South East

• Southeast Asia is experiencing an AI boom, driving significant investments in cloud infrastructure, semiconductor production, and data centers across the region. • Malaysia has become the fastest-growing data center market, benefiting from a 2019 moratorium on new facilities in Singapore due to land and energy constraints. • Major tech giants, including Google, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services, are launching large-scale projects in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

• A new report indicates that nearly 25% of the workforce in Southeast Asia is exposed to AI-driven disruption, with clerical, administrative, and professional roles facing the highest risk. • Manual trades, agricultural work, and craft positions remain relatively insulated from these technological shifts. • Analysts emphasize that exposure does not guarantee job replacement; instead, many roles may evolve or move up the value chain to increase productivity.

• Southeast Asia's 10 economies are facing diverse economic risks and challenges despite their shared geographic proximity. • The region exhibits extreme wealth disparity, with a GDP per capita gap of approximately $98,000 between the wealthiest nation, Singapore, and the poorest, Myanmar. • This divergence means that macroeconomic pressures hit each country differently based on their specific stage of development and stability.

• A Microsoft survey reveals that users in South-east Asia view AI as a tool for boosting capabilities rather than a threat to their roles. • The study focused on the Asean-6 economies, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. • Key findings indicate that AI users in this region report a higher ability to produce work they could not complete a year ago compared to their global peers.

• Fast Track Entertainment has officially unveiled Launchpad, a new artist growth platform targeting South Korea and South-East Asia. • Developed in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment, the platform integrates live showcase experiences, brand partnerships, and new media engagement to support emerging talent. • Kenny Ong, Sony Music's managing director for the region, stated that showcase editions will progressively roll out from late 2026 through early 2027.

• Data center growth is accelerating across Southeast Asia, with Malaysia emerging as a primary hub for new infrastructure. • Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam are also actively expanding their capacity to support the region's increasing digital demands. • This shift is critical as AI infrastructure becomes a primary growth engine for the region's economic development.

• Southeast Asian filmmakers are seeing a surge in global interest and success driven by the widespread adoption of streaming platforms. • Local creators, such as those in Indonesia, are producing targeted content like dramas centered on infidelity to capture regional audiences. • This trend matters as it provides a scalable pathway for non-Western cinema to reach international viewers and compete with global blockbusters.