“ Yeah. We plan to replace the fleet by 2040. We can't scrap all of them now because each bus lasts 18 years. So we have the depreciation for 18 years. They're all from the U.K. All the buses are from the U.K. All the double-deckers. That's the only country that makes double-decker buses, and it's the same as Singapore. All the double-deckers are from the U.K. Because of COVID, when we replace all these diesel buses with electricity, you need a lot more power and electricity to accommodate this. So the government has to work with us. But today, we can't really see that if we import all these 4,000 electric buses to Hong Kong, there will be enough charging stations. We'll have to build a new depot that accommodates electric buses. So in Yuen Long, we're building a seven-storey, new depot that can charge 1,000 buses every night. But after we build it, the government has to give us the confidence that they can give us the power to charge these buses. So there's no point building a new depot if there's not enough electricity to charge it. So we're delaying it now. But the idea is still the same. We will have to replace it with green energy because it's much better for the environment.” - William Louey

Fresh out of the studio, William Louey, 4th generation business leader of Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB), talks about his vision for transforming Hong Kong’s public transportation system through sustainability and innovation. He discusses KMB’s ambitious plan to electrify its bus fleet by 2040, highlighting the challenges of infrastructure, power supply, and government collaboration. He also shares his philanthropic efforts specifically on education and how they shaped the next generation of leaders to pay it forward. Last but not least, William shares what great would look like for KMB in a green and sustainable future.

Audio Episode Highlights: [00:46] Quote of the Day (#QOTD) by William Louey [02:07] Introduction to the Guest and KMB's Electrification Plan [02:53] Influences from Family and Philanthropic Leadership [04:44] The Beginnings of the Educational Foundation [07:31] Shifting from Wealth Accumulation to Making an Impact [18:11] Overview of KMB’s Role in Hong Kong’s Transportation Network [21:35] Vision for Green Transit: KMB’s Electric Bus Roadmap [23:15] Exploring Hybrid and Emerging Technologies [25:31] Infrastructure and Power Challenges for Electrification [28:46] Autonomous Vehicles and the Future of Public Transit [34:16] The One Thing William Louey Knows that Very Few Do [35:58] Balancing Technology and Employee Welfare [37:26] What Does Great Look Like for KMB? [40:19] Pet Buses and Women-Only Bus Routes in Hong Kong [42:49] Closing Thoughts and Reflections

Profile: William Louey, Businessman and Philanthropist in Hong Kong. William Louey serves as a non-executive director of Transport International and founding member of JNW Properties. He established the William S. D. Louey Educational Foundation in memory of his grandfather. The William S.D. Louey Educational Foundation provides scholarships and bursaries to academically outstanding students from Hong Kong and Greater China for overseas studies.

Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig

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"But what I didn't realize is that the main reason they wanted us in China was so that they could study our business model and figure out how to copy it over time. And that was something I wasn't expecting, but I should have. If I were less naive, And if I were better prepared, I would have realized that was the intention. So the original title, the working title I had for my book, which I had to change because the publisher didn't like it, my original title was 'One Bed, Two Dreams' (同床异梦).   Because that's a phrase that most Chinese are familiar with." - Ken Wilcox

Fresh out of the studio, Ken Wilcox, former CEO of Silicon Valley Bank and author of "The China Business Conundrum", shares his experiences establishing Silicon Valley Bank’s joint venture in China, uncovering the challenges of navigating cultural differences, guanxi, and examine China’s playbook in bringing successful foreign ventures onshore. He reflects on lessons learned, from differing views on contracts and negotiation tactics to the complexities of building trust in a new business landscape and offers invaluable advice for Western companies eyeing the Chinese market. Last but not least, he concludes by sharing his hopes for the book’s impact, emphasizing the importance of understanding and collaboration between the East and West.

Audio Episode Highlights: [00:00] Quote of the Day by Ken Wilcox [01:66] Ken Wilcox’s career journey and transition to China. [06:35] Life and leadership lessons. [09:47] The One Thing that Ken knows about Doing Business in China that very few do. [12:40] Importance of Silicon Valley Bank in China. [17:12] Cultural and regulatory challenges in China. [26:10] Understanding guanxi in Chinese business. [37:51] Adapting to China and reverse culture shock. [40:14] The Chinese negotiating style centres on leverage and power. [48:37] What happened to the joint venture post-SVB crisis? [53:10] Contrasts in negotiation styles between China and the U.S. [54:51] What does success mean for The China Business Conundrum? [56:18] Recent book recommendations. [57:52] Final reflections on time spent in China.

Profile: Ken Wilcox, Author of "The China Business Conundrum: Ensure That "Win-Win" Doesn't Mean Western Companies Lose Twice"

Main Site: https://kenwilcoxauthor.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenwilcoxsvb/

Substack: https://kenwilcoxauthor.substack.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/China-Business-Conundrum-Win-Win-Companies/dp/1394294166/

Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig

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"So, my definition of being fearless is not about no fear, but it's having that courage to face your fear, to conquer whatever adversities that are thrown your way. it is part of the entrepreneur journey. We are always faced with fear of failure. Self Doubt is how to pick up our courage and face them and use these challenges to become your catalyst for innovation, the catalyst for growth, the catalyst for your success." - Yvon Bock

Fresh out of the studio, Yvon Bock, Founder and CEO of Hegen, shares her inspiring journey from stay-at-home mom to world-class entrepreneur in her new book, "ExtraOrdinary". Yvon discusses how personal challenges as a breastfeeding mother fueled her vision to create Hegen’s groundbreaking baby bottle, overcoming five years of development and over 200 prototypes. She reflects on the bold decisions behind Hegen’s expansion into China, including leveraging live streaming to reach millions and highlights how storytelling and advocacy transformed her brand into a movement supporting modern moms. Last but not least, Yvon shares what great would look like for Hegen in the future: empowering 100 million mothers worldwide and establishing a presence in 35 jurisdictions.

Audio Episode Highlights: [0:46] Quote of the Day by Yvon Bock #QOTD [1:18] Introduction: Yvon Bock, Founder & CEO of Hegen [3:12] From Stay-at-Home Mom to Entrepreneur [3:48] The Origin of Hegen [7:43] The Role of Family Business in Yvon's Journey [15:28] Overcoming Prototypes and Doubts [22:44] Expanding into the Chinese Market [27:18] The Power of Live Streaming and Advocacy [33:49] Key Lessons for Future Entrepreneurs [35:54] Teaching Children to Embrace Failure [38:05] Balancing Breastfeeding Advocacy and Bottles [40:04] Building a Global Legacy for Hegen [40:53] Closing

You can find Yvon Bock and her new book on her personal site: https://www.yvonbock.com/ and via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonbock/

Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig

Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia

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"So, we are very conscious of the fact that we license the content from other publications. And as I mentioned previously, we do that through licensing agreements. We are transparent with the publishers about what happens with their content. We ensure that they are being fairly compensated for the content that we use. But, as a result, when we started talking about how we wanted to use Gen AI, we actually felt that we had an obligation to go back to publishers and ask for additional licensing rights. Part of that, I think, is driven by the fact that Dow Jones is a publisher. We are a publisher ourselves. We are very protective of our content. We want to make sure that we understand what's happening with our content: Where is it going? Who is using it? And we want to be fairly compensated for it. So, if that's one of our core principles, then we also want to make sure that we treat all the other publishers exactly the same. One of the challenges has been that we had to go back to all publishers and ask for additional Gen AI licensing rights. The positive of that is that the content now available through Gen AI is actually fully licensed content. All publishers have given us permission to use their content for this specific use case." - Ingrid Vershuren

Fresh out of the studio, Ingrid Verschuren, Executive Vice President of Data and AI and General Manager, EMEA, at Dow Jones, shares her journey from manually indexing news articles at Reuters to leading Factiva’s transition into the era of generative AI. She explains the mental models and frameworks behind how Dow Jones uses AI to empower businesses with reliable data and insights and discusses the recent partnership with Google’s Gemini model and explains how Dow Jones works with the other content publications, navigating the complexities of trust and business model innovation. Last but not least, Ingrid explains what great would look like for Factiva in the age of AI.

Audio Episode Highlights: [0:46] Quote of the Day #QOTD by Ingrid Verschuren [2:19] Introduction to Ingrid Verschuren and Factiva [4:29] Career Lessons from Ingrid [5:58] Overview of Factiva [8:30] The Evolution of Factiva and AI [10:41] Applications of Generative AI for Factiva [13:37] Challenges and Opportunities with Generative AI [15:27] Safeguarding Against Misinformation [19:25] Partnership with Google and Gemini Model [21:29] Transparency and Auditability [24:24] Staying Agile with Generative AI [26:32] The Future of AI in Business Intelligence [27:48] The Role of Human Judgment in AI [28:59] What Great Looks Like for Factiva in the Age of Generative AI [29:43] Closing

You can find Ingrid Verschuren, Executive Vice President, Data and AI and General Manager, EMEA at Dow Jones: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingrid-verschuren-61a7684/

Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig

Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia

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"The efficiency on top of the efficacy because it is critical that we will achieve this balance of cost and performance. And in addition to that, I think one more aspect we are putting emphasis is actually how, in the new era of AI, all pervasive intelligence and pervasive connectivity, how do we bring human, AI, and machine into a cohesive coexistence and also cohesive collaboration so that we are able to have actually the AI machine support human, empower human, and at the same time. We look at actually the design of the workflows so that we are able to extract out the value, at the same time, also elevate the human to do more creative works. So this is one aspect. I think we have been hearing a lot, but how this will move forward is some efforts have started, and certainly we look forward to gathering more ecosystem partners to embark on this journey together." - Dr Sun Sumei, Executive Director, Institute of Infocomm Research, ASTAR

Fresh out of the studio, Dr. Sun Sumei, Executive Director of the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) at Singapore’s ASTAR shares her perspectives on AI’s fast-paced evolution and its broader impact on the future. With over a decade dedicated to AI research, Dr. Sumei reflects on I2R’s journey from big data analytics to the era of Generative AI, emphasizing large language models designed for Southeast Asia. Advocating for responsible AI, Dr. Sumei prioritizes societal benefit and sustainability over sheer technical ambition, urging a balanced, systematic approach to distinguish valuable applications from mere hype. Last but not least she shares her vision of AI as a force to enhance human creativity and address real-world challenges through sustainable innovation." 

Audio Episode Highlights: [0:46] - Introduction to Sun Sumei and her role at ASTAR [2:09] - Sun Sumei’s journey from China to Singapore [2:50] - The mission of the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) [4:00] - Research at I2R blending innovation with commercial applications [4:11] - Career lessons from Sun Sumei’s extensive experience in science and technology [6:32] - The evolution of AI and its rapid advancements [7:15] - Striking a balance between performance and cost in AI [8:11] - Collaborating with Singapore Airlines on AI for fleet optimization [9:55] - Focus on multimodal AI and large language model development [11:26] - AI for manufacturing: The AIM initiative [12:20] - MerLion: I2R multi-modal LLM in the works [13:27] - The future of AI in scientific discovery and its potential for sustainability [16:03] - The balance between necessary and unnecessary AI applications [16:55] - Responsible AI: Navigating the curiosity phase [19:10] - Achieving success in AI through efficiency and model optimization [20:52] - What constitutes success in AI: Technical breakthroughs vs. societal impact [22:48] - AI for good: Contributing to humanity and sustainability [24:02] - The importance of a systematic approach to AI [24:53] - Closing remarks and future expectations for AI

You can find Dr Sun Sumei here in ASTAR: https://www.a-star.edu.sg/i2r/about-i2r/i2r-management/sun-sumei and her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumei-sun-8590814/?originalSubdomain=sg

Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig

Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia

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"The key message of the report is that the fundamentals of this region are critical, they’re clear, and businesses are doing exactly, I think, what they need to do for us to move ahead." - Sapna Chadha "Given that one of the other themes we’ve had this year is trust, having a strong regulatory foundation and good constructs around that for digital financial services is critical to unlocking the next wave of growth here." - Florian Hoppe "All 10 ASEAN nations have announced their own national strategic AI initiatives or plans, and ASEAN itself has actually released a report and guide on AI governance and ethics. So, I think if you put all that together, it’s very natural that Southeast Asia is, quite frankly, well-positioned to capitalize on the AI trend." - Fock Wai Hoong

Fresh out of the studio in Google, Bernard Leong led a discussion on the 2024 Southeast Asia Digital Economy Report, joined by Sapna Chadha (Google), Florian Hope (Bain & Company), and Wai Hoong (Temasek). The panel delved into Southeast Asia's impressive digital growth, with the region’s economy reaching $263 billion in GMV and significant strides in profitability. The panellists examined the key themes which include Southeast Asia’s emergence as an AI hub, driven by $30 billion in AI investments, the rise of video commerce, and the region’s booming digital financial services specifically on embedded insurance. The conversation highlights challenges and opportunities in digital inclusion, AI infrastructure, and regional integration, providing a nuanced outlook on Southeast Asia’s potential. The episode concludes with each panellist sharing their vision for Southeast Asia’s digital future and success metrics for the next decade, emphasizing the region’s unique strengths and long-term global impact.

Audio Episode Highlights [00:46] Introduction [02:17] Key Report Insights [04:09] How Sapna, Florian, and Wai Hoong provide perspectives to the key report takeaways [07:00] Investor Perspective on Southeast Asia [10:06] Exiting the Funding Winter [12:44] AI’s Role in Accelerating Growth [14:30] Impact of Video E-commerce [16:23] Growth in Digital Financial Services [18:03] Embedded Insurance in E-commerce [24:12] AI Infrastructure Investment [27:55] Southeast Asia’s Startup Ecosystem [29:45] Generative AI Use Cases [31:06] AI for Revenue and Cost Optimization [34:16] New Internet Users and Digital Inclusion [37:55] Regional Integration as a Success Metric [39:01] Vision for Southeast Asia Digital Economy Success [40:20] Closing Remarks

Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig

Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia

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Fresh out of the studio, Jay Park, Chief Development Officer of Digital Edge, explores the rapidly transforming landscape of data centres in the Asia-Pacific region. Kicking off with the story of Jay’s remarkable career in building cutting-edge data centres, we dive into the explosive growth fueled by AI and the innovative cooling and energy solutions Digital Edge is pioneering to address environmental challenges. Jay also examines the impact of advanced AI chips on next-generation data centre engineering and shares his vision of what great would look like to design efficient and sustainable infrastructure in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.

"So if you look at this, according to this recent structural research report, the data centre industry will spend 100 billion dollars, and about 50 per cent of that growth will be happening in APAC. So, this is massive growth. If you look at the data centres, they have to be built where people are to better support them. But we have a new kid on the block. It's called AI servers, and it's something I have never experienced before in any industry, and this is massive. It'll do a lot of things, but it has to do data processing. So you cannot have all these data centres in, let's say, North America, have people in the APAC area grab that data, send it back to the U.S. or North America, do all the processing, and then send it out to APAC. I just don't see that happening. So, they're building the data centres closer to the users, where people are. And then you do all the processing there. The growth is going to be gigantic, and that's what we are seeing today."

You can find Jay Park on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-park-b5b579335/ and on Digital Edge: https://www.digitaledgedc.com/about

Episode Highlights: [00:00] - Quote of the Day by Jay Park #QOTD [01:07] - Jay Park’s Background [02:38] - Becoming Chief Development Officer at Digital Edge [03:22] - Data Center Evolution and Power Density Growth [05:24] - Digital Edge’s Mission and Approach [07:30] - Supply Chain Challenges and Skid-Mount Equipment [09:25] - Scaling Data Centers for Increased Power Needs [12:19] - Cooling Systems and AI Server Requirements [15:39] - Modular Data Center Design: Pros and Cons [18:57] - Balancing Efficiency, Scalability, and Cost [22:08] - Challenges in Data Center Engineering in APAC [27:25] - AI Chips and Their Impact on Data Centers [31:29] - Principles for Designing Efficient Data Centers [34:04] - Water Usage and Environmental Impact [37:39] - Exciting Advancements in Data Center Technology [42:54] - Advice on Innovation in Data Center Engineering [43:36] - Digital Edge’s Vision for the Future [44:42] - Personal Inspirations and Emerging Technologies [46:26] - Closing

Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig

Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia

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"So that's why if you have 1 billion to invest, we're not expecting the same return as if you invest 10 million. At that time, when all this money flowed to Southeast Asia, people there thought, "Oh, we made it. Now the world is looking at us. We're finally a good ecosystem.' Everyone was ready to invest in us, but that was just the tide, right? And when the tide recedes, the first place the money will leave is Southeast Asia because it's not offering the best returns. So, the money is going out, and I don't think it's coming back anytime soon. People shouldn't expect investors to be as aggressive as they were. Lastly, great companies will always raise capital. The top ones will always find their way, so there's no issue for them. The challenge is for the ones just below them. It will be very difficult for those companies. Some will have to become much more capital-efficient, for sure."

Fresh out of the studio, Arnaud Bonzom, founder of Black Mangroves and angel investor, engages in a lively discussion with our host about the entrepreneurial and venture capital landscape in Southeast Asia for 2024. Arnaud shares his insights on the evolution of late-stage funding and the resetting of expectations in the region’s venture capital scene. He also offers valuable advice to founders on how to navigate the challenging fundraising climate and what success could look like for the region in the coming years.

You can find Arnaud Bonzom at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnaudbonzom/ and X (formerly known as Twitter): https://x.com/ArnaudBonzom?

Audio Episode Highlights: [0:44] Quote of the Day by Arnaud Bonzom #QOTD [2:09] Arnaud’s Reflections on Southeast Asia Since 2018 [5:28] Southeast Asia’s Economic Challenges [6:15] New Outlook for the Region’s Startup Ecosystem [10:37] Lessons from India’s B2B Market [14:31] How Venture Capital Works in Southeast Asia [16:52] Over-Optimism in Southeast Asia’s VC Landscape [24:27] Challenges in Attracting Foreign Investments [27:38] The U.S. as the Biggest Accessible Market [30:29] Market Segmentation in Asia Pacific [35:44] IPO Slowdown and M&A Challenges [37:59] Zombie Companies in Southeast Asia [39:14] The One Thing Arnaud knows about the SEA ecosystem that very few do [41:28] Explaining DPI (Distributions to Paid-In Capital) [47:48] Timing in Venture Capital Investments [51:48] Advice for Founders in 2023-2024 [53:33] Bottlenecks in Southeast Asia’s Startup Ecosystem [56:40] What does great look like for the Southeast Asia ecosystem? [58:45] Crypto Companies in Southeast Asia [60:44] Final Thoughts and Future of Southeast Asia’s Startup Ecosystem [61:10] Closing

Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig

Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia

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"The humans are going to be empowered to become superheroes like Tony Stark, and because you have your loyal A.I. assistant, Jarvis, doing all this stuff in the background, that's the example I always use when I give lectures on this topic. What ends up happening is that you need to make sure you can use A.I. correctly. If you offload too much, offload inappropriately, or become too dependent on AI for tasks where you shouldn't be dependent, then suddenly, you're no longer Tony Stark. You're one of those fat human descendants in Wall-E. The ones who can't even get back in their own chairs because they've forgotten how to walk, they've forgotten how to think, they're being fed a steady diet of soda pop from AI." - Joon Nak Choi

Fresh out of the studio, Bernard Leong sits down with Joon Nak Choi, an Adjunct Associate Professor at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and founder of Learnovate, to dive deep into the future of education and AI. JC shares his career journey and the back story of why he started Learnovate focusing on AI-assisted grading and what it is meant to solve for the users. Last but not least, JC shares his perspectives on how the future of education will evolve with generative AI and explains what success will look like in the next few years.

Audio Episode Highlights [0:46] Quote of the Day by Joon Nak Choi aka JC #QOTD [1:53] Introduction to Joon Nak Choi, founder of Learnovate and Associate Professor, HKUST [4:41] JC's Background and Career Path [6:55] Key Lessons from JC's career experience [9:32] Transformative Potential of Generative AI in Education [16:17] AI's Role in Personalized Education [18:42] Integrating AI into the Classroom [20:31] The Importance of Feedback for Student Assignments and How AI transforms this [26:47] Addressing Bias and Ethical Concerns in AI-driven Education Tools [30:57] The Future of Work and AI [34:45] The Need for Human Oversight in AI [38:15] Insights from Student Engagement with AI-driven Education Tools [43:25] Challenges in AI Essay Grading [47:55] AI's Role in Enhancing Educational Outcomes [52:01] Closing Thoughts and Inspirations

You can find Joon Nak Choi via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jnchoi123/ and HKUST: https://mgmt.hkust.edu.hk/faculty-and-staff/directory/jnchoi

Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig

Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia

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"Well, I think AI makes us, makes me more human in terms of understanding that nirvana or the ultimate achievement is not to be perfect. The ultimate achievement is to be authentic, present, and yourself. I guess it exists in this human dimension. One of the things you realize is that when something is too perfect, whether it's your selfie or something you've written, people start to distrust it. Right now, if I generate or design something, or if I write something and it sounds too fluent and flawless—without accent, pauses, or mistakes—people might suspect that it's not Siok, but actually the digital twin of Siok. One question that people ask me and ask themselves is: how has AI made me more aware of what it means to be human?" - Tan Siok Siok

Fresh out of the studio, our host, Bernard Leong sat down with Tan Siok Siok, author of AI for Humanity, for an insightful discussion on the evolving role of AI in our lives. During the conversation, Siok Siok explored how AI makes us more human by emphasizing the importance of authenticity over perfection. They discussed the creative process, with Siok Siok viewing AI as a tool to enhance rather than replace human creativity. The interview also touched on the broader implications of AI, including job displacement and the geopolitical nuances of AI development. Tan Siok Siok shared her thoughts on the need for humans to guide and nurture AI responsibly, dismissing the notion of a doomsday scenario driven by AI. The conversation offered a nuanced perspective on how AI can be a partner in human progress, rather than a threat, encouraging listeners to engage actively with AI’s potential.

Audio Episode Highlights: [0:45] Quote of the Day by Tan Siok Siok, co-author of "AI for Humanity" [1:45] Introduction: Tan Siok Siok [5:21] Siok Siok's Sharing of Life Lessons from the Past Decade [7:06] AI and Creative Process [9:51] Origins and Intentions behind the Book "AI for Humanity" [13:34] Explaining AI to a Non-Technical Audience by our host Bernard [15:01] AI's Role in Enhancing Human Abilities [17:10] Different Definitions of AI and AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) [18:45] AI in the Creative Arts and Job Displacement [24:17] Geopolitics and AI [30:21] AI's Role in Upskilling and Global Market Implications [32:01] Doomsday Scenarios and AI Responsibility [37:31] AI as a Tool for Self-Improvement [39:34] Final Reflections on AI's Impact on Humanity [43:44] Closing

You can find Siok Siok's new book "AI For Humanity" co-authored with Andeed Ma and James Ong here: https://www.amazon.com/AI-Humanity-Building-Sustainable-Future/dp/1394180306 and follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sioksiok/

Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig

Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia

Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl

Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245

Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia

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"Temu was launched in the US, their first market in September 2022. That is when Shein just started to gain a lot of traction. There's a lot of attention being paid to Shein. In the beginning, many people thought that Temu was a copycat of Shein because they both sold goods from China using this direct-from-China shipping model. However, I think the competition has evolved quite differently now, and Temu has done business and operational innovation that has made others, including Shein, have to catch up." - Jing Yang

Fresh out of the studio, Jing Yang, the Asia Bureau Chief from The Information shares the ongoing e-commerce war between Amazon and the upstarts: Shein and Temu across the global landscape. Starting from the origins of Shein and Temu, she explained how both companies first expanded to the US enabled by Amazon. Jing Yang breaks down how Temu gains total control over its suppliers and sellers and subsequently threatens Amazon's e-commerce dominance in the US market. Last but not least, she examined the fallout from the potential US ban on Shein and Temu from US lawmakers and the possibility of Shein's IPO in the US.

Episode Highlights: [0:46] QOTD [1:27] Introduction: Jing Yang, Asia Bureau Chief from The Information [2:34] The surprise of Open AI not allowing ChatGPT to be in Hong Kong and China. [5:29] You need a China mobile number to access Chinese LLMs. [6:48] Introduction to Shein and Temu, the global e-commerce upstarts originating from China. [9:59] The elusive people behind Shein and Temu. [13:29] Shein’s current performance against H&M, Zara, and Uniqlo. [18:12] How Authentic Brands (owner of Forever 21) made a partnership & investment deal with Shein in the US. [23:09] How Temu maintains control over the supply chain in China. [31:23] Comparisons between Temu and Amazon from the seller to business models. [34:51] How Amazon enabled Shein and Temu to expand into the US. [35:38] Amazon’s realization of Temu’s threat and response. [36:58] Amazon’s response to Shein and Temu’s threats in the US market. [38:56] Temu is copying Amazon in the US with a local warehouse strategy and vice versa. [42:08] How Amazon vs Temu & Shein shaped the global e-commerce landscape. [43:54] How reliant is Amazon on Chinese sellers and suppliers globally? [45:30] Why the US lawmakers are thinking about a ban on Temu.

Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig.

Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia

Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl

Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245

Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia

Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/

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