This article first appeared in Digital Edge, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on April 8, 2024 - April 14, 2024

M+ Online, a trading application by Malacca Securities, has been integrated with M+ Global, the newly launched global trading platform, as it now offers traders access to stocks from Malaysia, as well as 7,000 stocks from the US and 3,000 stocks from Hong Kong.

M+ Global provides a 4% interest rate per annum on US dollar cash balances in trading accounts, giving traders an opportunity to generate returns on their US dollar cash balances.

The integration of M+ Online with M+ Global has opened up features such as allowing traders to participate in Hong Kong’s promising businesses’ early stages via M+ Global’s initial public offering subscription service.

The conditional order feature on the platform allows traders to navigate the market with conditional order types ranging from arrival price order, stop loss order, stop limit order, take profit order and take profit limit order.

M+ Global also incorporates in-app live streaming of educational content, while also providing diverse linguistic preferences to cater to the diverse backgrounds of Malaysians.

Existing M+ Online users must download the M+ Global app and complete registration to transition to the new platform, initially focusing on mobile integration, with desktop integration details to follow later.

In conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations, Grab-led GX Bank Bhd (GXBank) has launched a new campaign.

From April 10 to May 9, GXBank customers who deposit funds into their Savings Pockets will be able to earn 5% per annum daily interest. Unlike fixed deposits, Savings Pockets does not require a lock-in period, providing more flexibility for customers to retrieve funds when needed without the worry of losing their interest.

This is open to all new and existing customers of GXBank with fresh and/or existing funds in their Savings Pockets. It is applicable for balance of up to RM5,000 in every Savings Pocket. Each customer can create up to 10 Savings Pockets. For more information, visit GXBank’s website from April 5.

To help and empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) towards sustainability, 13 Asia-Pacific fintech leaders have come together under the umbrella of Programme Sirius (Sustainability Innovation for Regenerative and Inclusive Purpose).

Aligned with the goals of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, Programme Sirius is designed to aid MSMEs operating on digital platforms as they progress towards sustainability. This will foster open industry dialogues where industry partners can exchange ideas on sustainability innovations and share best practices for MSMEs to transition to a low-carbon economy.

The 13 industry partners from 11 economies that have committed to be part of Programme Sirius are AlipayHK (Hong Kong), ANEXT Bank (Singapore), BigPay (Malaysia), bKash (Bangladesh), DANA (Indonesia), GCash (the Philippines), Hipay (Mongolia), Kakao Pay (South Korea), MPay (Macao), TNG Digital (Malaysia), Toss Pay (South Korea), TrueMoney (Thailand) and ZaloPay (Vietnam).

For more information on Programme Sirius, visit www.sirius-programme.com.

Carousell Group, Southeast Asia’s re-commerce platform, has acquired the business and assets of Singapore’s luxury bag reseller platform, LuxLexicon. This acquisition seeks to supercharge the growth of its luxury category.

In a statement, Carousell says it had a monthly growth of 71% in its luxury bag listings in the past two years. Furthermore, the success of Carousell’s previously launched Certified Luxury Programme, designed to encourage second-hand transactions, which have quadrupled in volume since launch, proving an increasing consumer demand for the resale of luxury bags.

Alongside LuxLexicon’s reputable name, Carousell stands to enhance its portfolio with a wide supply of premium luxury bag resale and consignment and deep expertise in offline retail. Meanwhile, LuxLexicon will be able to leverage Carousell Group’s expertise in online re-commerce and overseas expansion for future growth.

In addition to boosting the influence of their luxury category, the two entities will continue to seek acquisition opportunities with potential partners to accelerate the second-hand marketplace in Southeast Asia.

IT infrastructure service provider Kyndryl, in collaboration with Microsoft, found that while 85% of organisations globally place a high strategic level of importance on achieving their sustainability goals, only 16% have integrated sustainability into their strategies and data.

The Global Sustainability Barometer study, conducted by Ecosystm, also found that as the world faces an increase in climate-related events and challenges, there is an urgency among businesses to act now using technology to drive sustainable solutions.

While 80% of organisations surveyed see great significance in technology’s role to achieve their goals, only 37% believe they are making full use of it in their organisations. In Southeast Asia, the alignment to the organisation’s net-zero goals continues to be the main driver of their sustainability efforts. However, only half (51%) are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) or automation to improve efficiency, reduce environmental impact and build sustainable operations.

The study also found that while CEOs and the operations teams have made sustainability and digital transformation a priority, they need help with integration and execution of their programmes to meet their goals. On top of that, when it comes to stakeholders, customers are the most vocal in advocating for sustainability policies and practices, followed by employees, investors and supply chain partners.

The study was conducted among 1,523 technology and sustainability business leaders across 16 countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas. The survey took place between September and October 2023. It was conducted across nine industries and included small to medium as well as global companies.

Hiring artificial intelligence (AI) skilled talent is a priority for nearly 89% of Malaysian employers, but 81% cannot find the AI talent they need, according to Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) regional study, “Accelerating AI Skills: Preparing the Asia-Pacific Workforce for Jobs of the Future”.

The study assessed over 1,600 workers and 500 employers in Malaysia to better understand emerging AI usage trends and skilling needed in Asia-Pacific workplaces.

The research highlighted the need for greater collaboration between governments, industries and educators to help employers in Malaysia implement AI training programmes and guide workers in matching their AI skill sets to the right roles to harness their newly acquired AI capabilities.

When AI is fully harnessed, Malaysian workers with AI skills and expertise could see salary hikes of over 40%, with workers in IT (53%) and research and development (49%) enjoying the highest pay bumps.

On top of significant salary bumps, 97% of Malaysian workers expect their AI skills to have a positive impact on their careers, including increased job efficiency, higher job satisfaction and faster career progression. Ninety-one per cent of Malaysian workers indicated an interest in developing their AI skills to accelerate their careers and this interest transcends generations.

Ninety-two per cent of Gen Z and millennials and 90% of Gen X workers want to acquire AI skills, and 94% of baby boomers, a demographic usually contemplating retirement, say they would enrol in an AI upskilling course if it was offered.

In addition, the research reveals the significant productivity benefits that Malaysia could reap from having an AI-skilled workforce. Employers surveyed anticipate a 57% increase in organisational productivity. This boost is attributed to AI’s ability to streamline workflows and improve outcomes, facilitate the acquisition of new skills and enhance communication. Similarly, workers foresee a potential 57% rise in their own productivity, thanks to AI integration.

Generative AI, however, is already transforming workplaces in Malaysia. Ninety-eight per cent of surveyed employers and 96% of workers expect to use generative AI tools on the job within the next five years, with 76% of employers highlighting “increasing innovation and creativity” as the top benefit, followed by supporting learning and improving outcomes.

“Generative AI offers an unprecedented opportunity to transform businesses in Malaysia, and this research shows that AI skills are imperative for the future workforce. From financial services to construction and retail, industries are embracing AI at a rapid pace, which is why an AI-skilled workforce is essential to unleashing a culture of innovation and driving productivity,” says Emmanuel Pillai, head of training and certification of Asean at AWS.

Optin Studio, a global innovation venture firm headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, is collaborating with Creww Inc and Real Madrid Next to launch the Real Madrid Next Accelerator for Asia programme. This initiative aims to catalyse innovation within the sports industry across the region.

Designed to propel the growth of start-ups and foster a dynamic innovation ecosystem for the future of sports, the Real Madrid Next Accelerator invites early- to mid-stage Asian start-ups across diverse verticals to join hands with Real Madrid Next, the technological innovation arm of the iconic soccer club Real Madrid FC.

Selected start-ups will gain access to opportunities for business partnerships, potential funding and investment, alongside Optin Studio’s dedicated support in sourcing and nurturing Malaysian start-ups poised for global expansion within the football and sports business realms.

The Real Madrid Next Accelerator for Asia programme focuses on six key themes: sports performance, e-health, AV content, fan engagement, cybersecurity and social impact.

Selected participants will receive support and resources from Real Madrid, as well as the chance to showcase their innovations at the all-expenses-paid Real Madrid Next Accelerator for Asia Demo Day in Spain later this year.

Applications are currently open until April 15. To help Malaysian entrepreneurs have the best chance of getting into the programme, Optin Studio will be hosting an online pitching session on April 13, tailored for aspiring Malaysian start-up founders and teams that are interested to apply.

To register for the sessions, visit bit.ly/RMNAOPTIN. For more information about the Real Madrid Next Accelerator for Asia programme, visit global.creww.me/real-madrid-next-accelerator-for-asia.

In an effort to encourage students from institutions of higher learning to create impactful works, an animated short film competition will be organised by the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF), along with partners, Persatuan Festival Seni Kreatif & TVET Malaysia (ANIFEST) and Persatuan Pendidik Animasi Malaysia (PPAM).

The competition is scheduled to run from April to June 2024 and aims to promote creativity in responsible content creation and provide a platform to empower the community’s voices.

The themes chosen for the competition focus on topics that reflect the contemporary landscape where social media plays a significant role in the content industry. Contestants will be able to retain the copyright of their work and stand a chance to win a cash prize awarded to the top three winners of the competition.

A panel of competition judges from the respective institutions will evaluate submissions based on theme relevance, originality of work, creativity, production process, technical aspects, as well as the proper use of the Malay language. For more information, visit www.contentforum.my.

SAP has appointed Vipin Chandran (pix) as managing director of SAP Malaysia. A business leader with over 25 years of experience, Vipin has a proven track record of building winning teams, fostering partnerships and delivering successful cloud transformations for customers.

In his new role, he will focus on strengthening the digital transformation capabilities of organisations in Malaysia and accelerating their growth in the rising artificial intelligence economy. He will also prioritise helping businesses build resilient and agile supply chains and create a more sustainable future.

Vipin joined SAP in 2008. Prior to this appointment, he was chief partner officer at SAP Southeast Asia, where he was responsible for empowering the success of over 500 partner organisations. Before that, he held various sales, services and partner leadership roles across various regions.

Amirul Merican (pix) has been appointed as the chief operating officer of 500-backed agriculture technology start-up Qarbotech and will spearhead the operations and production scale-up.

He was a Shell scholar and earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and energy, sustainability and the environment from the University of Cambridge. Beginning his career as a strategy and consulting analyst at Accenture, Amirul contributed to various projects involving strategic planning, change management and financial activities.

Prior to joining Qarbotech, he co-founded a biotech company specialising in manufacturing black soldier fly larvae products. This venture focuses on applications in poultry, aquaculture and pet food, as well as organic fertiliser.

Xiaomi’s Speed Ultra 7 (SU7) has launched its first electric vehicle (EV). Priced at US$30,000 (RM142,650) for the SU7 model, the EV will have a minimum range of 700km. Additionally, the SU7 will have an integrated operating system with Xiaomi’s phone, laptops and other devices.

Xiaomi’s EVs will be built by BAIC Group at a plant in Beijing that can produce up to 200,000 vehicles a year. However, potential users will have to wait up to six months before they lay their hands on the car.

From trendy restaurants to city grids, to TikTok and Netflix feeds from around the world, algorithmic recommendations dictate our experiences and choices. The algorithm is present in the familiar neon signs and exposed brick of internet cafes, be it in Nairobi or Portland, and the skeletal, modern furniture of Airbnbs in cities big and small. Over the last decade, this network of mathematically determined decisions has taken over, almost unnoticed — informing the songs we listen to, the friends with whom we stay in touch — as we have grown increasingly accustomed to our insipid new normal.

This ever-tightening web woven by algorithms is called “Filterworld”. Kyle Chayka shows us how online and offline spaces alike have been engineered for seamless consumption, becoming a source of pervasive anxiety in the process.

Users of technology have been forced to contend with data-driven equations that try to anticipate their desires — and often get them wrong. What results is a state of docility that allows tech companies to curtail human experiences — human lives — for profit. But to have our tastes, behaviours and emotions governed by computers, while convenient, does nothing short of call the very notion of free will into question.

In Filterworld, Chayka traces this creeping, machine-guided curation as it infiltrates the furthest reaches of our digital, physical and psychological spaces. With algorithms increasingly influencing not just what culture we consume, but what culture is produced, urgent questions arise: What happens when share-ability supersedes messiness, innovation and creativity — the qualities that make us human? What does it mean to make a choice when the options have been so carefully arranged for us? Is personal freedom possible on the internet?

To the last question, Filterworld argues yes — but to escape Filterworld, and even transcend it, we must first understand it. — Amazon

Elevate your work and gaming space with a distinct sci-fi aesthetic desktop accessory that comprises five full-colour LCD displays. Divoom’s Times Gate lighting décor consists of pixel art displays that can be customised to the users liking on the screen. A variety of pixel art is offered in the Divoom: Pixel Art Editor app.

Times Gate can also display one’s real-time social media performance and monitor stock changes in real time.

All users have to do is to connect to Wi-Fi and the device will automatically get online financial information and display the price of the stock or internet currency of their choice.

Prices for Divoom’s Times Gate Pixel Art Informative Display start at RM499 and are available on marketplaces such as Shopee and Lazada.

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