AM BEST AFFIRMS TAIWAN’S SHINKONG INSURANCE RATINGS AT EXCELLENT

KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 (Bernama) -- AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating (ICR) of “a+” (Excellent) of Taiwan’s Shinkong Insurance Company Limited (Shinkong Insurance), with a stable outlook.

The credit ratings (ratings) reflect Shinkong Insurance’s very strong balance sheet strength, strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management, according to AM Best in a statement.

AM Best expects the insurer’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, to remain at the strongest level in 2025 and prospectively, supported by strong earnings generation, consistent capital management, prudent reserving, and a conservative investment strategy.

The insurer’s operating performance remained robust, underpinned by a five-year weighted average return-on-equity of 14.8 per cent and a net combined ratio of 87.5 per cent from 2021 to 2025. In 2025, the company posted favourable results with its net combined ratio edging down to a record low of 82.2 per cent, driven by solid underwriting profitability.

The global credit rating agency said stable investment returns, strict underwriting discipline and effective expense management are expected to continue supporting Shinkong Insurance’s performance over the intermediate term.

Shinkong Insurance is Taiwan’s third-largest non-life insurer by gross premiums written, with a moderately diversified underwriting portfolio led by motor insurance, while its developed risk management framework and stable distribution mix were also viewed as supporting factors in the ratings assessment.

-- BERNAMA

BIDGELY EMPOWER AI 2026 TO SPOTLIGHT SCALABLE UTILITY AI

This year's EmPOWER AI conference will demonstrate how utilities move from AI experimentation to enterprise-wide scalability with Bidgely's UtilityAI.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 (Bernama) -- Bidgely's premier energy intelligence conference, EmPOWER AI, will be held May 12 to 14 in New York City to unite utility leaders, energy researchers and technology experts around artificial intelligence (AI) in the energy sector.

Hosted by OG&E, the conference will focus on how utilities are moving beyond AI experimentation toward enterprise-wide deployment, with participation from major industry players, including Alabama Power, Eversource, NV Energy, PSEG Long Island, and Xcel Energy.

In a statement, Bidgely chief executive officer, Abhay Gupta said the company’s technologies have been developed in collaboration with utilities, with active deployments demonstrating that enterprise-wide AI can be both secure and scalable as grid pressures intensify.

Each year, Bidgely unveils the latest advancements in its AI and machine learning platform technology. The event will showcase new agentic AI capabilities designed to turn smart meter signals into personalised customer interactions at scale.

Conference sessions will examine practical deployment strategies, operational trade-offs and the requirements for scaling AI within regulated utility environments, covering topics such as affordability, grid intelligence, electrification planning and enterprise AI integration.

Speakers from utilities and research organisations, including International Data Corporation, will share insights on breaking down data silos, advancing data-driven innovation and building more resilient energy infrastructure.

According to Bidgely, the event reflects growing momentum behind purpose-built AI solutions as utilities address rising costs, regulatory complexity and energy transition demands.

-- BERNAMA

IceKredit’s CGO Kong Chinang Joins GrabX & AI Forward Summit in Jakarta, Advocates Tripartite Collaboration for Responsible AI in ASEAN

JAKARTA, Indonesia, April 23 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At the inaugural AI Forward: Southeast Asia Policy Summit hosted by Grab and ASEAN BAC in Jakarta, Mr. Kong Chinang, Chief Growth Officer of IceKredit, shared insights on Southeast Asia’s AI revolution and called for stronger regional alignment across policy, industry, and education to drive sustainable and responsible AI adoption.

The summit, held alongside Grab’s flagship GrabX product event at Shangri-La Jakarta on April 8, 2026, convened senior policymakers, global tech leaders, and industry experts to shape the future of AI development and deployment across ASEAN.

During the panel session Empowering the next phase of AI transformation in SEA, Mr. Kong Chinang joined distinguished speakers including Mr. Timothy Yap (McKinsey), Mr. Dau Anh Tuan (Vietnam Chamber of Industry and Trade), Mr. Gunish Chawla (Amazon), and Mr. Yann AitBachir (Google) to discuss the current state and future trajectory of AI adoption in Southeast Asia. He emphasized that while ASEAN holds massive potential to lead in the global AI landscape, the fast-paced evolution of AI requires coordinated action across sectors.

In his remarks, Mr. Kong stated:

“ASEAN stands at an exciting inflection point for AI. To fully realize its transformative potential, we need deeper regional engagement and alignment among the tripartite pillars of policy, industry, and education. Equally critical is embedding sustainability and responsibility into every stage of AI adoption—ensuring technology benefits people, businesses, and economies inclusively.”

The day-long event featured high-profile addresses by Grab Group CEO and Co-founder Anthony Tan, Indonesian government ministers, and sector leaders, alongside showcases of Grab’s latest AI-powered innovations including its autonomous delivery robot Carri, highlighting the shift toward intelligent, hype personalized digital services.

As AI moves from concept to large-scale implementation across Southeast Asia, cross-sector collaboration and responsible innovation have emerged as key priorities to unlock inclusive growth and strengthen the region’s global competitiveness.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/43256e3e-7443-43dc-9eba-654601b7d6e4

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/265ca61c-1522-4596-b45b-e1257ca60567


Media contact: Iris, wang_siyuan@icekredit.com 

SOURCE: IceKredit

MELTWATER, YOUGOV REPORT HIGHLIGHTS SHIFTING CONSUMER TRUST IN AI-GENERATED CONTENT

EZE Cloud Goes Live on Workday.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) -- Meltwater and YouGov have released Trust in the Age of Generative AI, a new report exploring how the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video, audio, images and text is shaping consumer trust in brands and content.

Drawing insights from nearly 10,000 consumers across seven global markets, the study examines attitudes toward generative AI (GenAI) and the media environments that influence these perceptions. The findings offer key insights for brands navigating this rapidly evolving landscape.

Meltwater Chief Product Officer, Chris Hackney in a statement said GenAI provides brands with a powerful new way to connect with audiences, but success depends on how transparently and thoughtfully it is used, and brands that lead with clarity and accountability have a real opportunity to build deeper trust.

As GenAI becomes more integrated into marketing and communications, the report reveals a pivotal moment for brands, not only in how they adopt AI, but also in how they redefine trust-building with audiences.

The findings also point to a meaningful opportunity, in which consumers want brands to be transparent, intentional, and audience-first in their use of AI, and those that are could differentiate themselves and build stronger, more trusted relationships with their audiences.

The report finds that transparency is a critical factor, with 86 per cent of consumers saying AI-generated content should be disclosed, presenting a clear opportunity for brands to build trust.

At the same time, perceptions remain mixed, as 32 per cent of respondents say they would trust brands less if content is AI-generated, compared with 15 per cent who would trust them more, underscoring the importance of how AI is applied and communicated.

Consumer sentiment toward AI also reflects a degree of caution, with 39 per cent expressing excitement while a larger 51 per cent remain unconvinced. Awareness is increasing, as 58 per cent of consumers believe they can identify AI-generated content, while online discussions have grown by 53 per cent, with media contributing 34 per cent of overall coverage.

Concerns over misinformation remain high, with 73 per cent of respondents highlighting it as a key issue, creating an opening for brands to position themselves as reliable and trustworthy sources. Acceptance of AI varies by context, with higher levels seen in entertainment and advertising, but significantly lower trust in news and influencer content.

“These insights show that trust is not being lost; it is being redefined,” added Hackney.

-- BERNAMA

WOLTERS KLUWER: APAC CFOS ACCELERATE AI ADOPTION IN FINANCE

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) in Asia‑Pacific (APAC) are accelerating their adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), recognising its growing influence on the finance function while pursuing implementation in a deliberate, value-driven manner, according to the 2026 Future Ready CFO Survey – APAC Regional Insights by Wolters Kluwer.

The survey found that 83 per cent of APAC CFOs view AI adoption and implementation as a key force reshaping finance, closely aligned with the global average of 85 per cent.

This near parity highlights the rising importance of AI across regions, while APAC finance leaders continue to prioritise disciplined execution shaped by governance requirements and return-on-investment considerations, according to a statement.

The report, which surveyed 1,672 respondents across more than 20 markets, also found that 72 per cent of APAC finance leaders expect AI to have a significant impact on finance operations within the next three years, reflecting strong confidence in its potential to enhance insight, agility and decision-making.

Rather than viewing AI solely as an automation tool, CFOs in the region are focusing on use cases that strengthen control and strategic foresight. Key areas expected to be most impacted include financial planning and analysis, forecasting and scenario modelling, as well as risk management and compliance monitoring.

Despite strong adoption momentum, APAC finance leaders cited several barriers to AI investment, including cost relative to expected returns (58 per cent), concerns over loss of human judgement and oversight (55 per cent), and data quality and governance challenges (53 per cent).

These factors underscore a measured approach to AI adoption in the region, with an emphasis on governance, transparency and regulatory alignment.

The survey also noted that APAC CFOs are expected to take on an expanded role at the intersection of technology, and enterprise risk, particularly in areas such as digital strategy, enterprise risk management and strategic decision support.

Wolters Kluwer said this evolution positions CFOs as key stewards of both innovation and resilience, as organisations balance AI-driven transformation with governance and control.

It suggested that APAC CFOs may gain a long‑term advantage by aligning AI investment with strong controls, talent readiness, and regulatory confidence, as those who are able to balance innovation with governance are best fit to navigate the next stage of finance transformation.

-- BERNAMA

MONEYHERO TO RELEASE 2025 FINANCIAL RESULTS ON APRIL 30

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 (Bernama) -- MoneyHero Limited (MoneyHero), a tech- and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered personal finance aggregation and comparison platform, will release its fourth quarter and full year 2025 results on April 30.

The results will be released before market opens, followed by a conference call on the same day to discuss the performance, according to a statement.

Investors and other interested parties are able to join the conference call by registering for the webcast or audio conference, with a replay available on the Investor Relations website for 12 months.

Operating in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines, MoneyHero had over 260 commercial partner relationships as at Sept 30, 2025, and had approximately 5.1 million monthly unique users across its platform for the three-month period ended Sept 30, 2025.

-- BERNAMA

RegASK Expands AI Platform To Strengthen Regulatory Compliance Automation

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Bernama) -- RegASK, the Agentic AI platform redefining regulatory intelligence and workflow orchestration, has announced a major platform expansion enabling regulated enterprises to operationalise artificial intelligence (AI) at scale.

The release embeds enterprise-grade governance and structured approval controls into every regulatory workflow, adding full audit traceability and near-real-time integration with enterprise compliance systems, addressing a key barrier to moving beyond AI experimentation.

“Governance is what separates AI experimentation from enterprise-wide adoption. Most organisations can generate insights, but few can operationalise AI with the accountability regulators expect.

“This release gives enterprises the foundation to move from AI-driven insights to controlled, auditable execution at scale,” said RegASK Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Caroline Shleifer in a statement.

Meanwhile, its Chief Product & Technology Officer, Amenallah Reghimi said the release connects regulatory detection, human decision-making, and enterprise execution in a unified system, enabling organisations to operate with speed, consistency, and confidence.

The update introduces three core capabilities, namely governance, with role-based access and multi-step approval workflows; traceability, with an end-to-end audit trail capturing every action, decision and change; and connectivity, enabling near-real-time integration with enterprise compliance systems.

Together, these capabilities transform regulatory intelligence into an operational enterprise system. Organisations using RegASK report up to 60 per cent reduction in regulatory workload and up to 50 per cent improvement in compliance workflow efficiency.

With regulatory demands continuing to increase, organisations that can respond in hours rather than weeks will gain a competitive advantage. RegASK said its first quarter of 2026 release equips compliance leaders to achieve this.

-- BERNAMA