AI is quick turning into the darling of buyer expertise methods, however the numbers don’t fairly add up.
Verizon’s newest report exposes a sobering fact: whereas executives hail AI as a CX game-changer, most of their optimism rests on intestine really feel, not exhausting knowledge. Seventy-two % declare improved buyer expertise and 66 % cite higher loyalty, but few can tie these features to sturdy, measurable metrics.
This blind spot issues. AI’s effectivity wins–slashing content material creation timelines or chopping name deal with instances–are tangible. However these are productiveness boosts, not proof of deeper buyer satisfaction or long-term loyalty.
Companies threat complicated pace with substance. If the business continues down this path, “AI ROI” will stay a boardroom buzzword, not a stability sheet actuality.
The actual problem is measurement. Legacy CX metrics had been by no means designed to seize the nuanced, distributed impression of generative AI throughout operations. That’s why a 3rd of companies are already engaged on totally new frameworks. Till these arrive, speak of ROI will likely be extra hope than proof.
AI in CX could also be inevitable, however its worth have to be confirmed, not presumed. With out rigorous metrics, enterprises threat over-investing in instruments that look transformative, however can’t but show they transfer the needle the place it counts.
REGIONAL
TikTok says Tokopedia layoffs because of crew measurement, enterprise wants
The layoffs reportedly affected 420 workers in two rounds: 180 in July 2025, and 240 a month later | Tokopedia is an Indonesia-based e-commerce platform now managed by TikTok after a merger.
Atome achieves FY profitability with US$236M working earnings
Working earnings rose 63% year-on-year, with GMV reaching over US$2B, up 50% from 2023 | As of Q2 2025, Atome Monetary mentioned its annualized web income surpassed US$500M, with annualised GMV crossing US$4B.
Vietnam’s enterprise capital opens central hub for startups
Innovation Startup Middle, a 17,000-square-meter facility in Xuan Hoa Ward, operates underneath a public-private partnership mannequin, providing one-stop companies for startups and serving as a hub for assets and coverage testing.
Ytl, Sea formally debut Malaysia’s AI-powered digital financial institution
Ryt Financial institution makes use of an AI assistant, Ryt AI, constructed on a neighborhood language mannequin referred to as ILMU, to assist customers handle transactions, pay payments, and entry monetary info in pure language | Core companies embody financial savings accounts with day by day curiosity and prompt credit score through Ryt PayLater.
Indonesian EV logistics supplier Blitz raises pre-Collection A
Traders embody Vynn Capital, Iterative Capital, Vinner Ventures, ADB Ventures, and Peak XV | Blitz, a platform centered on last-mile supply utilizing a fleet of EVs, claims over 14M deliveries and operations in 60 cities.
Cashku closes US$2.4M spherical as digital monetary planning heats up in Malaysia
Traders embody Tunku Zain Al-‘Abidin Tuanku Muhriz, former Securities Fee Chairman Datuk Ali Abdul Kadir, and 1337 Ventures | Cashku will use the capital to reinforce its expertise, scale its outreach, and proceed to develop its platform.
Earth VC backs nuclear innovator Aalo Atomics to deal with SEA’s knowledge centre energy crunch
The funding will likely be used to assemble Aalo’s inaugural nuclear energy plant, the Aalo-X, on the Idaho Nationwide Laboratory within the US | With criticality focused for subsequent summer season, this venture will change into the primary superior nuclear facility to start operations within the US in many years.
Thunes co-founder returns as CEO
Peter De Caluwe takes over from Floris de Kort, who beforehand led the agency | De Caluwe had served as deputy chairman at Thunes for the previous 18 months | Thunes supplies fee infrastructure enabling worldwide transfers throughout financial institution accounts, cellular wallets, playing cards, and digital belongings.
REPORTS, FEATURES & INTERVIEWS
Verizon research warns: AI in CX wants new metrics to justify spend
As spending on AI in CX operations is predicted to develop, administration will more and more demand concrete proof of its monetary returns |
As spending on AI in CX operations is predicted to develop, administration will more and more demand concrete proof of its monetary returns.
Asia’s new AI wave: Startups driving smarter healthcare, safer roads, higher residing
Meet the Asian startups harnessing AI to remodel healthcare, mobility, safety, and buyer experiences, delivering innovation that immediately improves on a regular basis life.
“Don’t construct for Demo Day”: Zhang Fan on the enduring truths of entrepreneurship within the AI period
In his view, Southeast Asian founders aren’t chasing applause; They’re constructing purposeful options, typically with sharp market understanding and a transparent focus.
INTERNATIONAL
Hong Kong overtakes US as high IPO venue for Chinese language companies
Thus far this 12 months, 46 Chinese language companies have raised a mixed US$16.5B in Hong Kong | As compared, 16 Chinese language firms listed within the US raised about US$740.9M | Town’s alternate has benefited from regulatory modifications that pace up listings for big mainland firms and stronger investor sentiment.
Oyo to file IPO papers in November, eyes US$8B valuation
SoftBank, certainly one of Oyo’s largest shareholders, has held discussions with banks together with Axis, Citi, Goldman Sachs, ICICI, JM Monetary, and Jefferies to gauge market sentiment | The submitting is predicted to spotlight Oyo’s newest Q1 monetary outcomes.
Musk’s xAI sues Apple, OpenAI over AI competitors
xAI accuses Apple and OpenAI of working collectively to restrict competitors within the AI sector | The criticism claims that Apple’s partnership with OpenAI, which can convey ChatGPT to Apple units, is geared toward defending Apple’s place within the smartphone market.
Tesla rejected US$60M provide earlier than shedding US$242.5M Autopilot verdict
The decision was delivered over a 2019 deadly crash involving Tesla’s Autopilot system | The case involved a Tesla Mannequin S that went by way of an intersection with Autopilot engaged, hanging a Chevrolet Tahoe, killing Neima Benavides Leon and severely injuring Dillon Angulo.
EV battery market grows with new sorts, choices
Startups globally are growing new battery applied sciences equivalent to sodium-ion and lithium-sulfur to decrease prices and scale back dependency on key minerals for EVs | China at present accounts for 85% of world battery cell manufacturing and 90% of processing for the primary lithium-ion sorts utilized in EVs.
US reportedly could sanction EU over Digital Companies Act
The potential transfer follows US complaints that the regulation censors People and will increase prices for US tech companies | Senior State Division officers haven’t but determined whether or not to impose the measures, which may embody visa restrictions.
South Korea develops AI software to detect varroa mites in beehives.
BeeSion makes use of AI to analyse hive body movies, and may reportedly establish varroa mites in actual time, decreasing inspection time to about 30 seconds per body, with an accuracy price of 97.8%.
SEMICONDUCTOR
US 10% stake in Intel may impression enterprise, funding
The US will purchase Intel shares utilizing US$5.7B in unpaid grants underneath the CHIPS Act and US$3.2B from the Safe Enclave programme | It may create dangers for its enterprise, together with potential impacts on abroad gross sales and future authorities funding.
Nvidia set to report Q2 earnings as AI growth drives development
The corporate’s income has greater than tripled and earnings have quadrupled since late 2022, as demand for AI chips surged after the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT | Nvidia’s market cap lately crossed US$4T, and its inventory has risen 12x since 2022, closing at US$177.99 on August 22, 2025.
Nvidia launches Jetson AGX Thor robotics chip at US$3,499
The Jetson AGX Thor chip, based mostly on Nvidia’s Blackwell graphics processor, will start transport subsequent month, and is designed for firms constructing robots | Nvidia mentioned the Jetson AGX Thor is 7.5X sooner than its earlier era and comes with 128GB of reminiscence to help massive AI fashions.
US chipmaker Skyworks appoints ex-AMD exec as CFO
Philip Carter is leaving Superior Micro Gadgets, the place he was company vp and chief accounting officer since November 2024 | Carter beforehand labored at Skyworks from 2017 to 2024 as vp and company controller.
AI
How ought to non-tech firms method AI?
When workers, stakeholders, or clients aren’t prepared for AI implementation, workflows typically get disrupted in a adverse approach | To beat this, firms want to consider their change administration methods upfront and make sure that everyone seems to be on the identical web page concerning AI implementation.
The AI classroom dilemma: Are we elevating college students who can’t suppose with out machines?
The qualities that outline humanity–creativity, ethical reasoning, important judgment, and navigating ambiguity–require the cognitive talents that AI dependency weakens | With out deliberate effort to protect human intelligence, we’ll create a era depending on machines in an period demanding unbiased thought.
From hype to concord: Why agentic AI wants a platform-first mind-set to redefine CX
Automation excels at pace and sample recognition; people excel at judgment, negotiation and relationship‑constructing | The objective is augmentation, not substitution | A world med‑tech agency lately launched an agentic‑AI layer that triages tickets and surfaces information‑base articles.
AI in authorized tech: Maintaining it customer-centric
AI instruments are streamlining contract lifecycle administration (CLM) by automating points of contract drafting, evaluation, negotiation, and threat evaluation | AI is revolutionising e-discovery by rapidly analysing excessive volumes of digital knowledge to establish related proof, decreasing the time, value, and threat of discovery in litigation.
AI and healthcare: Navigating challenges and embracing the long run
In healthcare, accuracy and affected person security aren’t simply beliefs; they’re non-negotiable | Errors in a chatbot recommending dinner are innocent; errors in a medical setting might be catastrophic | Earlier than healthcare AI might be trusted, it should endure rigorous testing and cling to the very best security requirements.
AI: The key ingredient for unlocking developer success in Asia
House to the fastest-growing developer neighborhood globally, APAC can also be the second-largest adopter of GenAI | The area’s potential is unquestionable, and native organisations are well-positioned to drive actual AI innovation and all its advantages.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Past Silicon Valley desires: Why SEA is rewriting the foundations of tech for good
onvenience however fixing survival?
SAE’s method represents a paradigm shift that challenges each assumption about how innovation works | Right here, tech isn’t a luxurious; it’s a necessity | That is how a area as soon as thought of a tech follower is turning into the world’s lab for tech that really issues.
Powell’s pivot: How Jackson Gap reshaped markets and what comes subsequent
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s rigorously calibrated remarks final Friday did excess of trace at potential coverage shifts; they successfully slammed the door on extended restrictive financial coverage whereas opening a large window for instant easing.
Why impact-first advertising and marketing issues greater than ever for Asia startups
However in markets the place belief in new expertise might be low, digital literacy uneven, and entry to infrastructure inconsistent, having an excellent product is just not sufficient | With out advertising and marketing that connects with individuals’s actual wants, habits, and contexts, adoption stalls.
Rethinking enterprise info Entry: The function of conversational AI
Performing as digital copilots, conversational AI allows professionals to question advanced datasets utilizing pure language and get verified, contextual responses in seconds | There’s now not a have to comb by way of spreadsheets or prolonged paperwork; insights are actually delivered as if in a dialog with a trusted advisor.
From Bangkok to billions: Inside OpenAI’s startup development playbook
Marc Manara, head of startups at OpenAI, pulled again the curtain on how the corporate works with founders worldwide, and why its platform is turning into a launchpad for the subsequent era of market leaders.
How Southeast Asia’s agritech startups are turning smallholder farms into high-tech powerhouses
Agritech is reworking the panorama by integrating rising applied sciences equivalent to IoT, AI, blockchain, and cellular fintech | These improvements deal with inefficiencies in enter administration, pest detection, provide chain transparency, and farmer financing.
From reactive to proactive: Closing Indonesia’s care gaps with digital well being
Indonesia has the rails and the authorized spine | The following two years needs to be about disciplined execution in opposition to measurable outcomes | If Indonesia proves that scale, fairness, and privateness can coexist in digital well being, it should shut its personal care gaps.
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