BFM :: Resource Centre

This week Matt and Rich take another look at the weirder side of science and technology. Elon Musk's Neuralink evokes The Force, enabling a quadriplegic man to play computer chess through thought alone, illustrating the technology's potential for enhancing human interaction in digital environments.Illusory patten recognition could hold the key to why some people are more receptable to conspiracy theories. An overdeveloped evolutionary response that causes some people to connect dots where none exist, making it easier for them to welcome false narratives. In keeping with the psychological tone of much of the episode, new findings are starting to challenge our understanding of female psychopathy and correcting historical male biases in the research.No weird science episode is complete without a worm and this week's is an ancient, nightmare-inducing and thankfully extinct worm species. A cryovolcanic comet brings devilish allure, while new research expands our understanding of PMO, a neurological condition that distorts visual perception and makes faces appear demonic.

The agriculture sector in Malaysia stands as an important pillar of the nation's economy, contributing significantly to its GDP and employment of a large workforce as well. With a rich diversity of crops ranging from palm oil and rubber to tropical fruits and vegetables, the industry is vital for domestic consumption and also for export.However, the sector faces multifaceted challenges, including traditional supply chain inefficiencies, the urgent need for sustainable practices amidst climate change, and the necessity to embrace technological advancements to stay competitive globally.In this evolving landscape, Haroct Technologies (HAROCT) enters the market with an aim to transform the fresh produce value chain by leveraging technology to create a more efficient, transparent, and sustainable ecosystem. It offers a digital marketplace that facilitates direct transactions between farmers and B2B buyers, bypassing traditional middlemen to ensure fairer prices and more secure dealings.In this episode, we speak with Dylan Lee, the Founder and CEO of Haroct Technologies, on how the company's approach can help to improve the economic welfare of small-scale farmers, as well as addressing broader issues such as food security and the environmental impact of farming practices.

Rich and Matt delve into the intricacies of the human brain, exploring how our brains manage energy, creativity, and memory. While fresh brains are undoubtedly faster and sharper, youth doesn't always guarantee first place: older brains may be better when it comes to cognitive performance.As they sift through the fast-firing neurons of neuro-plasticity, they come across the unexpected origins of mental fatigue, while Matt peeks inside Rich's head to try and unpick the origins of creativity and original thinking.

On this episode of Resource Center, we speak with Dr. Prashun Kumar Choudhury from MindBeez Consulting to discuss the multifaceted landscape of career guidance in Malaysia.We delve into the evolution of career guidance in the nation, particularly against the backdrop of Malaysia's transition towards more technology, finance, and healthcare-driven industries.In the face of a rapidly changing job market, we also discuss the challenges students face in charting their educational and career paths, and the roles that holistic education and career guidance play in fostering lifelong career development, and addressing common misconceptions surrounding career guidance.Last but not least, our discussion also covers the initiatives in Malaysia aimed at providing individuals from diverse and marginalised backgrounds with access to quality education and career guidance, as well as future trends in this field, especially with the advent of AI and technical innovations.

Malaysia is rapidly emerging as a key digital hub in the ASEAN region, with its thriving data centre ecosystem, thanks to its strategic geographic location, political stability, and government initiatives aimed at boosting the digital economy. Ranked 22nd globally and 2nd in ASEAN by the Arcadis Data Centre Location Index 2021, Malaysia attracts global cloud service providers like AWS, Microsoft, and Google.Another tech giant that's been attracted to Malaysia and in expanding its footprint in Southeast Asia, is Equinix, a global player in data centre, digital infrastructure and colocation services.In this episode, we speak to Cheam Tat Inn, the Managing Director of Equinix Malaysia, on the company's foray into the country, how it aligns with our national agenda, and key trends that will be shaping the future of digital services in the region.

Today, we will delve into the world of corporate innovation programs, specifically hackathons and how they can help businesses with their product innovation, talent acquisition, and acquiring market insights with Inbaraj Suppiah, Founder of JomHack Malaysia. JomHack Malaysia organizes hackathons and other corporate innovation programs nationwide.From fostering product innovation to nurturing talent and acquiring market insights, we start by breaking down the essence of hackathons and corporate innovation programs, dissecting what makes a program successful, the various advantages that hackathons offer businesses, and identifying common pitfalls to avoid.

Raising funding can be very powerful for startups as they grow, but if structured badly, this can end up being a ‘poison pill' and kill your startups ability to grow by limiting how large a startup can possibly get. In short, making your startup “uninvestable"Kevin Brockland, Founder & Managing Partner of Indelible Ventures, helps breakdown why founders need to be careful about how equity they give up when raising funds, how to rectify this and optimize your investor base (and investment terms), and other common mistakes founders make when raising funds.Kevin also explains the typical equity amounts that are given up during the different stages of the fundraising journey and how much is too much at different points, how SAFEs (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) can impact your ability to raise funds in the future, the consequences of excessive dilution for founders (including losing control of your company), and advice for first-time founders.Image Credit: Shutterstock

It's tax season, so today in Resource Centre instead of focusing on the needs of businesses you run, manage, or work in, we're focusing on you and breaking down the common mistakes that C-Suites, managers, and high-paid employees make when it comes to personal income taxes, the risk of audits, and how to optimise your tax bill.Helping us with this is Poovarni Rajagopal, Partner at Invatex Consulting.

In this episode, we take a look at the future of human insights and how generative AI will impact the state of business insights, whether it's by humans or AI with Jacquie Matthews, Global CEO at Ipsos UU (Understanding Unlimited).Along the course of the conversation, Jacquie helped us get a better view on how human intelligence is going to be impacted by artificial intelligence or should it go hand in hand with one another to ensure the future of business insights is in safe hands.Photo Credit: Shutterstock

In the fast-paced digital landscape, information travels rapidly which makes corporate communication a crucial aspect of running a business especially in strategic crisis management.Events such as Lazada's layoffs or the controversy around Foodpanda's CEO highlights that tech companies and startups need to consider the impacts of poor crisis planning, which can cause potential erosion of customers' trust, reputational damage and financial setbacks. With the rise of Gen AI at the present time, things are only likely to get faster and potentially more volatile.On this episode of Resource Centre, we explore reputational risk management for businesses in an AI-fueled world, key strategies for businesses for proactive crisis management, and the 4 key stakeholders to manage with Conall McDevitt, Asia and Europe Senior Partner with The Penta Group.Photo Credit: Shutterstock

In today's evolving business landscape, the pursuit of gender equality has emerged as a crucial agenda. It is not only for the progression of society but as an essential of corporate responsibility especially in Malaysia, where diverse cultures intersect with dynamic economic aspirations, playing a pivotal role in shaping a more inclusive corporate ecosystem.In this episode of Resource Centre, our discussion with Emellia Shariff, Managing Partner of Speak Up Malaysia, and Alia Abdullah, Member of Lean In Malaysia and alumni of its Women Entrepreneur Bootcamp, promises to delve deep into the role of businesses in championing gender equality. We will draw from their extensive experiences and personal insights to explore the current challenges businesses face in the endeavor of pursuing gender equality, the effective strategies for fostering an inclusive work environment, and the broader implications of gender equality for economic growth.

Future Ready Companies Win More and Lose Less.In this edition of Resource Centre, we explore insights from IMD's 2023 Future Readiness Indicator what helps companies like Microsoft, NVIDIA, Nike, Hermès, Pfizer and AstraZeneca stay ahead of the curve.Professor Howard Yu, LEGO® Professor of Management and Innovation at IMD, breaks down the factors involved in determining whether a business is future ready, and how businesses across various sectors can achieve ‘future-readiness'.Over the course of the conversation, we will be touching upon the 7 key factors that affects the state of a company's future readiness and those factors include:(1) Financial fundamentals(2) Investors' expectations of future growth(3) Business diversity(4) Employee diversity or ESG(5) Research and development(6) Early results of innovation efforts(7) Cash and debt managementPhoto Credit: Shutterstock

In the fast-paced and ever-evolving world of technology, predicting trends and staying abreast with happenings in the tech world has become essential for businesses and individuals alike. Globally, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, cybersecurity, and sustainability are shaping industries.In Malaysia, the focus on digital transformation, smart technologies, and enhancing cybersecurity mirrors these global trends, as the nation aims to leverage technology to spur economic growth, and foster innovation.In this episode, we speak with Jonathon Dixon, Vice President and Managing Director for Asia Pacific, Japan, and China (APJC) at Cloudflare, to learn more about its set of predictions within the AI sphere in 2024.

Robin Sharma, the author of The Leader Who Had No Title, emphasises the significance of leading without a title and that great leaders are those who do not require titles to lead effectively. He advocates that to lead without a title is to derive your power within the organisation, not from your position but from your competence, effectiveness, relationships, excellence, innovation and ethics.In this episode, we delve into the topic of leadership, with a focus on emergent leadership and what it means at the workplace. We also discuss why there are more men than women in top management and leadership roles.This discussion with Marcella Lucas, Managing Director of Lead To Innovate, and Jonathan Tan, Founder and Managing Director at VoxEureka, explores the importance of establishing the right balance of men and women leaders, how the styles may differ from one another, what needs to be done to encourage more women to take up leadership roles, and how to facilitate this at the workplace.

In a world obsessed with scale and speed, Dash's philosophy of 'doing more with less' and the concept of the 'Good Enough Entrepreneur'—inspired by Donald Winnicott's notion of the 'good enough parent'—offers a refreshing perspective on venture building.

Rich and Matt tackle the truth, complexities and disconnections brought on by rapid technological advancements. In this episode, they look at our declining ability to understand technology, questioning whether knowing how technology works is as crucial as comprehending its applications. They also delve into societal impacts of deepfake technology and the blurring lines between news and entertainment, emphasizing the critical need for discernments in this digital age.They also tap into the evolution from simple, tangible technologies to the intangible complexities of today's digital world, highlighting how this shift affects our interaction with and understanding of technology. The conversation later extends to the implications of this gap in understanding , particularly in the realm of medical advancements and the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines.This episode is a reflective exploration of our relationship with today's evolution of technology and signifying the importance of bridging the knowledge gap to help us navigate its application in the future responsibly.

Mental health at the workplace has become a top priority for businesses looking to hire high-performing talents and it has now been made a necessity for employers to create wellness solutions to help employees thrive at work.Some negative impacts of poor mental health include: StressBurnoutLow Productivity DepressionLack of motivationThese impacts can severely impact the performance rates of an individual at work and there are plenty of factors that may lead to these negative impacts on the mental health of an employee. On this episode, we speak to Hetal Doshi, Organisational Psychologist and CEO at O-Psych who will help us bring down those factors, the role of HR in providing support mechanisms for an employee facing mental health issues and how an employee can navigate through a difficult situation at work in dealing with mental health problems.

Transfer Pricing Is Going To Get Harder, But There's No Running Away.Transfer pricing is something else in the tax space that businesses need to keep in mind, especially with changes made in May last year when the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (IRBM) published the Income Tax (Transfer Pricing) Rules 2023 (TPR 2023), which is supposed to be operative from assessment year 2023 and onward. These changes have signify a notable shift in the LHDN's approach to transfer pricing compliance, so with the tax season incoming, we dive into this to help you better understand what transfer pricing is and what the new changes mean for businesses for this year's tax season with: Harvindar Singh, Managing Partner of Harvey & Associates, and Council Member with the Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia (CTIM).

HR practitioners in Malaysia are facing a multifaceted set of challenges as they navigate the current landscape of the workplace and workforce dynamics. Shaped by both global trends and local nuances, some of these challenges include talent management, retention as well as skills mismatch, and keeping pace with rapid technological changes such as integrating AI, machine learning, and data analytics into traditional HR functions.The future of HR in Malaysia is going to be shaped by these technological innovations, in addition to the evolution of workplace norms, and the importance of HR functions in driving business success. Companies that embrace these changes and adapt their HR practices accordingly will be better positioned to thrive in the dynamic and competitive business environment.In this episode, we speak with Christine Sterk, the Chief Business Officer at Pulsifi on how companies can leverage technology to enhance HR functions, develop and retain talents in order to create an inclusive and engaging culture at the workplace.

Rich and Matt embark on an unconventional journey through the realms of weird science, touching on advancements in clean energy and forensic science before delving into the heart of the episode: cyborg locusts. Matt shares his fascination with the idea that scientists are implanting electrodes in locusts' brains to harness their keen sense of smell for detecting chemicals, potentially revolutionising bomb detection technology.The conversation shifts to AI, specifically the updates and quirks in ChatGPT's performance and the introduction of personalised user models. They debate the balance between personalization and privacy, the potential benefits and pitfalls of AI remembering user preferences, and the broader impact of such technologies on society. They look at OpenAI's incredible new generative video model Sora and touch upon Google's advancements in video analytics with the Gemini model.Via a diversion into tree frogs in Ukraine as an example of evolution in motion, they explore the health benefits of electronic music, discussing a study that reveals how different tempos can influence brain activity and emotional states, underscoring the potential therapeutic uses of music.

Have you ever been bothered with marketing messages sent through SMSes and emails and considered them as spam, especially those that you don't remember opting in for. Do you usually ignore or delete them? Now, according to a report by Omnisend, an email and SMS marketing platform, the effectiveness of automated email campaigns and SMS marketing continues to rise, with automated messages significantly outperforming scheduled promotional campaigns in conversion rates, open rates, and click-through rates.Omnisend's recently released annual e-commerce marketing study also unveils nuggets on the role of automation and personalisation in driving higher engagement rates, conversion rates, and overall marketing success.

The marketing communications landscape in Asia, as with all things, is evolving, with its share of challenges and opportunities shaping its future. Technological advancements and shifting consumer expectations are at the forefront, with AI coming into the fold in content creation, targeting, and personalisation, despite ethical concerns about bias and brand reputation.This brings to the fore the need for companies and marketing communications professionals to navigate technological changes while aligning their marketing strategies with consumer values, and leveraging new platforms and tools to stay competitive.Speaking with us today on the key findings of Aspectus Group's Marcom in Asia report is Louise Veitch, Head of Southeast Asia at Aspectus Group.This report provides some insights on the state of marketing communications (marcom) in Asia, focusing on industry growth prospects, importance of digital channels, skills development and the evolving landscape of marcom strategies.

What makes a good startup investment pitch? That is the question.Coming up with a good investment pitch can be tricky. In some ways, it's an art form that requires the perfect balance of storytelling, data-driven insights, as well as persuasive communication to entice your potential investors to invest in your company. On this episode of Resource Centre, we speak to Kevin Brockland, Founder & Managing Partner at Indelible Ventures, and Pang Chan Yip, Executive Director at Vertex Ventures, about the dos and don'ts of making a pitch deck, presenting your startup and business idea, and maintaining potential relationships with early stage investors and VCs in the longer run.

The e-commerce landscape is rapidly transforming, driven by technological advancements and changing consumer behaviours.In this dynamic environment, market intelligence has emerged as a critical tool for businesses. It enables organisations to understand market trends, consumer preferences, and competitive dynamics, thereby enabling strategic decision-making.With the rise of data analytics, companies can now leverage real-time insights to optimise their online presence, enhance customer experiences, and anticipate market shifts.Speaking with us today on the shift towards more data-driven approaches in e-commerce and the importance of market intelligence in navigating the complexities of digital commerce is Annie Yao, the Head of Growth for Market Intelligence division at Flywheel.

Neuroscience and leadership in business, often termed “neuroleadership”, seeks to apply findings from neuroscience to improve leadership practices, decision-making, and organisational culture. Neuroleadership focuses on understanding how the brain works and applying this knowledge to various aspects of leadership and management, from problem solving, to improving social skills, and managing stress.Despite its pros and promises, there are also challenges, such as the risk of oversimplification and the misapplication of neuroscience findings. Some critics argue that the complexity of the brain cannot be directly mapped onto leadership practices without nuanced understanding and caution.So, what is the future of neuroscience in leadership and business, and how can it be successfully applied in organisations? Speaking with ustoday on blending the realms of neuroscience and leadership to improve leadership effectiveness, foster innovation, and enhance organisational health is Dr Avnesh Ratnanesan, Founder and CEO of Energesse - a firm focused on leadership development.

Now, the future of AI is marked by two contrasting perspectives -On one hand, there are the techno-optimists, or AI boomers, who envision rapid and groundbreaking advancements in various related fields like financial services, healthcare or entertainment just to name a few.On the other hand, you have the AI doomers who are concerned about the potential risks posed by advanced AI, including the possibility of AI taking over the role of humanity.So, it's fair to say that many of us could be a boomer or a doomer because both of them are totally valid opinions to have on artificial intelligence, but how has this contrast in views shaped the business landscape here in Malaysia when it comes to AI ? What are some potential risk management strategies that businesses should consider moving forward ? And what can we expect to see in 2024 and beyond?Today on the show, we speak with Ser Yoong Goh, Head of Compliance at ADVANCE.AI, Southeast Asia's leading provider of digital identity verification and risk management solutions on the potential implications of AI to Malaysia's business ecosystem in 2024, particularly considering the contrasting views.

In today's episode, Richard Bradbury and Matt Armitage embark on a cosmic journey through the universe's habitable belt planets, with Matt sharing his peculiar hobby of halting emergent lifeforms. They journey into the complex world of artificial intelligence, debunking myths about AI's inherent evilness and highlighting its neutrality towards human existence.They discuss the intriguing, if not entirely understood, decision-making processes of AI, likening their logical, amoral computations to the character Spock from Star Trek. Further exploration reveals the potential risks associated with AI in actionable tasks and military applications, emphasizing the importance of aligning AI recommendations with human ethical standards.The conversation shifts to the fascinating concept of teaching AI to mimic human traits such as sleeping and dreaming, potentially improving their performance and learning capabilities. Additionally, they touch upon groundbreaking developments in biohybrid robots and bionic camouflage, showcasing advancements in integrating mechanical and biological technologies. Wrapping up the episode, Matt highlights Mozilla's new service aimed at protecting digital privacy, offering a glimmer of hope in the vast expanse of the digital universe.

Layoffs were a key trend in 2023 particularly for the tech sector, and it looks like this has continued into 2024. Tech industry tracker Layoffs.fyi estimates more than 30,000 employees have been let go this year so far, and while that is a far cry from the nearly 90,000 laid off in January 2023, getting layoffed is never pleasant news.A key theme that has come up with these layoffs, is how they were conducted, whether it was Google last year or more recently Lazada, so today on Resource Centre, we get into how the firing or layoff process should look like, especially for smaller companies, with Anisha Sasheendran, Founder and Managing Partner at One People Team - a HR advisory and training company.Among other things, we'll ask Anisha what should go into these conversations between an employer and an employee, whether there is such a thing as a human or ethical layoffs and if so, what it should look like, and challenges businesses typically face with talent management and retention.

A recent report released by the Deloitte Economics Institute (entitled “Work Towards Net Zero in Asia Pacific -- The Rise of the Green Collar Workforce in a Just Transition”) highlights the potential rise of a new Green Collar workforce in the Asia Pacific region, estimating that 80% of skills needed for energy transition efforts in the short-to-medium term already exist in today's workforce. However, 40% of workers in Asia-Pacific, including economies like Malaysia, are currently employed in vulnerable industries such as agriculture, conventional energy, manufacturing, transportation, and construction. that are under threat from climate change and the transition to net zero.Encouragingly, the Malaysian government has taken steps to support the development of the emerging Green Collar workforce through Phase 1 of the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR). The NETR represents Malaysia's efforts to future-proof its vulnerable sectors by accelerating the shift from a traditional fossil fuel-based economy to a high-value green economy.Through the NETR, 10 flagship catalyst projects and initiatives are expected to generate a total of 23,000 new high-impact, high-quality job opportunities. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) recognises Malaysia's significant policy support for green job development, positioning the country strongly in the region.Today, we speak with Kasturi Nathan, Governance, Regulatory and Sustainability Services Leader, Deloitte Malaysia on the potential for significant job creation in industries focused on environmental sustainability, the challenges and opportunities this transition presents, and how governments can lead the way in tackling the climate crisis and equitable employment outcomes.

In recent years, the concept of sustainability has taken centre stage in the corporate world, transcending beyond a mere buzzword to become a cornerstone of modern business practices.This shift is largely attributed to the escalating environmental and social challenges that have emerged in the wake of rapid industrialisation and globalisation. Amidst this backdrop, the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework has emerged as a vital tool for businesses, guiding them towards aligning their strategies and operations with sustainability goals and principles.As companies navigate the dynamic changes in the sustainability agenda, examining how these shifts are influencing the game plan and conversations within the business community, they are also seeking insights into practical strategies for integrating ESG goals into core business operations, prioritising investments in ESG initiatives and managing ESG-related risks.Today, we speak with Professor Glenn Hoetker, Professor of Business Strategy, and the Foundation Chair of Sustainability & Business at Melbourne Business School to delve into the evolving landscape of sustainability and ESG, and key considerations Malaysian companies should look at to step up their pace on ESG rollout.

In the rapidly evolving world of business technology, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems have become essential for businesses seeking to enhance their customer engagement and sales efficiency.Moving into 2024, the landscape of CRM is being reshaped by several key trends and technological advancements, driven by the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, offering a multitude levels of personalisation in customer interactions.Voice technology, as well as a mobile-first approach, have emerged as a mainstream feature within CRM interfaces. These developments imply a significant shift towards more dynamic and responsive CRM strategies.So, what are the latest CRM trends and strategies that businesses should consider and adopt this year and beyond? We speak with Gibu Mathew, Vice President and General Manager for Asia-Pacific at Zoho Corporation, a technology company that makes computer software and web-based business tools, to unravel the “secrets”.

While seeking help may be perceived as a sign of weakness by some, it is a misconception. Entrepreneurship is a complex journey filled with challenges, and guidance from experienced mentors can offer invaluable insights, saving fellow budding entrepreneurs from unnecessarily spending in terms of time or effort.Today on Resource Centre, we look into the Antler Residency Program and how it attempts to support budding entrepreneurs with Frank Kang, the Country Head and Associate Partner of Antler Malaysia, as well as 2 participants from the program, Peh Sern, Co-Founder & CEO of COEX, and Heaster Andrea Hilary, Co-Founder & CEO of MessengerCo. The Antler Residency Program is an intensive course that condenses months' worth of progress into a few weeks, to support aspiring entrepreneurs in building their startups. Antler's program has helped founders better understand and navigate their entrepreneurial journey and boasts a network of over 8,000 founders and 600 advisors across 30 locations.

Digitalisation continues to be a key area of focus for enterprises in Malaysia as businesses look to tap into the next phase of economic growth. Innovations such as AI can help lower costs and improve productivity, while advancements in cybersecurity will help businesses better fend off key threats such as Ransomware. Underlying all this will be the need for fast and seamless connectivity.In this episode of Resource Centre, learn more about how TM One can help empower businesses to tap into the next phase of economic growth with Shazurawati Abdul Karim, Executive Vice President of TM One. We get into TM One's range of offerings and role in advancing 5G in Malaysia, as well as why enterprises, irrespective of industry or size, must look into AI, sustainable solutions for a better environment, and cybersecurity, to power innovation and transformation.

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), there are currently more than 1,600 AI policies globally and this is likely to increase as AI continues to develop and transform the business landscape. In line with that, the AI Governance market is also expected to grow by a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 52 percent between 2024 and 2032.Taking this into consideration, it is particularly important for us to understand why providing necessary training to data professionals is needed so that all these new and innovative AI systems can flourish in line with all the new AI-related laws or government policies expected to come up this year.Today on the show, I spoke to Alvin Toh, Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Straits Interactive on the importance of AI governance training, how companies are using generative AI to improve their data protection and what AI policies we could see here in Malaysia in 2024.

Richard and Matt explore society's perceptions and expectations of humanoid robots. Why put a human face on a machine? The show delves into the technical challenges of creating humanoid robots, such as balance and fine motor control, and the evolving nature of technology that's making it feasible to build lightweight, human-like robots. They discuss Boston Dynamics' robots like Atlas and Spot, contrasting them with more utilitarian robots like Stretch.The episode concludes with a discussion on the influence of AI on humanoid robots, suggesting a shift towards collective intelligence in robotics, akin to The Borg from Star Trek. They ponder the future of humanoid robots in our daily lives, reflecting on adaptability as a key factor in robot design. Matt and Richard also touch on the potential learning and adaptation of AI models, including ChatGPT, and how they might influence future robot behavior. They have also expressed their gratitude to ChatGPT for writing this intro, in case it one day decides to destroy them.

We dive into the world of ethical artificial intelligence with Lee Hickin, AI Technology & Policy Lead for Microsoft Asia, and Adilah Junid, Director of Legal & Government Affairs, Microsoft Malaysia. We explore how Microsoft integrates responsible AI governance into its operations, with a particular focus on the Asian market. Lee and Adilah will provide insights into Microsoft's journey of balancing innovation with ethical AI practices, their collaborative efforts with Asian governments for policy shaping, and the challenges in aligning AI development with legal frameworks. They also discuss Microsoft's tech stack and its role in ensuring secure and reliable AI solutions, as well as the broader societal impacts of AI.

There are a few key prime shopping times of the year, and the end-of-year holiday season is generally considered one of them, filled with sales, promotions, and consumers rushing to get gifts for Christmas time.Recent data from the US National Retail Federation (NRF), retail trade group, shows that the 2023 holiday shopping season was a strong one, reportedly fueled by an appetite for beauty products, apparel and electronics sales across both brick-and-mortar and online channels rose 3.8% rise to $964.4 billion n the November through December period.Now that's the US, but what was the situation like here in Malaysia? Soon Yean, Malaysia Country Manager of Adyen joins us to break down lessons from the 2023 holiday shopping season, but also look ahead to payment trends in 2024.Adyen provides payments services to large enterprises, which makes them well placed to share insights on the retail landscape and how Malaysian retailers can win the wallets of shoppers. Globally, they also enable their global customer base to leverage payments data to drive revenue and optimise efficiencies.

On this episode of Resource Centre, we zero in on the crucial topic of cybersecurity in the business world.With the Malaysian government's RM1.8 billion initiative for the Malaysia Cyber Security Strategy (MCSS) 2020-2024, the urgency is clear. We discuss alarming statistics from Cyber Security Malaysia and a Cyber Risk Index report, underscoring the rampant cyber threats faced by organisations. We also highlight the role of leading educational institutes in training business leaders for cybersecurity proficiency.Join cybersecurity experts Danny Kim, Founder & CTO of FullArmor Corporation, and Jenko Hwong, Principal Threat Researcher at Netskope, to learn why cybersecurity knowledge is vital for business strategy and organisational safety.Tune in to explore how leaders can navigate and protect their companies from evolving cyber risks.

In this Weird Science edition, we look at the achievements of 13-year-old Willis Gibson, the first human player to complete the classic game Tetris. Technology and nature intersect as our hosts discuss the potential use of plants to create supercapacitors for energy storage, opening possibilities for organic, biodegradable power sources.In AI news, there's only a 5% chance it will decide to destroy humanity. Or one in twenty, if you like those odds. Plus, they touch on the ethical dilemmas surrounding posthumous digital cloning and the replication of deceased individuals' personalities using AI.A breakthrough in robotics, where scientists have developed an artificial pain-sensing system for robots, could enable machines to differentiate between safe and harmful objects, potentially revolutionizing surgical procedures and enhancing safety in human-robot interactions.And in the medical files, resonant frequencies in human cells could be used as both a therapeutic and diagnostic tool. Not to mention a sad trombone effect from outer space believed to originate from highly magnetized neutron stars.We think it's weird.

The "Mercer 2023 Malaysia Total Remuneration Survey" provides a comprehensive analysis of the current compensation and benefits trends in Malaysia. This report would be useful to HR professionals and business leaders in understanding the remuneration landscape, helping them make informed decisions when developing effective compensation strategies to attract and retain top talent in their organisations.Speaking with us today on the insights into salary structures, market competitiveness, and emerging trends in employee remuneration is Koay Gim Soon, Market Leader of Mercer Malaysia.

Staying current with tech news and trends is crucial for any business or enterprise as it ensures you remain competitive and innovative. It allows for early adoption of emerging technologies, potentially giving a competitive edge. Awareness of new trends helps in anticipating market shifts, adapting business strategies accordingly, and meeting evolving customer expectations. It also aids in risk management by keeping abreast of cybersecurity developments and regulatory changes. Overall, being informed in technology enhances decision-making, strategic planning, and the ability to seize new opportunities in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.Welcome to Tech Tuesday, on Resource Centre.

Today on Resource Centre, we delve into the thought-provoking world of "Venture Meets Mission", a new book that challenges traditional perspectives on the role of businesses. This book is co-authored by Arun Gupta, Thomas J. Fewer, and Gerard George.While many may believe that businesses should solely prioritise profit and growth, the authors of this book challenge this notion by advocating for an entrepreneurship that is inherently purpose-driven and oriented towards societal improvement. According to this perspective, businesses possess untapped potential to contribute significantly to the betterment of all and, in turn, enhance the collective wellbeing of the communities they serve.Speaking with us today is Professor Gerard George, one of the co-author of Venture Meets Mission, who is also the Group Managing Director of IMU Health, to share more about the book and why it is an important read for leaders and organisations of all sizes.