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

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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

LyondellBasell Reports 2025 Emissions Cuts, Safety Gains

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 (Bernama) -- LyondellBasell (LYB), a global leader in the chemical industry, has released its 2025 Sustainability Report, Vision to Value: Maintaining Our Focus, detailing progress in safety, emissions reduction, and circular solutions despite a challenging macroeconomic backdrop.

In a statement, LYB chief executive officer, Peter Vanacker said the company’s disciplined execution and strategic clarity enabled continued investment in sustainability while strengthening operational resilience and long-term value creation.

Among the report’s highlights, LYB delivered what it described as industry-leading safety performance, achieving a record-low total recordable incident rate of 0.120—underscoring a sustained focus on reliability and operational discipline.

The company also reported a reduction of approximately 3.2 million metric tonnes in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions. Scope 3 emissions declined by an estimated 29 per cent compared with a 2020 baseline, driven largely by the discontinuation of crude oil refining at its Houston Refinery facility.

Advances in circular and low-carbon solutions remained a focal point. The company produced and marketed roughly 206,000 metric tonnes of recycled and renewable-based polymers, leveraging mechanical and chemical recycling technologies alongside biocircular feedstocks to meet rising customer demand.

On the infrastructure front, construction continued on its MoReTec-1 facility in Wesseling (Cologne), Germany. The plant, expected to begin operations in 2027, represents the company’s first commercial-scale catalytic chemical recycling project.

LYB also strengthened transparency for customers by securing independent certification of its life cycle assessment and product carbon footprint methodologies, enabling more consistent sustainability data across its portfolio.

The report reflects a refreshed sustainability framework aligned with business strategy, centred on operational excellence, collaborative partnerships, and continued investment in circular and low-carbon innovation—positioning the company to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving energy and materials landscape.

-- BERNAMA

AM BEST AFFIRMS NEW ZEALAND’S PINNACLE LIFE CREDIT RATINGS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of B+ (Good) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “bbb-” (Good) of New Zealand’s Pinnacle Life Limited (Pinnacle Life), with a stable outlook.

The credit ratings (ratings) reflect Pinnacle Life’s adequate balance sheet strength, operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM), alongside a neutral impact from its parent, Greenstone Holdco Pty Limited (Greenstone).

In a statement, AM Best said Pinnacle Life’s balance sheet strength is supported by strong risk-adjusted capitalisation at fiscal year-end 2025, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio, along with sound regulatory solvency and financial flexibility.

However, reliance on third-party reinsurance and a relatively small capital base increase sensitivity to business growth, interest rate changes and external shocks.

Operating performance is assessed as adequate, driven by stable underwriting results and healthy investment returns, although earnings have shown moderate volatility due to interest rate movements and elevated expenses. The company is expected to maintain adequate performance as it continues its expansion strategy.

AM Best also noted Pinnacle Life’s limited business profile, reflecting its small scale and concentration in the New Zealand market, with a focus on mortality products such as term life and funeral insurance. Growth is largely supported by Greenstone as a key distribution partner, alongside direct online channels.

Pinnacle Life’s ERM is considered appropriate for the company’s size and complexity, with further development expected as the company expands its operations.

-- BERNAMA