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By Zenia Pearl V. Nicolas Late-night innovation in China’s tech hubs: the 996 work culture evolves from long hours to high-output automation. The Long Week That Refuses to End China’s government has renewed its campaign against excessive work hours—especially the so-called “996” schedule , which means working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. Official labor law caps the workweek at 44 hours, yet the average Chinese employee still works 48.5 hours weekly as of mid-2025, according to official surveys ( Reuters, 2025 ). Some large firms have launched public “clock-off” initiatives to encourage employees to leave earlier, but enforcement varies widely. In fast-growing industries—from e-commerce to electronics— longer hours remain normalized , driven by competition and internal performance pressure. From Overtime to Throughput The conversation about overwork is shifting from manual hours to measurable output. China remains the largest market for industrial robots, installing about 295,000 new robots in 2024, which accounts for 54 percent of all global installations ( International Federation of Robotics, 2025a ). Rather than replacing human jobs outright, robots increasingly augment human productivity—especially in automotive, electronics, and logistics industries. The World Robotics 2025  report confirms that global robot demand has doubled over the past decade, largely fueled by China’s industrial modernization push ( International Federation of Robotics, 2025b ). The Human Equation Demographic data add another layer of pressure. China’s working-age population (ages 16 to 59) fell to 864.81 million (61.3 percent of the total) by the end of 2023 ( National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2024 ). The total population also declined for a third consecutive year in 2024, underscoring a long-term labor shortage ( Reuters, 2025 ). Economists note that labor scarcity is pushing firms to rely more heavily on automation and digital tools to sustain productivity—creating a workforce model where efficiency gains increasingly depend on human-machine collaboration. Not Just a China Story The 996 mindset is influencing work patterns beyond China. In South Korea, technology workers report mounting output pressure despite the country’s legal 52-hour work limit ( TechCrunch, 2025 ). The 996 mindset goes global: from China’s tech offices to South Korea and Silicon Valley, longer hours are being redefined by AI and ambition. Meanwhile, in the United States, discussions about “hustle culture” and AI-driven productivity races mirror many of the same concerns. Wired  highlights that several Silicon Valley startups have experimented with extended-hour work models reminiscent of China’s 996 structure ( Wired, 2025 ). Together, these trends reflect a global question:Can productivity innovation coexist with human sustainability?The evolution of China’s 996 culture is not just about hours—it’s a preview of the balance every modern economy must learn to strike. References International Federation of Robotics. (2025a, September 25). Global robot demand in factories doubles over 10 years – World Robotics 2025 report by IFR released.  Retrieved from   https://ifr.org/ifr-press-releases/news/global-robot-demand-in-factories-doubles-over-10-years   International Federation of Robotics. (2025b, September). World Robotics 2025 – Industrial Robots (Executive Summary).  Retrieved from   https://ifr.org/img/worldrobotics/Executive_Summary_WR_2025_Industrial_Robots.pdf   National Bureau of Statistics of China. (2024, February 28). Population and its composition by the end of 2023.  Retrieved from   https://www.stats.gov.cn/english/PressRelease/202402/t20240228_1947918.html   Reuters. (2025, January 17). China’s population falls for a third consecutive year.  Retrieved from   https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-population-falls-third-consecutive-year-2025-01-17/   Reuters. (2025, September 1). China tries to call time on its ‘996’ culture of long hours.  Retrieved from   https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/china-tries-call-time-its-996-culture-long-hours--ecmii-2025-09-01/ TechCrunch. (2025, October 22). As China’s 996 culture spreads, South Korea’s tech sector grapples with 52-hour limit.  Retrieved from   https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/22/as-chinas-996-culture-spreads-south-koreas-tech-sector-grapples-with-52-hour-limit/ Wired. (2025, July 23). Silicon Valley AI startups are embracing China’s controversial “996” work schedule.  Retrieved from   https://www.wired.com/story/silicon-valley-china-996-work-schedule/

By Zenia Pearl V. Nicolas   Image source: Alfonso Maruccia / TECHSPOT In chip manufacturing, ASML  sits at a rare intersection of physics, software, supply chains, and geopolitics. Owning a lithography tool is one thing; keeping it calibrated, updated, and production-ready is quite another. The viral anecdote is unverified | ASML’s Machines Multiple tech and industry outlets reported an alleged case in which a Chinese team tried to reverse-engineer one of ASML’s older DUV lithography tools, damaged it, and then called the Dutch company for help ( TechSpot ;  TrendForce ).However, ASML has not confirmed the event, and no major outlet has independently verified it ( TrendForce ).For now, it remains an unconfirmed anecdote —not established fact. What is  confirmed: servicing rights under tighter controls The Netherlands clarified on September 10, 2024 , that ASML must now obtain licenses to provide spare parts and software updates  for certain tools sold to Chinese customers covered by new export restrictions ( Reuters ). This makes machine servicing—not just sales—a regulated activity in itself. ASML’s CEO also said in April 2024  that U.S. policy restricts maintenance of some systems sold to Chinese firms: “We can service them, but not with U.S. content, with spare parts that come out of the U.S. that are under export control.” ( Reuters via Yahoo Finance ) Reuters added that without regular software updates, performance of these machines will decline and for critical lenses and lasers, there are “no known alternatives.” ( Reuters ) The quiet difficulty: making complex tools actually  work Lithography is a symphony of optics, lasers, motion systems, firmware, and environmental control. Even if one could disassemble a DUV machine, rebuilding it to production-grade precision requires the calibration routines, licensed software, and deep-supply cooperation that only ASML and its verified partners maintain ( Reuters ).This is the unseen side of mastery, the part that can’t be reverse-engineered overnight. Strategic backdrop: ambition, controls, and lifecycle lock-in The Dutch government has explicitly tied ASML export scrutiny to potential military end-use in China ( Reuters ).Meanwhile, Washington has encouraged allied export authorities to treat maintenance access as a new chokepoint in the semiconductor race ( Reuters ).Together, these controls make chipmaking tools platforms of embedded leverage—rich with intellectual property, supplier lock-in, and software dependencies. Reading the story as a lesson, not a “gotcha” Whether or not the “broken machine” episode happened, the symbolism remains: ambition alone doesn’t yield mastery. High-precision manufacturing depends on invisible layers—calibration codes, firmware updates, service contracts, and supplier intimacy, accumulated over decades. That’s the delicate boundary between curiosity and craft, between access and expertise ( Reuters ). Bottom Line  The reverse-engineering mishap is alleged, not verified by ASML ( TechSpot ;   TrendForce ). Servicing and updates for some ASML tools in China now require Dutch export licenses ( Reuters ). U.S. pressure limits maintenance with American-origin parts, affecting performance sustainability ( Reuters via Yahoo Finance ). Dutch authorities link these export controls to military end-use risk  ( Reuters ). References  Maruccia, A. (2025, October 22). Reverse-engineering ASML isn’t going great for China, engineers allegedly broke the machine trying.  TechSpot.   https://www.techspot.com/news/109969-chinese-engineers-allegedly-broke-asml-chipmaking-machine-failed.html TrendForce. (2025, October 24). China reportedly damaged DUV machine in reverse-engineering, called ASML for help.  TrendForce News.   https://www.trendforce.com/news/2025/10/24/news-china-reportedly-damaged-duv-machine-in-reverse-engineering-called-asml-for-help/ Sterling, T. (2024, September 10). ASML needs licence to service some equipment in China, Dutch government says.  Reuters.   https://www.reuters.com/technology/asml-needs-licence-service-some-equipment-china-dutch-government-says-2024-09-10/ Sterling, T. (2024, April 4). Explainer: Why maintaining ASML equipment is the new front in US-China chip war.  Reuters.   https://www.reuters.com/business/why-maintaining-asml-equipment-is-new-front-us-china-chip-war-2024-04-04/ Sterling, T. (2024, April 24). ASML CEO says US restricts servicing some China equipment, won’t hurt earnings.  Reuters (via Yahoo Finance).   https://www.yahoo.com/tech/asml-ceo-says-us-restricts-140811815.html Reuters. (2024, February 19). Dutch government says China seeks military advantage from ASML tools.  Reuters.   https://www.reuters.com/technology/dutch-government-says-china-seeks-military-advantage-asml-tools-2024-02-19/

By Zenia Pearl V. Nicolas ERP isn’t just a system upgrade — it’s a leadership test. Everyone loves to talk about ERP as if it’s a magic button. One upgrade, one migration, one integration and suddenly your business runs like a machine. But the truth? ERP isn’t just a system update. It’s a belief-system reboot . And many organizations fall short,  not because of bad software, but because of human denial and weak change leadership. Gartner predicts that by 2027, more than 70 percent of newly implemented ERP initiatives will fail to meet their original business-case goals, and up to 25 percent will fail catastrophically  ( Gartner, 2025 ). The Beautiful Pitch vs The Ugly Reality The sales deck always looks flawless: unified processes, real-time data, automation at scale, ROI in months. Yet, the biggest failure isn’t in the code—it’s in the story : how ERP is framed, governed, and owned. According to Gartner’s projection, over 70 percent  of ERP programs will still miss their intended outcomes by 2027, with as many as 25 percent failing outright ( Gartner, 2025 ). That gap lies not in configuration, but in accountability—how leaders set expectations and own the transformation narrative. The Real Problem Isn’t the System—it’s Culture Technical errors are visible and fixable. Cultural resistance  is invisible until it breaks things. Evidence from Indonesian state-owned enterprises found that while sound project management strongly supports ERP rollout, top-management commitment is the decisive moderating factor, and successful ERP implementation directly improves decision-making effectiveness ( Ab Academies, 2023 ). In short: you can buy the platform, hire consultants, and automate every workflow, but if the human system doesn’t evolve, your ROI will always lag. Who Fixes It: The Unseen Change Agents Behind every “successful” ERP rollout sits an unseen group of process owners, super-users, trainers, and communicators. A 2023 empirical study found that information sharing and competent personnel significantly influence ERP implementation success ( EconStor, 2023 ). Translation: your project team shouldn’t just be tech-savvy—they must possess emotional intelligence, cross-functional understanding, and the courage to convert transformation into daily behaviour. The Cost of Denial Many organizations underestimate the social cost  of ERP change. Employees resist new systems because they fear losing control or relevance. Leaders, meanwhile, sometimes delegate transformation instead of owning it. As Deloitte highlights, the real key to ERP transformation lies in re-architecting not only technology, but the way people and processes interact with it  ( Deloitte, 2025 ).This view is reinforced by Deloitte’s “Vision to Value” framework, which shows how ERP success depends on aligning business design, leadership, and workforce behaviour—not just system deployment ( Deloitte Press Release, 2025 ). ERP isn’t only about efficiency—it’s about identity. The sooner leaders accept that, the faster transformation takes root. Why It Matters for ERPX ID 2025 At the upcoming ERPX ID 2025 , the most valuable conversations won’t be about features or modules—they’ll be about what failed, what was learned, and how it was fixed. Because leadership isn’t measured by how well you buy  systems, but by how well you lead  people through the friction those systems expose. References  Gartner. (2025). Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Trends 2025.  Retrieved from   https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology/topics/enterprise-resource-planning   Ab Academies. (2023). The impact of project management and implementing enterprise resource planning on decision-making effectiveness: The case of Indonesia.  Retrieved from   https://www.abacademies.org/articles/the-impact-of-project-management-and-implementing-enterprise-resource-planning-on-decisionmaking-effectiveness--the-case-of-indone-11956.html   EconStor. (2023). Factors affecting ERP implementation success.  Retrieved from   https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/294444/1/10.1080_23311975.2023.2212499.pdf   Deloitte. (2025). Maximize ERP Market Value: How to Overcome Five ERP Implementation Challenges.  Retrieved from   https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/what-we-do/capabilities/finance-transformation/articles/erp-value.html   Deloitte Press Release. (2025). Vision to Value: Deloitte Reveals Framework to Realize Business Value Through ERP-Enabled Transformations.  Retrieved from   https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/about/press-room/vision-to-value-deloitte-reveals-framework-to-realize-business-value-through-erp-enabled-transformations.html

In recent years, Augmented Reality (AR) has emerged as a transformative force in the retail industry, reshaping how consumers interact with products and making shopping more engaging and efficient. By blending digital elements with the real world, AR technology offers innovative ways for customers to experience products before making a purchase. This article explores how AR is revolutionizing retail, its benefits for both consumers and retailers, and future trends in this dynamic field.   The Rise of Augmented Reality Retail AR Retail AR technology overlays digital information—such as images, videos, and interactive elements—onto the real-world environment through devices like smartphones, tablets, or AR glasses. This immersive experience allows consumers to visualize products in their own space or try them on virtually, bridging the gap between online and in-store shopping.   Key Developments in AR Retail Technology: Virtual Try-Ons: Clothing and Accessories:  AR applications enable customers to "try on" clothes and accessories virtually. By using their smartphone cameras or AR mirrors in stores, shoppers can see how different outfits, glasses, or jewelry items look on them without physically trying them on. This not only enhances the shopping experience but also reduces the friction of decision-making, leading to more confident purchases. Product Visualization: Furniture and Home Decor:  AR tools help customers visualize how furniture, decor, or appliances will look in their own homes. By pointing their devices at a room, users can see how a sofa or a painting will fit into their existing space. This functionality helps consumers make more informed decisions and reduces the likelihood of returns due to mismatched or poorly fitting items. Interactive Store Experiences: In-Store Navigation:  Retailers are using AR to enhance the in-store experience by providing interactive maps, promotional offers, and product information. Shoppers can use AR to navigate stores more easily, find specific items, and access real-time discounts or special offers..   Benefits of AR in Retail The integration of AR technology in retail brings a range of benefits for both consumers and businesses: Enhanced Customer Engagement: AR provides an interactive and engaging shopping experience that captures customers' attention and encourages exploration. Virtual try-ons and product visualizations create a more immersive experience, leading to increased time spent interacting with products and a higher likelihood of purchase. Increased Sales and Conversion Rates: By allowing customers to see how products fit into their lives or on their bodies, AR helps reduce uncertainty and boosts purchase confidence. This leads to higher conversion rates and increased sales, as customers are more likely to complete transactions when they feel assured about their choices. Reduced Return Rates: AR helps minimize the gap between online and physical shopping by providing a more accurate representation of products. This reduces the number of returns caused by dissatisfaction with product appearance or fit, saving retailers costs associated with reverse logistics and restocking. Improved Customer Satisfaction: The convenience and novelty of AR technology enhance the overall shopping experience. Shoppers appreciate the ability to make informed decisions and enjoy a more personalized experience, which can lead to increased loyalty and positive word-of-mouth. Challenges and Considerations Despite its advantages, the adoption of AR in retail faces several challenges: Technology Limitations: The effectiveness of AR experiences depends on the quality of the technology and the accuracy of the virtual representations. Inconsistent or poor-quality AR can lead to customer frustration and diminish the perceived value of the technology. Cost of Implementation: Developing and integrating AR solutions can be costly, particularly for smaller retailers. Investing in AR technology requires careful consideration of potential returns and alignment with overall business strategies. User Experience: Ensuring a seamless and user-friendly AR experience is crucial. Complicated interfaces or slow performance can deter users from engaging with AR applications and diminish the overall impact. Future Trends in AR Retail The future of AR in retail promises exciting developments: Advancements in AR Hardware: The continued evolution of AR hardware, including more affordable and sophisticated AR glasses, will likely enhance the accessibility and functionality of AR applications in retail environments. Integration with Artificial Intelligence (AI): Combining AR with AI can further personalize the shopping experience by providing tailored recommendations and real-time insights based on customer preferences and behaviors. Expansion Beyond Apparel and Home Goods: While AR has seen significant adoption in fashion and home decor, other retail sectors such as beauty, automotive, and food services are beginning to explore AR applications to enhance customer engagement and decision-making.   Augmented Reality is reshaping the retail landscape by offering innovative ways for consumers to interact with products and make more informed purchasing decisions. As technology continues to advance, AR is expected to play an increasingly pivotal role in delivering immersive, personalized, and efficient shopping experiences. Retailers who embrace AR technology stand to gain a competitive edge by enhancing customer satisfaction, driving sales, and reducing return rates in an ever-evolving marketplace.

By: Zenia Pearl V. Nicolas In the increasingly competitive AI landscape, one move can capture more than headlines, it can shift the balance of influence. On August 12, 2025, Anthropic, the San Francisco-based AI startup behind the Claude family of models, announced a sweeping deal: offering Claude for Enterprise and Claude for Government to all three branches of the U.S. government for just $1 per agency for one year. While the amount is symbolic, the intent is strategic. By eliminating cost as a barrier, Anthropic is positioning itself not just as a vendor but as a partner in transforming government operations. This deal covers the executive, legislative and judicial branches, an important distinction, as rival OpenAI’s similar offer last week applied only to the executive branch. More Than Just a Price Tag The $1 fee is a conversation starter, but the substance lies in the capabilities behind it. Anthropic’s Claude for Government meets FedRAMP High standards, the highest federal security certification for handling sensitive but unclassified work. This means agencies can use the platform for mission-critical operations while retaining complete control of their data, thanks to partnerships with AWS, Google Cloud and Palantir. Government partners are already seeing results. The Department of Defense is tapping Claude under a contract worth up to $200 million to advance national security capabilities. At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 10,000 scientists and researchers rely on Claude to accelerate discoveries, while the District of Columbia Department of Health uses it to provide multilingual access to health services. AI Companies Court Washington This announcement is a component of a larger competition among AI leaders to strengthen connections with policymakers. As AI becomes more embedded in public sector processes, these collaborations influence not only technology implementation but also policy development. Anthropic’s rivals are moving just as quickly. OpenAI is preparing to open its first Washington D.C. office and has launched “OpenAI for Government.” Google is reportedly exploring a similar discounted arrangement for its Gemini model. Elon Musk’s xAI has rolled out “Grok for Government” after securing a Department of Defense contract. For these companies, the federal market is not about immediate revenue, it’s about long-term positioning, influence and the opportunity to test AI scale in complex environments. Why This Move Resonates in Retail and Consumer Sectors While this may seem like a government-only story, it signals a major trend retail leaders should watch: AI models are moving rapidly from experimental pilots to embedded infrastructure. The same Claude technology supporting national security and public health could be adapted for supply chain optimization, customer engagement or multilingual customer service in retail. By demonstrating its reliability in the most security-conscious environments, Anthropic is building credibility that can translate into consumer-facing industries. For retail executives, this signals a failure where partnering with an AI provider may involve not just technical capability  but proven operational trust. What Makes Anthropic Different Speaking in my own way, having followed. AI’s tug-of-war for trust and adoption, what sets Anthropic apart is not just its price play. It’s the combination of breadth, compliance and philosophy. Where others stop at making their AI available, Anthropic extends across all three branches of government. Where others target speed to market, Anthropic emphasizes alignment with safety standards and public interest. Although supported by major players such as Amazon and Google, the company’s foundation in AI safety research ensures its focus on creating models that are transparent, steerable and accountable. It’s not just about selling Claude, it’s about embedding it in the kind of high-stakes environments where precision, neutrality and security matter most. That’s the kind of track record that earns lasting trust, whether in government halls or retail boardrooms. For business leaders in Asia, attending Rockbird Media events can provide unique opportunities to stay ahead of industry leadership events in AI and explore the impact of technologies like Claude in real-world government operations.   Sources: Wikipedia – Anthropic Anthropic – Offering Expanded Claude Access Across All Three Branches of Government Reuters – Anthropic Offers AI Chatbot Claude to US Government for $1 CNBC – Anthropic is Giving Claude to the U.S. Government for $1 as AI Companies Try to Win Key Agencies PYMNTS – Anthropic Offers Claude to US Government Workers for $1 AOL – Anthropic is Offering Claude to the US Government for Just $1 Financial Times – Anthropic Offers Claude Chatbot to US Lawmakers for $1

By: Zenia Pearl V. Nicolas Talk about AI in Malaysia these days and sooner or later Huawei will be mentioned. The company has become a visible presence, not just selling tech but taking part in shaping how the country moves forward. It’s training local talent, setting up infrastructure, and trying to show that Malaysia can build its own place in the region’s AI future. Walk through Kuala Lumpur’s buzzing tech districts today and you’ll hear one word repeated often—AI. What was once a far-off promise has quickly become a national project. Malaysia, long known for its role in electronics and digital trade, is now determined to secure a place in the artificial intelligence economy. This urgency is clear in the government’s National Cloud Computing Policy (NCCP) and the recent creation of the National AI Office, both designed to provide a backbone for adoption. Private players are just as committed. Huawei, for example, has pledged to train 30,000 Malaysians in AI over the next three years, a move that signals how serious the country is about building not just infrastructure, but talent. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo captured the spirit at the Huawei Cloud AI Ecosystem Summit: “AI-driven productivity must benefit every Malaysian, with no one left behind, and we must be inclusive and work together.” That idea, growth that lifts everyone has become the defining theme of Malaysia’s AI story. What Life Looked Like Before AI Took Hold A decade ago, the conversation around Malaysia’s digital economy centered largely on access. SMEs struggled to scale without advanced tools. Healthcare outside major cities relied on traditional diagnostics. Education reform was often slowed by resource gaps. Without AI, much of the economy leaned on imported technology and external expertise. Local professionals had limited opportunities to train in advanced data science or machine learning. What Has Changed Since Then These days, AI has stepped out of theory and into real use. In banking, for instance, machine learning is already at work catching fraud before it causes damage. Factories deploy predictive analytics to avoid costly breakdowns. Even schools are experimenting with personalized learning models that adjust to students’ strengths. Huawei Malaysia CEO Simon Sun put it plainly: “We have set the goal of nurturing 30,000 Malaysian AI talents, comprising students, government officials, industry leaders, think tanks, associations, and others under this initiative in the coming three years.” The difference is striking. Malaysia is no longer waiting for global expertise, it is growing its own, and in the process, reshaping industries. How Malaysia’s Path Differs from Others Look westward, and you’ll see AI programs moving at breakneck speed. The United States pushes aggressive scaling, while China builds AI dominance through massive state-led projects. Malaysia is not rushing into AI. The country is moving carefully, making sure the changes work for its people. The focus is on being fair, keeping control of its own data and using AI in a way that makes sense locally. Instead of copying other countries, Malaysia is building an approach that fits its own needs. This is not about winning a race; it is about making sure the race has more than one finish line. As Aka Dai, Huawei Cloud’s VP of Marketing, told the ASEAN AI Summit: “This region is not just a dynamic growth engine. It is a land of pioneers, eager for innovation.” That sense of being pioneers, finding solutions that reflect local needs is where Malaysia stands apart. Inspiring More Than Technology Behind all the big announcements and policies, the real story is about people. It’s about students picking up new skills, doctors in small towns getting extra help through AI tools and small businesses finding ways to grow with cloud support. In the end, the real value of AI shows up in how it touches lives. Gobind Singh Deo offered a reminder worth holding onto: “The future is now. We need to start thinking today about how to build an ecosystem that will ensure that, in five years, when new technology is rolled out, Malaysia is ready for it.” It isn’t just for politicians or business heads. It’s for every Malaysian to ask themselves how they can help shape the country’s digital future. The Human Core That AI Can’t Replace AI can do many things, but it will never have what makes us human. AI can deal with information faster than we ever could, but it doesn’t know how to imagine, to feel or to care. Malaysia’s experience proves the point. The role of AI is to support people, not to take their place. In the end, it’s people who give technology its’ meaning and no machine can change that. These days, AI has stepped out of theory and into real use. In banking, for instance, machine learning is already at work catching fraud before it causes damage. Want to dive deeper into how AI is reshaping industries? Check out AWS Manufacturing Day – Thailand, September 2025 . Sources Dashveenjit Kaur, , Artificial Intelligence New HR Asia, SDX Central,

By: Zenia Pearl V. Nicolas When OpenAI released its new open-weight models— gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b —the AI world took notice. But when Amazon Web Services (AWS) made those models available on Amazon Bedrock and Amazon SageMaker AI , it signaled more than just another technical update. It marked a turning point for the generative AI ecosystem and for every enterprise striving to scale, innovate, and lead responsibly. The Pain Point: Limited Access to Powerful AI Tools Integration complexity Lack of infrastructure compatibility Data residency and security concerns Limited control and customization The Breakthrough: OpenAI’s Open-Weight Models Now on AWS Excel at math, code generation, and scientific analysis Offer chain-of-thought reasoning and step-by-step logic processing Run efficiently on laptops or single GPUs, making experimentation easier Provide a 128K context window to handle long-form documents like legal contracts, research papers, and customer service transcripts Are trained with safety at the core, with robust filters via AWS Guardrails Why It Matters for Business What’s Next Until now, OpenAI’s models—some of the most advanced on the market—were largely gated. Microsoft Azure was the go-to cloud partner, and for businesses not operating in that environment, the barriers to entry were steep. Developers faced challenges with: Meanwhile, AWS customers—many of whom represent some of the world’s largest corporations, fastest-growing startups, and most trusted institutions—had access to a growing suite of models from Anthropic, Meta, and Mistral, but not OpenAI. This left a significant gap for companies wanting the unique performance and reasoning capabilities that OpenAI offered. This newly announced partnership addresses those roadblocks directly. OpenAI’s gpt-oss models are now accessible within Amazon Bedrock and SageMaker AI , bringing their powerful reasoning abilities, instruction-following behavior, and agentic workflows to the AWS ecosystem for the first time. These models: The gpt-oss-120b model, in particular, is reported to be 3x more price-performant than its closest Gemini counterpart and 2x more performant than OpenAI's own o4 model when hosted on Amazon Bedrock. This isn’t just a win for AWS or OpenAI. It’s a win for enterprises that have long struggled to find the right combination of model flexibility, security, cost-efficiency , and scale . Now, any AWS customer, from a healthcare provider exploring diagnostic chatbots to a fintech innovator optimizing loan risk modeling, can tap into OpenAI’s advanced capabilities without switching platforms or compromising on governance. Through Amazon Bedrock AgentCore , businesses can deploy AI agents at scale with full enterprise-grade security. Meanwhile, SageMaker AI supports full lifecycle ML development, allowing for fine-tuning, training, and deployment of these open-weight models. A Tactical Change in AI Framework This action also demonstrates an increasing trend in the AI industry: multi-cloud adaptability. By providing OpenAI models through AWS, OpenAI reduces its reliance on Microsoft Azure, indicating a move toward cloud decentralization It also gives AWS a stronger foothold in a market where analysts were beginning to question its AI momentum. Just weeks before this announcement, Amazon’s CEO Andy Jassy faced tough questions from investors about whether AWS was lagging behind Microsoft and Google. This collaboration answers those questions head-on. The partnership expands choices for developers and enterprises alike. It underscores the rising demand for open-weight, customizable AI tools that are secure, responsible, and enterprise-ready. The future of generative AI is not about exclusivity. It’s about interoperability, scale, and responsibility. With OpenAI models now available on AWS, the ecosystem just became more competitive and more inclusive. If you want to see how innovations like this are reshaping industries in real time, we’d love to have you at rockbird media’s AWS Manufacturing Day in Thailand this September . It’s a space where cloud, AI, and manufacturing leaders come together to share real stories, practical insights, and what’s next. You’ll walk away with ideas you can actually use, connections that matter, and a clearer view of where the future is heading. Save your seat today: AWS Manufacturing Day Thailand 2025 Let’s explore what’s next—together. References  Amazon Newsroom – OpenAI Models on AWS TechCrunch – For the First Time, OpenAI Models are Available on AWS Reuters – OpenAI Releases Open-Weight Reasoning Models Ainvest – OpenAI and AWS Partnership Boosts Cloud AI

By: Zenia Pearl V. Nicolas For years, the advertising world has been a high-stakes chessboard where brands and agencies make bold moves, trading partners as strategy demands. This August, the board shifted dramatically: Mastercard has appointed WPP Media as its new global media partner, ending a decade-long relationship with Dentsu’s Carat. The $180 million win is more than just another account. It is, in the words of WPP Media CEO Brian Lesser, “a landmark win for our company that speaks to the momentum we’re building as WPP Media, the power of our integrated offer, and the value of the investments we’re making to give our clients an advantage in the AI era”. Why Mastercard Made the Switch Mastercard, a brand with an $815 million ad budget in 2024, has been doubling down on digital transformation. They’ve rolled out new tools like Receivables Manager and Commercial Direct Payments to make B2B payments faster, safer, and less of a headache for businesses everywhere. When a company is this serious about breaking new ground, its partners can’t afford to lag behind. They need to share the same drive to look ahead and stay ready for what’s next. A Mastercard spokesperson put it plainly: WPP’s “powerful global reach and advanced AI and data capabilities” sealed the deal. WPP Media’s decision to walk away from PayPal—a bigger account worth $286.7 million wasn’t a retreat, but a trade-up. Like a seasoned player folding a strong hand to wait for the better one, WPP positioned itself to align with Mastercard’s long-term growth potential. The AI Advantage Earlier this year, WPP Media introduced Open Intelligence — a system built to read the room before the campaign even begins. It’s built to give marketers a head start, showing how people might react before a campaign even launches. Gut instinct alone doesn’t cut it anymore. What marketers need is foresight — the ability to see how people might respond before the first ad even runs. The old ID-based way of targeting is on its way out. Privacy rules keep tightening. People’s habits aren’t standing still either. That’s why this new tech is coming in to cover the ground the old methods can’t anymore. By leaning on AI, WPP is telling clients like Mastercard: we’re not just buying ad slots—we’re forecasting the winds, charting the tides, and steering campaigns like ships through unpredictable waters. A Needed Win for WPP For WPP, the victory arrives at a fragile moment. The group has been weathering storms—losing Coca-Cola, Mars, and other marquee clients, and reporting a 5.8% revenue decline in Q2. Rebranding from GroupM to WPP Media was a symbolic reset, but without new wins, it risked being little more than a new coat of paint. Now, with Mastercard aboard, WPP gains not just revenue but renewed credibility. As Cindy Rose, incoming CEO from Microsoft, put it: “To be selected as their partner is an honor and testament to the AI-based data solutions we are building at WPP to fuel intelligent growth.” Her background in tech mirrors the agency’s pivot: less about sheer media scale, more about data, intelligence, and future-proofing. Not Just About the Numbers This partnership isn’t some throwaway detail in a report. It’s a sign of where the industry is heading: AI isn’t optional anymore. It’s what tips the scale when billion-dollar deals are on the table. For Mastercard, it means placing its chips on an agency that can match its innovation drive. For WPP Media, it’s a lifeline—proof that its restructuring and AI bets are beginning to pay off. And for the industry, it’s a sign that the next wave of client-agency relationships will be built not just on creative flair, but on predictive intelligence. As one observer might frame it: In the new marketing economy, the agencies that win are not just storytellers—they’re data whisperers. References Marketing Dive, “WPP Media notches ‘landmark’ win with Mastercard as AI fuels interest”, Aug. 19, 2025 eMarketer, “Mastercard selects WPP Media for marketing, citing AI prowess”, Aug. 19, 2025 FinViz, “Mastercard Introduces New Tools for B2B Payment Automation”, Aug. 18, 2025 “WPP Media notches ‘landmark’ win with Mastercard as AI fuels interest.” Marketing Dive “Mastercard selects WPP Media for marketing, citing AI prowess.” eMarketer.  “Mastercard Introduces New Tools for B2B Payment Automation.” FinViz.

By: Zenia Pearl V. Nicolas In October 2025, Jensen Huang arrived at SpaceX’s Starbase in Texas carrying a shimmering, gold-plated device small enough to fit in a backpack. Elon Musk waited beside a towering Starship rocket. That hand-off — NVIDIA’s DGX Spark , the world’s smallest AI supercomputer , symbolized a new chapter in the evolution of intelligence (NVIDIA Newsroom, 2025). Nearly a decade earlier, Huang had delivered the first DGX-1  to OpenAI’s founders in 2016. That machine fueled the early rise of deep learning. Today’s DGX Spark, by contrast, weighs just 1.2 kilograms  and offers a staggering 1 petaflop  of performance — the kind of compute once reserved for sprawling data centers (HPCwire, 2025). The Smallest Supercomputer Ever Built NVIDIA describes DGX Spark as a “personal AI supercomputer,” powered by the Grace Blackwell GB10 Superchip  with 128 GB of unified memory  and bandwidth five times faster than PCI Express Gen 5 (NVIDIA Press, 2025).It arrives pre-loaded with NVIDIA’s AI software stack, enabling users to fine-tune models with up to 70 billion parameters  and run inference on those exceeding 200 billion  (The Verge, 2025). During the Starbase hand-off, Huang told Musk: “Imagine delivering the smallest supercomputer next to the biggest rocket.” (NVIDIA Blog, 2025) The remark instantly drew global attention, a symbolic echo of 2016, when he hand-delivered the first DGX-1 to OpenAI. Back then, it took racks of servers to train deep-learning models; now, the same power fits on a desk. From Cloud to Creator For years, AI progress depended on massive server farms run by Big Tech. The DGX Spark flips that equation. With compute power compressed into a desktop form, developers, researchers, and even startups  can now run high-end AI workloads without relying entirely on cloud infrastructure (NVIDIA Newsroom, 2025). Experts say DGX Spark marks a return of AI power to researchers and developers — placing petaflop performance directly on the desktop (HPCwire, 2025). The unified CPU-GPU architecture means data no longer shuttles between components, reducing latency and energy use, key for on-device intelligence and fine-tuning small to mid-sized models (The Verge, 2025). A Global Equalizer Though the launch happened in Texas, its implications stretch far beyond Silicon Valley. As compute becomes portable, emerging economies  stand to benefit.Researchers in Southeast Asia or Africa can experiment with large models without paying premium cloud rates. In the Philippines, local AI teams could use Spark-powered workstations for language models, agricultural analysis, or educational tools, keeping data on-premise while maintaining performance. To accelerate adoption, NVIDIA announced partnerships with Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI  to distribute DGX Spark units globally by the end of 2025 (NVIDIA Press, 2025). The Shape of Intelligence Has Changed The DGX-1 of 2016 occupied server rooms; the DGX Spark of 2025 sits beside a keyboard.Between those two moments lies a revolution, the compression of Moore’s Law into accessibility. AI compute no longer means industrial scale; it now means human scale . In Huang’s hand-off to Musk, we saw more than a product reveal, we saw the migration of intelligence itself, from distant clouds to personal reach.The future of AI, it turns out, isn’t just about building bigger models. It’s about placing power where imagination begins. References  HPCwire. (2025, Oct 2). NVIDIA DGX Spark Arrives for World’s AI Developers.  https://www.hpcwire.com/off-the-wire/nvidia-dgx-spark-arrives-for-worlds-ai-developers  NVIDIA Newsroom. (2025, Oct 1). NVIDIA DGX Spark Arrives for World’s AI Developers.  https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/nvidia-dgx-spark-arrives-for-worlds-ai-developers  NVIDIA Press Release. (2025, Oct 1). NVIDIA Announces DGX Spark and DGX Station Personal AI Computers.  https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/nvidia-announces-dgx-spark-and-dgx-station-personal-ai-computers  The Verge. (2025, Oct 2). Nvidia’s “personal AI supercomputer” DGX Spark goes on sale October 15th.  https://www.theverge.com/news/798775/nvidia-spark-personal-ai-supercomputer  Reuters. (2025, Oct 2). Nvidia plans to sell tech to speed AI chip communication.  https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/nvidias-huang-set-showcase-latest-ai-tech-taiwans-computex-2025-05-18

In today's retail landscape, offering label-free and package-free returns isn't just about simplifying logistics—it's about meeting the evolving expectations of customers while simultaneously driving sustainability and cost-effectiveness. Customer behavior and preferences are changing as the market evolves. Therefore, businesses must consider options that would enhance customer satisfaction while also contributing to the sustainability of the company. Retailers are increasingly recognizing the value of providing flexible return options that align with consumer preferences. Here's why businesses should consider embracing label-free and package-free returns and how they can benefit both retailers and customers.   Retailer Benefits of Label-Free and Package-Free Returns 1. Cuts Processing Time Streamlining the return process by accepting items as-is, without packaging, significantly reduces processing time. This approach allows for more efficient handling and consolidation of returns, ultimately saving time and money.   2. Saves Money The cost of processing returns has been a significant concern for retailers, with billions of dollars spent annually. Embracing package-free returns presents an opportunity to mitigate these costs and optimize operational efficiency.   3. Decreases Waste With a growing emphasis on sustainability, offering label-free and package-free returns resonates with environmentally-conscious consumers. By minimizing packaging waste, retailers can appeal to a broader customer base and demonstrate their commitment to eco-friendly practices.   4. Increases Customer Touchpoints Providing multiple return options, including label-free and package-free methods, enhances customer touchpoints. This increased interaction not only improves the overall shopping experience but also presents opportunities for additional sales and engagement.   5. Satisfies Customers Easy, hassle-free returns are essential for customer satisfaction and loyalty. By offering preferred return methods, such as label-free and package-free options, retailers can enhance customer retention and drive repeat business.   Customer Benefits of Label-Free and Package-Free Returns 1. Greater Convenience Simplifying the return process by eliminating the need for packaging and labels enhances convenience for customers. This approach addresses common pain points associated with returns, such as repackaging and printing labels, resulting in a smoother experience.   2. Cost Savings Returns are highly valued by consumers, and offering label-free and package-free options can help retailers meet this expectation without incurring additional expenses. Customers appreciate cost-effective return solutions that align with their preferences.   3. Environmentally-Friendly Eco-conscious consumers prioritize sustainability when choosing brands, making label-free and package-free returns an attractive option. By reducing packaging waste, customers can feel good about their shopping choices and contribute to environmental conservation efforts.   4. Quicker Refund Speed is essential when it comes to refunds, and label-free and package-free returns enable faster verification and processing. Customers appreciate prompt refunds, enhancing their overall satisfaction with the return experience.   While label-free and package-free returns offer numerous benefits, potential challenges arise, such as verifying returns processed through third-party drop-off locations. Additionally, maintaining customer engagement outside of traditional store channels is crucial for preserving revenue and fostering brand loyalty. Software platforms like Delivery Solutions offer comprehensive solutions for implementing label-free and package-free returns seamlessly. From multi-method return support to customizable branding and transparent fulfillment, Delivery Solutions empowers retailers to optimize their return processes while enhancing the customer experience. In conclusion, embracing label-free and package-free returns is not only a smart business strategy but also a reflection of retailers' commitment to meeting customer needs and advancing sustainability initiatives. By leveraging innovative solutions like Delivery Solutions, retailers can elevate their return experiences and drive long-term success in today's competitive marketplace.

By:  Zenia Pearl V. Nicolas Seventeen-year-old TL  lives with a gift and sometimes a burden that most of us can hardly imagine. Ask her about a random date years ago, and she can tell you what she did, how she felt, and even small sensory details, as if she’s replaying the day in her mind. Researchers at the Paris Brain Institute recently studied her case, describing it as a rare form of hyperthymesia , or Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM) . Her story not only challenges what we know about memory but also raises questions about how such insights might shape future workplace performance and even memory-enhancing technologies. TL’s “Memory Palace” Unlike others with HSAM who often feel overwhelmed by uncontrolled recollections, TL has developed remarkable control. She organizes memories in a mental “white room” where experiences are stored in binders by theme and chronology. She keeps painful memories locked in “chests” or separate spaces, such as a “pack ice room” for anger or a “military room” tied to her father’s absence. This structure lets her retrieve personal experiences at will while managing emotional intensity. When tested, TL relived past events with extraordinary vividness and even described imagined future scenarios with unusual richness. Her case suggests that remembering the past and envisioning the future may rely on shared brain mechanisms—a finding with wide implications for neuroscience and beyond. A Rare Phenomenon: Hyperthymesia Hyperthymesia is extremely rare. The first documented case emerged in 2006, when Jill Price  contacted UC Irvine neurobiologist James McGaugh. Price could recall nearly every day of her life since adolescence, but described it as exhausting: “Most have called it a gift, but I call it a burden.” Following her case, UC Irvine researchers identified fewer than 100 people worldwide with HSAM. Media coverage, including 60 Minutes  brought forward more volunteers, but rigorous testing confirmed only a handful. Among them are Joey DeGrandis , who describes both joy and depression tied to his unshakable memories, and actress Marilu Henner , who has spoken publicly about her extraordinary recall. Despite their abilities, people with HSAM are not “geniuses across the board.” Standard intelligence and memory tests usually show average results. Their strength lies specifically in autobiographical recall: linking dates to personal events with striking accuracy. Inside the HSAM Brain What makes these individuals different? Brain imaging studies provide clues. UC Irvine research found HSAM participants had denser white-matter connections linking memory-related brain regions, particularly in the temporal and frontal lobes. Functional MRI suggests their brains show heightened activity in autobiographical memory and visual imagery networks. Other cases show unusual involvement of the amygdala, the brain’s emotional center. One study found a hyperthymesia subject with a right amygdala 20% larger than normal and unusually strong connectivity with the hippocampus. This may cause even ordinary events to be encoded with emotional salience, making them unforgettable. Researchers also note a potential connection to synesthesia , where senses overlap, since some families with HSAM include synesthetes. Though speculative, this could hint at a genetic or developmental link. Still, no single cause has been identified. Hyperthymesia may be a complex interaction of brain structure, function, emotion, and even personality traits such as obsessive organizing tendencies. Living with Super Memory For those who live with it, hyperthymesia is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it provides an endless archive of life’s moments, enriching identity and storytelling. On the other hand, it can be emotionally draining. Painful experiences feel as raw as the day they occurred, contributing to anxiety or depression in some cases. TL’s ability to compartmentalize sets her apart. Others, like Jill Price, report being “trapped” in their past. Joey DeGrandis notes that while he is grateful for the ability to recall joyful times, breakups and losses remain painfully vivid. Yet many describe HSAM as more blessing than curse, especially after finding coping strategies. Some use journals or scrapbooks, not to remember but to offload mental weight and cross-check accuracy. Others connect with fellow HSAM individuals for support. Memory Isn’t Perfect—Even Here One of the most important scientific lessons from HSAM is that even “perfect memory” is not infallible. Studies show HSAM individuals are just as vulnerable to false memories  as anyone else. In one experiment, they recalled nonexistent words or details when exposed to misleading cues. In another, they misremembered historical footage that never existed. This underscores a key point: memory is reconstructive, not a video recorder. HSAM extends the amount and vividness of recall, but it does not eliminate distortion. For fields like law, this is crucial, an HSAM eyewitness may be more detailed but not necessarily more accurate than anyone else. From Science to Application: What HSAM Teaches Us Why does this matter to business leaders and technologists? Because hyperthymesia offers a natural model of memory optimization. Understanding it could unlock advances in several areas: Workplace knowledge retention : Imagine executives and employees equipped with tools inspired by HSAM to better recall project histories, client details, or lessons learned. Memory-training apps could simulate HSAM strategies, like TL’s organizational system, to reinforce key knowledge. Cognitive tech : Future digital assistants or augmented reality tools may allow “personal memory archives” to be stored and retrieved as vividly as an HSAM mind. Advances in neurostimulation and AI could eventually bridge natural memory with technological augmentation. Healthcare breakthroughs : HSAM research may inform treatments for Alzheimer’s, dementia, or PTSD. If we understand how HSAM brains resist forgetting, we could design therapies to strengthen memory circuits in patients. Conversely, learning how HSAM individuals manage painful memories may inspire new methods for easing intrusive traumatic recall. The Road Ahead The study of hyperthymesia remains in its infancy. Fewer than 100 people worldwide are known to have it, and each new case adds pieces to a puzzle still far from complete. But for scientists, executives, and innovators alike, the potential is clear. By studying those who remember everything, we might learn how to help everyone else forget less—and forget more strategically. Memory is at once deeply human and increasingly technological. TL’s story is not just about a teenager in France; it’s about what it means to carry our past with us, and how mastering memory could shape the future of human performance. References Ally, B. A., Hussey, E. P., & Donahue, M. J. (2013). A case of hyperthymesia: Rethinking the role of the amygdala in autobiographical memory. Neurocase, 19 (2), 166–181. https://doi.org/10.1080/13554794.2012.727909   Institut du Cerveau – Paris Brain Institute. (2025, September 21). Mental time travel: Scientists explore the mysteries of autobiographical hypermnesia. SciTechDaily .   https://scitechdaily.com/mental-time-travel-scientists-explore-the-mysteries-of-autobiographical-hypermnesia/

By: Zenia Pearl V. Nicolas For years, families have felt that official inflation numbers do not always match what they experience in their daily spending. Groceries cost more, airfares rise and fall, and household budgets stretch in ways that the data often fails to capture. That gap may soon begin to close. India is reworking how it measures inflation. For the first time, the government will use data directly from e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart to capture how people are really spending. Online shopping is no longer on the sidelines, it is now part of daily life. In 2024, more than 270 million Indians bought goods and services online, and that figure is expected to grow by about 22 percent each year. Ignoring that reality has become harder. Why the Change Matters Until now, India’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) has relied heavily on surveys of physical markets and spending patterns based on an older consumption basket. But the digital economy has reshaped household spending. Streaming subscriptions, online discounts, and dynamic pricing are just as much a part of modern budgets as neighborhood markets. The Ministry of Statistics has already begun scraping e-commerce prices in 12 major cities and is in talks with platforms for direct weekly price data. These prices will be cross-checked against physical market data to ensure accuracy. The upcoming update will also shift the weightages in the CPI basket, reflecting the reality that Indians are spending less of their income on food and more on services like travel and entertainment. Part of a Global Trend India’s move follows a broader global pattern. Countries such as the United States and South Korea have already begun blending online and scanner data into how they track inflation. The closer inflation data gets to how people actually shop, the more sense it makes. For policymakers, it means decisions on interest rates can be anchored to the prices families actually face each day, not just numbers drawn from outdated surveys. For businesses, it offers a closer look at how people respond to prices in real life, what they cut back on, what they still spend for, and how quickly those choices change when the market moves. Beyond Inflation: A Wider Overhaul The integration of Amazon and Flipkart data is only one part of a larger effort to modernize India’s economic measurement. The government plans to roll out a new GDP series based on the 2022–23 base year, expand monthly employment surveys with larger sample sizes, and introduce a quarterly Index of Services Production. Services now account for more than half of India’s GDP, yet they are tracked far less frequently than manufacturing. These reforms signal a broader shift toward real-time, digital-first economic governance. The Human Impact For households, this change could mean that official statistics will finally align more closely with everyday reality. The cost of living that people talk about at the dinner table may soon be better reflected in the numbers policymakers and businesses rely on. For India’s economy, it is a step toward bridging the gap between traditional statistical frameworks and the digital-first habits of its citizens. India’s inflation revamp is more than a technical adjustment. It is a recognition that the economy is no longer confined to physical markets. The shopping cart on your phone is now just as important as the basket in your local store, and India is finally counting both. As India updates its economic playbook, one question stands out: how are businesses preparing for a future built on real-time data? That’s the kind of conversation we’ll be exploring at AWS Manufacturing Day Thailand 2025 References ETBrandEquity. Livemint. CoinCentral. Tech in Asia.