Daily Digital Media News

Thinking Machines Data Science is now OpenAI's first official Services Partner in the Asia Pacific region. The collaboration will offer executive training on ChatGPT Enterprise, custom AI application support, and guidance to embed AI into operations across APAC markets including Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand.

Founder & CEO Stephanie Sy framed the partnership around capability building: organisations must treat AI as a business transformation — not just a technology purchase. Thinking Machines focuses on three fundamentals to scale pilots into impact: clear leadership alignment (vision), workflow redesign (process), and workforce skills investment (people).

The company emphasises a "human-in-command" approach where AI handles routine tasks (retrieval, drafting, summarising) while people retain judgment and exceptions, backed by audit trails and verifiable sources. Workshops run by Thinking Machines report participants often free up one to two hours per day; Sy cites studies (MIT, others) showing meaningful productivity gains when human-AI handoffs are designed well.

Thinking Machines also develops agentic capabilities — multi-step systems that can research, fill forms, and make API calls — but pairs them with enterprise guardrails: role-based access, trusted-data retrieval, auditability, and required human decision points for sensitive actions.

A regional playbook is central: build locally first (fit language, policies, forms), then scale deliberately with shared governance patterns and impact metrics. A practical example is BEAi, a RAG system Thinking Machines built for the Bank of the Philippine Islands that supports English, Filipino, and Taglish and returns answers linked to source pages.

The initial rollout will focus on Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand, with future sector-specific offerings planned for finance, retail, manufacturing and more. Sy's bottom line: "When leaders, teams, and technology come together — with skills and governance — AI moves from pilots to lasting business value."

Google's latest algorithm update prioritizes "helpful content" created by humans, penalizing mass-produced AI articles that lack unique value or perspective. Webmasters are advised to audit their content strategies immediately.

Users can now virtually "try on" products from clothes to furniture directly within Reels. Brands using the feature report a 40% increase in conversion rates during the beta testing phase.

The professional network hits a major milestone, driven by growth in Southeast Asia and South America. New features for creator monetization and newsletter subscriptions are rolling out to celebrate.

Adobe's Firefly engine now supports text-to-video generation, allowing editors to create B-roll and extend clips seamlessly. The tools are integrated directly into Premiere Pro and After Effects.

X launches "Gold" and "Platinum" business tiers, offering advanced analytics, ad credits, and priority support. Small businesses can now apply for a verified badge at a reduced monthly rate.

While fully immersive VR worlds struggle to retain users, lightweight AR glasses from Apple and Meta are seeing record sales, suggesting consumers prefer augmented reality over virtual reality.