AWS) to Google Cloud in 2023, supported by Google Cloud partner Cloudspace.

“Moving all our compute workloads, including SAP S4/HANA to Google Cloud, allowed us to harmonize our compute and data in a single cloud platform, thereby enabling the team to focus on driving value-creating use cases and shifting the focus away from managing infrastructure. Google Cloud’s BigQuery data warehouse and workload-optimized infrastructure delivers cost savings, is easy to use, and helps us derive more value from our data footprint,” explained Lim.

A unified data cloud provides Gamuda’s design, engineering, finance, supply chain, and field operations teams with a holistic, integrated, and real-time view of all project workflows. This enables agile, data-driven decision-making throughout the process of delivering complex, long-term projects in Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, and Taiwan.

To safeguard its enterprise data and core digital systems, Gamuda has implemented Google Cloud’s Security Command Center Premium platform, which is powered by machine learning, for advanced threat detection and prevention, attack path simulation, and upholding regulatory compliance.

Autonomous Tunnel Boring Machine Created by Gemini 2

AI in tunnelling

One initiative that digs deep into the core of Gamuda’s tunneling competencies is the use of Google Cloud’s Gemini models on the Vertex AI platform to build and integrate a generative AI-powered conversational agent into its cloud-based Tunnel Insight platform, with support from CloudMile, a Google Cloud partner,

Powered by Google Cloud, Tunnel Insight ingests, presents, and analyzes sensor data from the world’s first autonomous tunnel boring machines (A-TBMs) developed in-house by Gamuda. Guided by sophisticated algorithms to automate repetitive operational tasks like machine steering, and advance and muck excavation, these A-TBMs are being used for better tunneling in construction projects like the Defu and West Coast Mass Rapid Transit stations and tunnels in Singapore and the Sydney Metro West-Western Tunnelling Package in Australia.

The vast amount of data that is continuously generated by such operations can make it challenging for staff to extract insights at pace for timelier responses to geological changes or maintenance needs. The generative AI-powered conversational agent is therefore being used by staff to quickly extract relevant summaries and instructions from a vast repository of machine documentation to ease the maintenance process, and easily interpret data charts on machine performance in natural language.

Gamuda has also been using Vertex AI Search and Conversation to build generative search and chat applications for its market intelligence, design, and technical teams. These employees can now synthesize thousands of pages of research documentation into crisp summaries within minutes and query data from hundreds of past projects for insights to inform new project tender proposals.

“Google Cloud’s enterprise AI stack has accelerated our gen AI innovation cycles, allowing us to go from concept to impact much faster than we had hoped. With Vertex AI’s out-of-box capabilities, even employees with zero specialist AI knowledge can build, deploy, and gain value from functional generative applications in a matter of weeks. With access to world-class foundation models and easy-to-use APIs, Google Cloud enables Gamuda to lay the groundwork for a marketplace of expertise and insight at our fingertips,” added Lim.

Meanwhile, Patrick Wee, Country Manager, Malaysia, Google Cloud, commented, “Construction has traditionally been a labor- and process-intensive industry with lengthy project cycles, but Gamuda has swiftly transformed this paradigm by embracing digitalization and gen AI at scale on Google Cloud. They’re merging diverse data streams to solve real-world challenges while saving time and costs—and they’re setting a powerful example for enterprises seeking rapid innovation through the convergence of modern infrastructure, data analytics, security, and AI.”

The post AI in Construction and Engineering: Building the Future appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

In a twist of events, Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD) finds itself at a standstill as it faces hurdles from the US government in its endeavor to sell AI chips explicitly tailored for the Chinese market. This roadblock, part of Washington’s broader crackdown on exporting advanced technologies to China, sheds light on the intricate interplay between global trade dynamics and national security concerns.

AMD’s aspiration to secure approval from the US Commerce Department to sell the AI processor to Chinese customers has hit a snag. The chip in question, the MI309, is designed to cater specifically to the demands of the Chinese market, representing AMD’s ambitious foray to capture the attention of Chinese consumers and businesses alike.

Despite designing the chip with lower performance metrics to comply with US export restrictions, officials have still deemed it too powerful. Consequently, AMD finds itself in a quandary, with US authorities mandating the acquisition of a license from the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security before the sale can go ahead.

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“AMD had hoped to gain a green light from the Commerce Department to sell the AI processor to Chinese customers since it performs at a lower level than what the company sells outside of China,” Bloomberg reported. 

The MI309 and its hurdles

One of the pivotal moments in AMD’s journey came with the realization that its presence in China’s AI chip sector lagged behind that of its competitors, most notably Nvidia. In response, AMD intensified its efforts to capture market share and establish itself as a formidable contender in China’s burgeoning AI chip market. But the path forward was uncertain as regulatory scrutiny and export restrictions loomed.

Despite the daunting challenges, AMD pressed forward, unveiling its latest innovation, the Instinct MI309 chip, tailored specifically for the Chinese market. With its advanced features and tailored design, the MI309 chip represented a bold step forward for AMD, signaling its commitment to innovation and growth in adversity. However, the journey was far from smooth sailing, as the MI309 chip encountered regulatory hurdles and faced scrutiny from US authorities.

What will AMD do about its AI chip hurdles?

While AMD remains tight-lipped about its next steps, the Bureau of Industry and Security too has refrained from commenting on the matter, leaving the situation uncertain. The ambiguity surrounding AMD’s potential course of action has naturally fueled speculation about its future trajectory and ability to navigate the intricate web of regulatory frameworks.

AMD received licenses from the Commerce Department last August to sell its advanced AI chips, including its flagship MI250 data center GPU, to Chinese customers like cloud giants Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu. AMD was poised to grab market share from rival Nvidia, which had most of its AI chip sales to China blocked by previous US export rules.

In fact, AMD’s opportunity in China looked huge, as the country aims to build a US$400 billion semiconductor industry to support its tech ambitions in areas like AI, 5G, and supercomputing. Chinese companies were hungry for advanced AI accelerators to power large language models, computer vision, and other cutting-edge applications.

But in early October, the Biden administration imposed new export controls restricting shipments of high-end AI chips and chip-making tools to China. The rules were intended to cut off China’s access to technologies that could aid its military capabilities. The new rules blindsided AMD and its Chinese partners. 

The MI250 and other advanced AMD AI chips appeared to fall under the new restrictions, halting the company’s AI chip sales to China. For now, the mystery persists over the identity of the Chinese client eyeing AMD’s AI chips, a crucial factor in the company’s potential licensing prospects. 

Meanwhile, Chinese tech giants like Tencent and Baidu have fortified their chip reserves from Nvidia, anticipating regulatory hurdles. On another front, Huawei is forging ahead with its AI semiconductor development, aiming to bridge the gap left by US restrictions and bolster China’s chip sovereignty.

The post AMD’s Chinese AI chip plan halted by US govt: What’s next? appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

In a move set to redefine Malaysia’s digital landscape, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has forged strategic partnerships with two of the country’s leading telecommunications giants, Maxis and CelcomDigi, at the Mobile World Congress 2024 (MWC 2024) in Barcelona. The announcements mark a significant step forward in Malaysia’s local technological innovation, as the collaboration promises to unleash the potential of generative AI and 5G connectivity like never before.

By integrating generative AI into its suite of cloud services, AWS has been empowering businesses to extract valuable insights from data, enhance customer interactions, and drive innovation at scale. But perhaps most exciting of all is the potential for generative AI to democratize creativity and innovation. By providing businesses access to powerful AI tools and resources, AWS is leveling the playing field and enabling organizations of all sizes to compete globally.

Multiple Amazon AWS announcements at MWC demonstrate how telecom and technology markets are merging. Cloud/hyperscaler companies are crtical parts of telecom service providers' infrastructure #mwc24 pic.twitter.com/9sjRo3dTE8

— Ian Fogg (@ianfogg42) February 26, 2024

AWS & CelcomDigi at MWC 2024

By harnessing the power of AWS’s cloud capabilities, CelcomDigi aims to co-create innovative generative AI solutions tailored to the telecommunications industry. CelcomDigi will be tapping into Amazon Bedrock’s cutting-edge technology to revolutionize its operations. This fully managed service provides access to top-tier AI models and ensures security, privacy, and responsible AI practices. 

Through its Innovation Centre, CelcomDigi is establishing an AI Sandbox, offering its employees a playground to explore and implement generative AI solutions. This initiative isn’t just about experimentation but driving innovation across various departments, including HR, customer service, legal, and finance. 

AWS and CelcomDigi sign Letter of Collaboration at MWC 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

With the combined expertise of CelcomDigi’s IT engineers and AWS AI specialists, the company is poised to unlock the full potential of generative AI and integrate it seamlessly into its operational platforms. CelcomDigi and AWS are also teaming up to provide AI training for CelcomDigi staff. 

“CelcomDigi is already integrating its knowledge-based AI chatbot with Amazon Bedrock, crafting a comprehensive platform for accessing organizational and HR data. This innovative approach streamlines workflows enhances employee experiences, and fosters a culture of continuous learning and development,” AWS said following the signing of a Letter of Collaboration at MWC 2024.

CelcomDigi is also teaming up with Amazon’s Bedrock, diving into linguistic diversity, to develop Bahasa Melayu language algorithms. Using Amazon Titan and Anthropic Claude models equipped with cutting-edge deep learning algorithms, CelcomDigi aims to create innovative solutions such as chatbots tailored to its culturally diverse customer base. 

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But the collaboration continues beyond there. CelcomDigi and AWS are trying to revolutionize the Malaysian business landscape with personalized generative AI applications spanning various industries and consumer experiences.

“CelcomDigi’s collaboration with AWS is a great example of how telcos can enhance end-to-end operational efficiency and redefine the user experience for both employees and customers with the power of generative AI technology,” Pete Murray, Country Manager, Malaysia at AWS, said in a press release. Murray reckons with AWS, CelcomDigi can drive new use cases at scale with AI-optimized infrastructure and the flexibility to choose fit-for-purpose foundational models through Amazon Bedrock. 

“This collaboration also accelerates the delivery of innovative AI services to Malaysian enterprises. We are excited to support CelcomDigi in advancing its 5G and AI transformation with our upcoming AWS Region in Malaysia and our joint commitment to develop AI talent in the country,” he added. 

AWS and Maxis at MWC 2024

In 2019 when Maxis joins Amazon Partner Network (APN) to deliver cloud solutions to businesses in Malaysia. Maxis currently has the largest pool of AWS-trained employees in Malaysia.

As for Maxis and AWS, the two took the stage at MWC 2024 to share the announcement that they are joining forces to bring cutting-edge 5G and generative AI innovations to the forefront of business. Targeting critical sectors like retail, manufacturing, logistics, and financial services, this collaboration hopes to ignite innovation, helping Malaysian enterprises to thrive in the digital age.

By integrating advanced AI technologies into real-world use cases, Maxis will offer tailored solutions designed to adapt and evolve alongside the ever-changing needs of businesses.

Central to this collaboration is the integration of generative AI and language models tailored to support the Bahasa Melayu language. This strategic move accelerates the digital transformation journey for Malaysian businesses.

The collaboration cements Maxis’ status in the realm of cloud services. As Malaysia’s first telco to achieve AWS Advanced Tier Services Partner status, Maxis is leading the charge in delivering unparalleled connectivity and cloud solutions to enterprises nationwide.

“We are pleased to expand our collaboration with AWS to bring next-generation digital capabilities to Malaysian businesses. As Malaysia’s leading integrated telecommunications provider, we look forward to enabling our customers with the power of 5G and Generative AI,” Maxis CEO Goh Seow Eng said.

Since forging their partnership in 2019, Maxis and AWS have been at the forefront of driving technological innovation in Malaysia. Through strategic collaborations and a shared vision for the future, Maxis continues to leverage the power of partnerships to meet the diverse digital needs of enterprises, ensuring they stay ahead in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. 

The post AWS strikes AI collaboration deals with Malaysian telcos at MWC 2024 appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

When it comes to the landscape of semiconductor production, the US has found itself in a peculiar position: absent from the forefront of leading-edge chip manufacturing. This absence, glaring in recent years, reflects a complex interplay of factors ranging from outsourcing to regulatory hurdles. However, as the global pandemic tightened its grip on supply chains, the US embarked on a concerted effort to revitalize its semiconductor industry. 

Now, amid renewed urgency and a strategic vision, the nation has taken a reasonably ambitious stance to reclaim its status as a formidable player in chip manufacturing. “Our investments in leading-edge logic chip manufacturing will put this country on track to produce roughly 20% of the world’s leading-edge logic chips by the end of the decade,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said during a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on February 26, 2024.

“That’s a big deal,” Raimondo added. “Why is that a big deal? Because folks, today we’re at zero.” Her speech came a year following the initiation of funding applications under the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act by the US Department of Commerce. With a staggering US$39 billion earmarked for manufacturing incentives, the stage has been set for a transformative journey in the semiconductor landscape. 

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Raimondo’s ambitious vision, unveiled concurrently, delineates the path ahead. By 2030, the US aims to spearhead the design and manufacture of cutting-edge chips, establishing dedicated fabrication plant clusters to realize this audacious objective. She outlined how, besides everything else, there’s been a significant shift in the need for advanced semiconductor chips due to AI. 

(FILES) US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo testifies during the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP).

“When we started this, generative AI wasn’t even part of our vocabulary. Now, it’s everywhere. Training a single large language model takes tens of thousands of leading-edge semiconductor chips. The truth is that AI will be the defining technology of our generation. You can’t lead in AI if you don’t lead in making leading-edge chips. And so our work in implementing the CHIPS Act became much more important,” Raimondo emphasized.

The US meeting its goal will create “hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs,” Raimondo said Monday. “The truth of it is the US does lead, right? We do lead. We lead in the design of chips and the development of large AI language models. But we don’t manufacture or package any leading-edge chips that we need to fuel AI and our innovation ecosystem, including chips necessary for national defense. We don’t make it in America, and the brutal fact is the US cannot lead the world as a technology and innovation leader on such a shaky foundation,” she iterated.

Why is there a gap between US and chip manufacturing?

The US grappled with a significant gap in chip manufacturing for several reasons. Firstly, many semiconductor companies outsourced their manufacturing operations overseas to cut costs, leading to a decline in domestic chip production capacity. Secondly, as semiconductor technology advanced, the complexity and cost of building cutting-edge fabrication facilities increased, discouraging investment in new fabs. 

Additionally, global competitors like Taiwan, South Korea, and China expanded their semiconductor industries rapidly, intensifying competition. Furthermore, while other countries provided substantial government support to their semiconductor industries, the US fell behind. Then, there were regulatory hurdles, and environmental regulations make building and operating semiconductor fabs in the US challenging and costly. 

A combination of outsourcing, technological challenges, global competition, lack of government support, and regulatory issues contributed to the US’s gap in chip manufacturing, with none of the world’s leading-edge chips being produced domestically.

And then the world woke up one day in deperate need of leading-edge semiconductors to fuel the next industrial revolution, and the US realized its mistake.

“We need to make these chips in America. We need more talent development in America. We need more research and development in America and just a lot more manufacturing at scale,” Raimondo said in her speech at CSIS.

2030 vision: prioritizing future-ready projects

US President Joe Biden greets attendees after delivering remarks on his economic plan at TSMC chip manufacturing facility. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI/AFP).

Raimondo declared that the US will first prioritize projects that will be operational by the end of this decade. “I want to be clear: there are many worthy proposals that we’ve received with plans to come online after 2030, and we’re saying no, for now, to those projects because we want to maximize our impact in this decade,” she clarified.

The US will give priority to “excellent projects that could come online this year” instead of granting incentives to projects that will come online in 10 or 12 years from now. She also referred back to the goal mentioned last year – when the US is all said and done with this CHIPS initiative – to have at least two new large-scale clusters of leading-edge logic fabs, each of those clusters employing thousands of workers. 

“I’m pleased to tell you today we expect to exceed that target,” she claimed. So far, the Commerce Department has awarded grants to three companies in the chip industry as part of the CHIPS Act: BAE Systems, Microchip Technology, and, most recently, a significant US$1.5 billion grant to GlobalFoundries. Additional funding is anticipated for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Samsung Electronics as they establish new facilities within the US.

Raimondo also highlighted her nation’s commitment to supporting the production of older-generation chips, referred to as mature-node or legacy chips. “We’re not losing sight of the importance of current generation and mature node chips, which you all know are essential for cars, medical devices, defense systems, and critical infrastructure.”

Yet the lion’s share of investments, totaling US$28 billion out of US$39 billion, is earmarked for leading-edge chips. Raimondo emphasized that this program aims for targeted investments rather than scattering funds widely. She disclosed that the Department has received over US$70 billion in requests from leading-edge companies alone.

For now, anticipation is high for the Commerce Department’s new round of grant announcements, scheduled to coincide with President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on March 7. Among the expected recipients is TSMC, which is establishing new Arizona facilities.

Two months ago, the rhetoric was centered on China. Today, it’s firmly USA-first.

The post Zero to 20%: US aims for chip domination by 2030 appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

With AI making a bigger impact in organizations today, one of the biggest challenges companies face is making sure employees do not feel burdened or worried about the technology replacing them. While there is no denying that some roles will eventually be replaced by AI, most companies want to have their employees working with AI or improving their skills to work on other tasks.

As such, there continues to be a constant debate on the description of roles for employees today. For example, graphic designers are able to save a lot more time by USing AI-generated images to develop new content. But they also need to know how to work with the technology to create images that would match their requirements.

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Other roles that could potentially be impacted by AI are in the customer service industry. While customer-facing roles are still relevant, other roles dealing with customers are increasingly being taken over by AI. Employees in these roles would now need to upskill themselves to work with these technologies in order to remain a valuable asset to their organization.

Tomer Cohen, LinkedIn’s Chief Product Officer

According to a report by Gartner, employees who believe that their jobs can be replaced by AI have a 27% lower intent to stay in their organization. At an average organization of 10,000 employees, this decrease in intent to stay costs US$53 million per year in total costs and lost productivity.

The impact of generative AI on jobs and workers will vary greatly depending on labor market dynamics and other demand drivers. This blend of certainty and uncertainty makes it difficult for executive leaders to create solid workforce plans that align with their technology and business investments.

So how can organizations keep employees satisfied with their roles as they implement new technologies at work? And how will the adoption of generative AI change job scopes and descriptions?

To understand more about this, Tech Wire Asia spoke to Tomer Cohen, LinkedIn’s chief product officer. Cohen shared insights on the evolving work landscape, especially the transformative role AI plays in businesses in the Asia Pacific region.

By 2030, we will need 68% different skills than we do now to do the same jobs we have today. (Image generated by AI without a shred of irony).

How will the increased adoption of AI change roles and job scopes at organizations?

AI is going to transform how we work across every field, function and industry. It will also dramatically change our career paths, as more than half of the jobs in the world will be affected by AI in some way. This is especially true for countries like Singapore, India and Indonesia, where around 60% of the jobs will be disrupted or enhanced by AI in the next several years. That’s why employees and employers need to invest in AI literacy – learning new skills and adapting to working with AI. Those who do it will be more successful.

What can businesses do to cope with these changes, especially in ensuring their employees are able to work with the technology and not be made redundant?

AI is changing the way we work, even if we are keeping the same jobs. By 2030, we will need 68% different skills than we do now to do the same jobs we have today. But many people don’t know how to work with AI and use it at work. That’s why businesses need to help their employees learn and grow their skills. They need to close the AI proficiency gap and create a culture of learning that values and encourages the development of both AI and soft skills and encourages people to move within the company. This will make their employees happier and more productive, and their businesses more successful.

In APAC, over a third of businesses (~40%) are already doing this today, and many prioritize learning using online courses, internal training, and hands-on AI tools, and they can see the benefits of it.

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Aaron Raj | 23 August, 2023

For example, Bunnings, a leading retailer of home improvement and outdoor living products, is one example of a company that is investing in its employees to help them learn new skills, improve their knowledge, and fill the gaps in their capabilities.

It is creating a culture of learning and development by demonstrating and communicating that careers can be built, whether that’s in one role by continuously developing and building skills over time or moving internally. Additionally, they also conduct regular pulse checks with their employees to gauge engagement levels and ensure that opportunities for skill development and career growth are available.

Given the increased impact of AI in the workplace, what skills will no longer be relevant for employees?

AI and automation are changing the skills that employers look for in job candidates with 88% of employers in APAC changing the skills and qualifications they look for in job candidates due to automation and AI. In the next six years, we will also need to change an estimated 68% of our skills to keep up with the new demands. That means we have to re-think our work and how AI can help us do it better. How some tasks like taking notes can be completely automated by AI.

But some tasks, like coding or brainstorming new business ideas, can be amplified with AI. We need to learn how to use AI tools to make our work easier and better, but we also need to focus on the skills that make us human. These are the skills that hiring managers in APAC value the most in the era of AI: problem-solving, communication, critical thinking, and the ability to learn quickly.

Employees using AI at work. (Image generated by AI).

What skills should employees look to learn more to remain relevant in their companies?

The reality is many people don’t know how to maximize the capabilities of AI yet. That means there is a lot of room for improvement and learning. We need to focus on the skills that make us human, like working with others, solving problems, and thinking critically. These are the soft skills that employers want the most; 94% of L&D professionals in APAC recognize the growing significance of human skills, especially communication, which has emerged as the top sought-after soft skill in several countries including Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, and Singapore. Other critical soft skills that rank highly in these markets are analytical skills and leadership.

Learning AI skills, like how to understand natural language, can also open up new opportunities and possibilities for us.

What are the biggest challenges employers face when it comes to retaining top talent amid this dynamic landscape?

Retaining the best talent can be hard, with more than 90% of organizations in APAC concerned about employee retention. Fostering professional growth and learning is their number one goal to help them stay engaged and upskill.

Looking at the generation gap in the workforce, especially between Gen Zs, millennials and boomers, should businesses prioritize experience or skills more when it comes to retaining talent and working with emerging technologies?

Jobs are changing fast, and we need to change with them. That means experience alone is not enough. Businesses need to help their employees learn new skills and keep up with the latest technologies. This will make their employees more productive, adaptable, and loyal.

Employers in APAC know this, and they increasingly are looking for candidates showing a growth mindset and a strong ability to learn. They want people who have both soft skills and AI skills. These are the skills that matter the most currently in these markets: problem-solving, communication, critical thinking, AI know-how, and IT & web skills.

Will AI replace humans at work? (Image generated by AI).

Lastly, what is LinkedIn doing to help both employees and employers adapt to new changes at work?

We have always used AI to help our customers find the best matches, whether it’s for jobs, learning, or networking. But now we are taking AI to the next level and we’re bringing it to the forefront. We have the advantage of being part of Microsoft, which gives us access to the latest AI technology. We also have the data from our economic graph, which shows us what’s going on in the world of work. This helps us to help our customers adapt and succeed in the age of AI.

We have been working hard to create amazing AI experiences for our members and customers. We have reimagined all of our products, from recruiting to advertising to sales to learning. We have used LinkedIn’s unique platform and insights from our huge network of one billion professionals, 67 million companies, and 41 million skills. This has created a lot of value for our customers and helped them to focus on the most important and human aspects of their work.

LinkedIn is now using AI to increase the value we bring through our products. This includes making the hiring process easier and faster by using AI to help with writing job descriptions, sending messages, and finding the best candidates. Our AI can understand natural language and help companies express their hiring goals.

For marketers, we have simplified the campaign creation process. We have used AI to help them create and run campaigns with just one click. We have also used AI to optimize their campaigns and target the right audiences. Meanwhile, for sales professionals, we have enhanced Sales Navigator with two new AI features. These are AI-assisted search and Account IQ. These features help them research accounts and find leads more effectively. They help them focus on what matters most: building relationships with buyers and customers.

There are also several other features for premium subscribers, including profile writing suggestions, a new tool that helps you to craft engaging Headline and About sections — which can lead to nearly 2x the number of opportunities.

Lastly, for employees who want skills to adapt to the new era of work, the LinkedIn Learning courses are available for free until May 31, 2024. These courses will help them build the most in-demand skills.

If you upskill to work alongside AI, you might be able to get the doors open. Maybe.

The post How LinkedIn is helping employers and employees with AI at work appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

Tech companies continue to give developers more options to develop AI use cases through open source AI models. Developers can access open source AI models to modify and contribute to various projects and tools. The goal of open source AI is to accelerate the development and innovation of AI technologies, as well as to ensure their transparency, accountability, and ethical use.

Today, open source AI can be used for various tasks and applications, such as content creation, email marketing, ad targeting, natural language processing, computer vision, robotics, and more. Open source AI can also help democratize AI by making it more accessible and affordable to everyone.

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But open source AI also comes with some challenges and risks, such as security, privacy, quality, and governance issues. Therefore, it is important to use open source AI responsibly and ethically and to follow the best practices and guidelines of the community.

Some examples of open AI models are:

• OpenAI’s GPT-4 – a large multimodal model that can understand and generate natural language or code.
• OpenAI’s Sora – a text-to-video model that can create realistic and imaginative scenes from text instructions.
• Meta’s – PyTorch – a framework for developing and training deep learning models, with a focus on flexibility and dynamic computation graphs.
• Meta’s LLaMA 2 – a large language model that can generate natural language from text prompts, and is free for anyone to use.

Is Gemma really an open source AI model?

Google joins the open AI community with Gemma

Google Gemma is a family of lightweight, state-of-the-art open models built from the same research and technology used to create the Gemini models. According to Burak Gokturk, VP & GM of Cloud AI at Google, Google Cloud customers can start customizing and building with Gemma models in Vertex AI and running them on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE).

Gemma will be available in two variants: Gemma 2B (2 billion parameters) and Gemma 7B (7 billion parameters). Each size is released with pre-trained and instruction-tuned variants. There is also a new Responsible Generative AI Toolkit that provides guidance and essential tools for creating safer AI applications with Gemma.

Other features include:

• Toolchains for inference and supervised fine-tuning (SFT) across all major frameworks: JAX, PyTorch, and TensorFlow through native Keras 3.0.
• Ready-to-use Colab and Kaggle notebooks, alongside integration with popular tools such as Hugging Face, MaxText, Nvidia NeMo and TensorRT-LLM, make it easy to get started with Gemma.
• Pre-trained and instruction-tuned Gemma models can run on your laptop, workstation, or Google Cloud with easy deployment on Vertex AI and Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE).
• Optimization across multiple AI hardware platforms ensures industry-leading performance, including Nvidia GPUsand Google Cloud TPUs.
• Terms of use permit responsible commercial usage and distribution for all organizations, regardless of size.

Google has also claimed that Gemma outperforms Meta’s LLaMA 2 on several benchmarks as demonstrated in the image below.

Comparison between Gemma and LLaMA 2. (Source – Google).

“By using Gemma models on Vertex AI, developers can take advantage of an end-to-end ML platform that makes tuning, managing, and monitoring models simple and intuitive. With Vertex AI, builders can reduce operational overhead and focus on creating bespoke versions of Gemma that are optimized for their use case,” said Gokturk.

For example, using Gemma models on Vertex AI, developers can:

• Build generative AI apps for lightweight tasks such as text generation, summarization, and Q&A
• Enable research and development using lightweight but customized models for exploration and experimentation
• Support real-time generative AI use cases that require low latency, such as streaming text

While Google hopes Gemma will be an open source AI model, there have been reports that Gemma stops being fully open source. As such, Google still may have a hand in setting terms of use and ownership.

A report by Reuters explained that some experts have said open source AI was ripe for abuse, while others have championed the approach for widening the set of people who can contribute to and benefit from the technology.

Google and Nvidia

In a blog post, Nvidia stated that teams from both companies worked closely together to accelerate the performance of Gemma with Nvidia TensorRT-LLM. The Nvidia TensorRT-LLM is an open-source library for optimizing large language model inference when running on Nvidia GPUs in the data center, in the cloud and on PCs with Nvidia RTX GPUs.

This allows developers to target the installed base of over 100 million Nvidia RTX GPUs available in high-performance AI PCs globally.

Nvidia said Gemma will be supported by Chat with RTX. Chat with RTX is an Nvidia tech demo that uses retrieval-augmented generation and TensorRT-LLM software to give users generative AI capabilities on their local, RTX-powered Windows PCs.

Chat with RTX lets users personalize a chatbot with their own data by easily connecting local files on a PC to a large language model. As the model runs locally, it will be able to provide fast results while also ensuring user data stays on the device.

The post Google Gemma: An open source AI model for everyone? appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

One of the biggest problems in dealing with cybersecurity is the number of solutions that are available in the market today. While each cybersecurity solution caters to the specific needs of an organization, managing them can be a real challenge, especially for small cybersecurity teams. It’s like playing poker with a whole half-pack of cards. Card management quickly gets out of hand.

While there are managed service providers that can help manage cybersecurity, not all companies have the luxury of using them, due to budgetary or regulatory constraints. Industries like financial services, for example, require security systems that are capable of giving them complete visibility of their systems.

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This is where security information and event management (SIEM) solutions come in. SIEM is a central element of most mature information security systems, so it has to meet all relevant market requirements and take into account the changing landscape of cyberthreats.

SIEM often struggles to detect threats in the cloud due to different data formats, high transfer costs and data privacy regulations. As such, having a unified console allows organizations not only to have greater visibility on their cybersecurity, but also to take the necessary actions.

Kaspersky noticed a previously unknown mobile APT campaign with KUMA.

Kaspersky’s Unified Monitoring and Analyzing Platform

Kaspersky’s Unified Monitoring and Analyzing Platform (KUMA) is a unified console for monitoring and analyzing information security incidents. The fundamental program includes the following components:

• One or more Collectors that receive messages from event sources and parse, normalize, and, if required, filter and/or aggregate them.
• A Correlator that analyzes normalized events received from Collectors, performs the necessary actions with active lists and creates alerts in accordance with the correlation rules.
• The Core includes a graphical interface to monitor and manage the settings of system components.
• The Storage contains normalized events and registered incidents.

Advantages of KUMA include:

• High performance: 300k+ EPS per KUMA instance
• Low system requirements: Virtual or physical environment and up to 10k EPS AiO on one virtual server
• Scalability: Flexible microservice architecture with HA support for each component
• Unified web console interface: Single fully multi-tenancy UI console for everything
• Out-of-the-box integration: With third-party products and Kaspersky solutions
• Low entry threshold: Does not require knowledge of special query languages or writing rules

Thanks to the integration with the Kaspersky CyberTrace platform, which processes reports from the National Coordination Center for Computer Incidents, the researcher can extract compromise indicators and use them to detect events in SIEM. KUMA expands the capabilities of analysts, and allows businesses and organizations to optimize the budget for cybersecurity, providing protection at the optimal level.

“Threat actors increasingly use diverse tactics to launch sophisticated targeted attacks. So it is essential to use a platform that can provide a centralized view of security events in quickly identifying and responding to potential threats such as SIEM. A SIEM is commonly used for compliance support with internal security policies and external regulatory requirements, said Victor Chu, head of systems engineering for South East Asia at Kaspersky.

He explained that KUMA empowers cybersecurity teams’ efficiency in detecting, investigating, and responding to complex cyber-incidents with the approach of XDR (Extended Detection and Response) capabilities.

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Organizations, of different sizes and maturity, can deploy KUMA to receive security events from various third-party sources and security tools while correlating these events with contextual threat intelligence feeds to identify suspicious or anomalous activities thus providing timely notification of security incidents.

By collecting security events from all security controls and correlating them in real-time with advanced analytics, KUMA aggregates all the information needed for further incident investigation and response. So using KUMA helps organizations gain the visibility and context needed to understand their security posture and risks.

Chu also explained that there is some degree of automation in Kuma. When anomalies are detected, KUMA is not only able to flag them but also isolate them from causing any more problems to the system.

Interestingly, this also helps businesses deal with the shortage of cybersecurity skills in the industry. Chu believes that while AI can help with some cybersecurity tasks, there still needs to be some human intervention in managing them. However, with AI, some processes can be sped up, reducing the burden on stretched-out cybersecurity teams.

“When it comes to cybersecurity, even the most secure operating systems can be compromised. As APT actors are constantly evolving their tactics and searching for new weaknesses to exploit, businesses must prioritize the security of their systems. This involves providing employees and technical teams with the latest tools to effectively recognize and defend against potential threats as well as timely remediation of incidents,” says Yeo Siang Tiong, general manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky.

Victor Chu, head of systems engineering for South East Asia at Kaspersky and Yeo Siang Tiong, general manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky.

Cybersecurity in Malaysia

During a media briefin, Yeo explained that KUMA will be beneficial for organizations in Malaysia. According to the report by Kaspersky, the dangers of phishing, scams, data breaches, and geopolitically-motivated cyberattacks are seen to continue targeting organizations and individuals from the region.

In Malaysia, Kaspersky blocked 26.854,304 internet-borne attacks. This amount is equivalent to about 74,000 attacks a day. When it comes to local infections, Kaspersky detected and foiled 22 million infections in 2023, which is more than 60,000 a day.

For organizations, these figures will only lead to security teams being overwhelmed. Yeo also highlighted that 2024 will only see more cybersecurity incidents targeting both individuals and organizations. Romance scams, money laundering, illegal gambling and crypto-fraud are some of the cybersecurity activities that will increase this year.

“We could not emphasize enough to the public and corporates that practicing cyber-hygiene is an essential step to keep the local threats at bay. Offline method of attacks usually requires human action in order to be successful. As our previous research showed, employees breaching security protocols are now as dangerous as external hacking against a company. I encourage organizations to look closely into how they can strengthen the human factor of their security posture,” added Yeo.

The post Why businesses need a unified monitoring and analysis platform for cybersecurity appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

Once a dominant semiconductor force, Intel has faced significant challenges from rising competitors in recent decades. But, fueled by a strategic overhaul and innovative technologies in recent years, the Silicon Valley behemoth is primed for a resurgence. In 2021, Intel initiated its comeback with an extensive technology roadmap, culminating this week in the launch of its contract chip manufacturing business. Branded as the “world’s first systems foundry” for the AI era, the move signals Intel’s intention to challenge Asian rivals like TSMC and Samsung for industry supremacy.

In a strategic pivot unveiled on February 21, Intel rebranded its contract chip-making venture from Intel Foundry Services to the sleeker, more succinct title of Intel Foundry. This renaming marks a significant step in CEO Pat Gelsinger’s plan, announced in early 2021, to revitalize Intel’s manufacturing sector and establish a formidable presence in the chipmaking ecosystem. Embracing Gelsinger’s ambitious IDM 2.0 strategy, Intel Foundry represents an evolution of the company’s integrated device manufacturing model. 

Pat Gelsinger, Intel CEO, introduces Intel Foundry during the Intel Foundry Direct Connect event on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in San Jose, California. (Credit: Intel Corporation).

This initiative involves substantial investments in manufacturing capabilities, alongside a renewed focus on contract chip manufacturing and strategic collaborations with external foundries. With Intel Foundry at its core, Gelsinger’s comeback blueprint aims to fortify Intel’s product lineup and position the company as a leading provider of cutting-edge semiconductor solutions for a diverse range of partners and clients.

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“AI is profoundly transforming the world and how we think about technology and the silicon that powers it,” said Gelsinger. “This is creating an unprecedented opportunity for the world’s most innovative chip designers and Intel Foundry, the world’s first systems foundry for the AI era. Together, we can create new markets and revolutionize how the world uses technology to improve people’s lives.”

The company emphasized customer support and ecosystem partnerships. Synopsys, Cadence, Siemens, and Ansys are ready to expedite chip designs for Intel Foundry customers using validated tools, design flows, and IP portfolios for Intel’s advanced packaging and 18A process technologies.

Intel Foundry roadmap extends past 5N4Y

Foundry process roadmap graphic. Source: Intel

At this week’s event, Intel, for the first time since 2021, provided an update to its process roadmap. Intel confirmed that its ambitious plan to introduce five nodes within four years, known as 5N4Y, is progressing as planned. In fact, Intel anticipates reclaiming its position as a process leader from TSMC with Intel 18A by 2025. Intel also reaffirmed its mission to dethrone Samsung and claim the title of the world’s second-largest foundry by 2030. 

An Intel factory employee holds a wafer with 3D stacked Foveros technology at an Intel fab in Hillsboro, Oregon. (Credit: Intel Corporation).

Beyond that, Intel revealed plans for enhanced versions of Intel 3, Intel 18, and Intel 14A, each fine-tuned to elevate performance, introduce innovative features, or incorporate the groundbreaking Foveros Direct 3-D stacking technology for cutting-edge chip designs. Furthermore, Intel hinted at extending the capabilities of Intel 3 with the introduction of Intel 3-T, where the “T” signifies the integration of Foveros Direct technology, connecting chips through a pioneering method known as through-silicon vias. 

The company then announced the forthcoming Intel 14A, slated for commercialization in late 2026, and teased a revolutionary leap in lithography technology with High NA EUV. The roadmap promises a future brimming with innovation and transformative possibilities for Intel and the semiconductor industry.

After all, each successive node heralds a surge in performance-per-watt, reflecting Intel’s pursuit of innovation propels it closer to its lofty aspirations.

Also highlighted are mature process nodes, including new 12 nanometer nodes expected through the joint development with UMC announced last month. These evolutions are designed to enable customers to develop and deliver products tailored to their specific needs. Intel Foundry plans a new node every two years and node evolutions along the way, giving customers a path to evolve their offerings on Intel’s leading process technology continuously. 

“Intel also announced the addition of Intel Foundry FCBGA 2D+ to its comprehensive suite of ASAT offerings, which already include FCBGA 2D, EMIB, Foveros, and Foveros Direct,” the company added. To date, Intel has rolled out products on the first two nodes of Gelsinger’s plan—Intel 7 and Intel 4—and now, the company is gearing up for the next stage with Intel 3 ready for high-volume manufacturing.

 The first product on Intel 3 will be a new generation of Xeon server CPUs, codenamed Sierra Forest, focusing on high-core density, slated for release in the first half of this year. 

Intel scored Microsoft

Intel claims that customers are backing Intel’s long-term systems foundry strategy. Intel Foundry has secured design wins across various process generations, including Intel 18A, Intel 16, and Intel 3, with substantial customer volume on Intel Foundry’s advanced packaging capabilities. 

Microsoft’s Satya Nadella announced during Gelsinger’s keynote that they’ve selected a chip design for Intel 18A production. “We are in the midst of a fascinating platform shift that will fundamentally transform productivity for every individual organization and the entire industry,” Nadella said. 

“To achieve this vision, we need a reliable supply of the most advanced, high-performance, and high-quality semiconductors. That’s why we are so excited to work with Intel Foundry and why we have chosen a chip design that we plan to produce on the Intel 18A process,” he added.

Intel Foundry anticipates a lifetime deal value exceeding US$15 billion across wafers and advanced packaging.

The post Intel Foundry: racing for chip supremacy with 18A tech and Microsoft onboard appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

When it comes to employment, job seekers and employers want a platform that can give them what they really need. For job seekers, it’s about finding a role that can meet their desired working experience while employers want a platform that can offer them the right types of candidates, without the need to browse through numerous job resumes.

Over the years, job platforms have continued to evolve to meet this need. Today, most employment marketplaces are utilizing emerging technologies to improve the entire recruitment experience. Given the advantages of generative AI, employers are also now capable of creating better descriptions for their roles as well.

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In Asia Pacific, SEEK is a leading job platform. Having merged with Jobstreet and Jobsdb, the platform is now one of the largest employment marketplaces in the region. The integration has enabled the brand to bring together millions of talents and employers across the APAC region to accurately match jobseekers and employers.

The job landscape in the Asia Pacific continues to evolve. Roles are changing and companies are hungry to hire more talent. While some companies have leveraged recruiters, social media and even going straight to universities to hire talent, having a platform that can advertise a role that is appealing to jobseekers is still essential.

In fact, in countries like Malaysia, unemployment rates have returned to pre-pandemic levels of 3.3%. Following this positive growth, many organizations have shown difficulties in hiring talent across the country, among one of the reasons being talent or skills mismatch.

To address this gap, employers can now tap into a wider talent pool of over 40 million people across eight APAC markets, and talent can access more job opportunities from over 2.5 million employers – including more remote working opportunities. This aligns with a survey finding that revealed that 68% of talent are willing to work remotely for an employer that lacks a physical presence in their country. SEEK’s new features are particularly helpful for those recruiting talent based in other markets and for Malaysians who wish to explore employment opportunities in companies that are based overseas.

“As the leading job searching platform in Malaysia, and recently honored as the gold winner for e-commerce at the Putra Aria Brand Awards—a prestigious accolade determined by people’s choice—we are excited to facilitate more tailored job matches between employers and job seekers in the country. With the implementation of SEEK’s AI-powered solutions, Jobstreet can now help employers and talent in Malaysia find better matches more efficiently and navigate the job market more effectively,” says Vic Sithasanan, managing director, Malaysia, Jobstreet by SEEK.

Sithasan also pointed out that the average monthly job ab posting has increased by 163% compared to pre-pandemic levels. 95% of Malaysian employers also plan to increase or maintain their headcount of permanent employees.

Grant Wright, general manager of marketplace and AI products at SEEK.

AI for job seekers and employers

With AI being adapted into almost every use case today, it was only a matter of time before employment marketplaces started using them as well. Given the amount of data collected and stored in this field, creating AI algorithms that can cater to specific needs could revolutionize the entire recruitment experience.

According to Grant Wright, general manager of marketplace and AI products at SEEK, the new platform deploys AI models to assess talent suitability and provide highly personalized recommendations by processing data from various sources, including resumes, job ad descriptions and the employer’s past behaviors. This allows employers to have a more efficient hiring process. Employers can also expedite the talent shortlist process by adding AI-recommended screening questions in their job ads.

Specifically, Wright highlighted that employers could use the platform’s AI tools to improve job postings, especially on the details of a role and such. For job seekers, the AI algorithms on the platform are capable of making the job-hunting process more efficient and relevant. This is based on the AI-recommended jobs that match applications for roles they are most qualified for based on their experience and skills. Using AI, Jobstreet also predicts when a person is likely a strong candidate for a role by showing a top applicant badge, so talent can make more informed decisions whether to apply for a role.

SEEK’s data assets makes it easier for AI. (Image – SEEK).

Following the unification program, Jobstreet can now harness a larger dataset across APAC, which will empower its AI algorithms to provide even more precise and relevant matches between employers and talent. Ultimately, this translates into an elevated user experience and expedites the hiring process on its platform.

Another interesting feature is the natural language search on the platform. This innovation allows job seekers to submit job queries using simple phrases or complete sentences on the platform, so they do not need to rely solely on keyword phrases. Powered by a large language model (LLM), the feature enables a search experience that is more organic and appealing to job seekers. This feature has already launched in the Philippines and is set to roll out across the rest of SEEK’s APAC markets by 2024.

Wright also mentioned that false positives and false negatives are still being improved. This is because the AI model is still learning. Interestingly, Wright is confident that the data will only make AI better in the future.

On concerns about the tools being used for the wrong reasons, both Wright and Sithasanan explained that the platform has several verification tools that businesses are required to complete before posting roles. This also includes offshore roles and such.

Sithasanan did acknowledge that job scams continue to be a big problem in the industry but also highlighted that they often involve employment on social media apps. As such, he advised job seekers to be more vigilant in their job-seeking activities and only apply for jobs through legitimate platforms.

The post Here’s how AI can help businesses and job seekers appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.