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The measures apply to online platforms with at least 8 million users in Malaysia, bringing Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube within the scope of the rules. Companies must introduce age-verification systems for new users and checks for existing account holders, while strengthening safeguards against harmful content, cyberbullying, grooming, scams, child sexual abuse material and other online risks identified by regulators.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has framed the move as a child-protection measure rather than a general restriction on internet access. Children under 16 are not being cut off from the internet, but they are no longer permitted to own private social media accounts in their own names. Parents will not face penalties if children bypass the rules, but platforms that fail to comply can face fines of up to 10 million ringgit.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil had signalled the age floor last year, arguing that children were being exposed to online harms at a scale that demanded firmer platform accountability. He has said the policy is aimed at stopping under-16s from opening accounts independently, while allowing supervised access under parental control. Officials have also pointed to the spread of scams, online gambling, predatory contact and bullying as risks that existing moderation systems have failed to contain.

The enforcement places Malaysia among a growing group of governments testing age-based restrictions on social media. Australia has moved ahead with a comparable under-16 model, while the United Kingdom and several European governments are examining tougher obligations on platforms, age checks and design features that can encourage prolonged use by minors. Indonesia and Turkey have also discussed stronger limits for children’s access to social platforms.

Malaysia’s approach marks a significant shift in Southeast Asia’s digital regulation, where governments have increasingly moved from voluntary platform pledges to statutory obligations. The country has already required large social media and messaging platforms to obtain operating licences, with authorities saying the regime is intended to combat cybercrime, harmful content and misuse of online services. The under-16 rule adds a more targeted child-safety layer to that broader regulatory framework.

The most difficult part of implementation is likely to be age verification. Platforms may need to rely on identity documents, digital identity systems, facial estimation technology, parental confirmation or other mechanisms. Each option raises trade-offs. Stronger verification can reduce false age declarations, but it can also require users to hand over sensitive personal data. Privacy advocates have warned that age checks could create wider data-collection risks unless platforms limit retention, secure information properly and avoid using identity data for advertising or profiling.

Child-rights and free-expression groups have also questioned whether a blanket age rule will protect vulnerable users or push them towards less visible online spaces. Critics argue that determined teenagers may use virtual private networks, borrowed accounts, false birth dates or overseas registration routes to evade the restriction. They say a safer approach would combine age-appropriate design, stronger default privacy settings, rapid removal of harmful content, limits on addictive features and meaningful complaint channels.

Supporters of the policy counter that age limits give parents a clearer standard and force platforms to accept responsibility for systems that have often treated children as ordinary users. They argue that voluntary parental controls have not kept pace with algorithmic recommendation systems, private messaging risks and the commercial incentives behind engagement-driven platforms. The new rules are expected to test whether large technology companies can apply credible safeguards without excluding legitimate educational, civic and social uses of digital services.

Organized jointly by AsianNet and the global B2B marketplace TradeAsia (www.e-tradeasia.com), ASSOE 2026 provides suppliers with long-term international exposure while helping buyers efficiently discover products, compare suppliers, and submit sourcing inquiries online. Through TradeAsia’s B2B matchmaking platform, the exhibition supports cross-border procurement opportunities and strengthens business connections between global buyers and Asian manufacturers.

Expanding International Sourcing Opportunities Through Global Industry Exposure

To increase global visibility and sourcing opportunities, ASSOE 2026 aligns its exhibition period with several major international industry events, including INTERSCHUTZ 2026, Expo Seguridad México, NSC Safety Congress & Expo, SECURITY ESSEN, and FISP. By running alongside major international industry exhibitions, ASSOE 2026 helps increase global exposure for participating suppliers and creates more sourcing opportunities for international buyers.

Through the ASSOE 2026, buyers can review supplier information, browse product catalogs, and directly contact exhibitors for sourcing inquiries. ASSOE 2026 helps suppliers increase global exposure while giving buyers convenient access to qualified manufacturers and a wide range of safety and security solutions.

Comprehensive Product Categories Across the Safety & Security Industry

The exhibition also features a strong lineup of participating suppliers and manufacturers from across Asia’s safety and security industry. International buyers can explore products and sourcing solutions presented by companies including A-BELT-LIN INDUSTRIAL, PAN TAIWAN ENTERPRISE, DORIS INDUSTRIAL, MODERN AUTO, JI JUSTNESS INDUSTRIAL, CLEVER INTELLIGENCE UNITY, PERFECT MEDICAL INDUSTRY, LITEFILM TECH, ET&T TECHNOLOGY, FORMOSA GLOVE INDUSTRIAL, YAU YOUNG AUTO PARTS and HARCO ENTERPRISE.

These exhibitors showcase a diverse range of products and applications covering smart security technologies, industrial safety equipment, protective products, automotive safety solutions, access control systems, and related safety and security applications.

Supporting Global B2B Trade Through Digital Sourcing Solutions

Powered by TradeAsia’s B2B platform, ASSOE 2026 provides exhibitors with online product showcases, supplier profiles, and digital e-catalogs designed to increase international exposure and sourcing opportunities.

International buyers can browse products and communicate with suppliers online regardless of location or time zone, making it easier to compare products, evaluate supplier capabilities, and submit inquiries efficiently. The exhibition’s long-term online format also enables participating companies to maintain continuous visibility throughout the five-month exhibition period.

By integrating online sourcing, digital promotion, and buyer-supplier matchmaking services, ASSOE 2026 creates an efficient environment for global B2B trade and international procurement across the safety and security industry.

Start Sourcing Now

Explore suppliers, discover products, and connect directly with exhibitors through the official ASSOE 2026 online exhibition platform:
https://www.etradeasia.com/online-show/46/Asian-Safety-Security-Online-Exhibition-2026.html

Hashtag: #TradeAsia

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About TradeAsia

The web-based marketplace located at www.eTradeAsia.com functions as an essential vehicle for global B2B matchmaking by prioritizing transactional outcomes for procurement professionals and corporate vendors worldwide. This expansive network unifies an extensive audience of millions of registered buyers alongside more than 600,000 active manufacturing entities within a constantly evolving product database. Beyond its digital architecture, the enterprise leverages formal partnerships with hundreds of transnational trade federations and industrial expo organizers. This strategic framework merges cloud-based positioning with on-site promotional operations to optimize international market penetration and drive high-impact marketing results across geopolitical boundaries.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 May 2026 – The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League Final has drawn to a spectacular close in Budapest, with Paris Saint-Germain emerging victorious to lift the legendary trophy. As an official partner of the UEFA Champions League for four consecutive years, global technology brand OPPO joined the celebrations to mark the end of another action-packed season supporting football development and football culture worldwide with technology. With its advanced camera technology and Make Your Moment philosophy, OPPO has enabled millions of football fans worldwide to capture highlights and record life-defining moments both inside and outside the stadium this season, inspiring everyone to Take Your Shot with OPPO.

Telephoto Camera & AI Take Match Viewing to a New League

At the event in Budapest, OPPO showcased its latest telephoto camera technology and AI innovations in an immersive exhibition featuring the latest flagship Find X series—including the newly launched OPPO Find X9 Ultra—alongside the Find N foldable series and the Reno series. Equipped with a Hasselblad-powered 10x optical telephoto zoom, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra enables fans to capture detailed stadium moments with remarkable clarity, even from the upper tiers, while 8K ultra-clear video recording and advanced AI imaging capabilities make it easier than ever to capture decisive match moments, including game-winning shots, as if standing on the sidelines. Through the comprehensive end-to-end image ecosystem, OPPO Find X9 Ultra users can also share footages at near to original image quality across social platforms instantly. From high-resolution capture, smart editing, to lossless sharing, OPPO makes it effortless to Take Your Shot and Make Your Moment with exciting match moments preserved in vivid detail.

Empowering Global Football Development and Igniting Passion Worldwide

Beyond the pitch, OPPO continues to support football development through innovation and partnership programs, using its advanced smartphone imaging capabilities to help fans around the world capture iconic match moments and share the passion and emotion of the game. In collaboration with Discovery, OPPO has produced a UEFA Champions League short film that showcases the emotional power of football told through real fan stories, using OPPO imaging technology to bring the spirit of the game to audiences globally.

Over the past year, OPPO has also launched a range of football partnerships and community initiatives around the world. In Indonesia, OPPO became the official smartphone partner of the BRI Super League for the 2025–2027 season, supporting the continued development of football in the country. Meanwhile in Mexico, as the official sponsor of football club Gambeta FC, OPPO supported the club’s youth academy through equipment donations, scholarship programs, tournament organization, talent development initiatives, and professional coaching resources. Through these efforts, OPPO is helping players of different ages to develop their talent and chase their dreams of becoming professional football players while continuing to support and inspire a shared passion for football across communities worldwide.

In May 2026, OPPO Colombia announced football star Luis Díaz as its official brand ambassador. As part of the partnership, OPPO teamed up with the Luis Díaz Foundation to launch the “Lucho por Colombia (Fight for Colombia)” social responsibility initiative. The program provides smart connected devices and support for digital skills training centers across Colombia’s La Guajira region, helping expand access to digital education in local communities. Through collaborations with the football star, alongside other public welfare initiatives and continued product innovation, OPPO continues to strengthen its connection with local communities and further expands its presence across Latin America under its long-term commitment to the market.

Beyond these social and community welfare initiatives, OPPO has also launched a number of football-themed events that bring the brand and football fans closer together worldwide through a shared passion for football. On the eve of the UEFA Champions League final, OPPO invited football legends Theo Walcott and Claude Makélélé to join a 5v5 friendly match in Budapest, where the legends shared skills, career experiences, and discussed their perspectives on the game with fans. Key moments throughout the match were captured using OPPO’s latest flagship smartphone, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra, with every pass, shot, and interaction recorded in vivid detail through the device’s advanced imaging capabilities.

Inspiring Young Creators and Championing Football Culture

Ahead of the final, OPPO partnered with Discovery Channel to launch the Filmmaker Accelerator Program. With mentorship from Discovery, the initiative encourages aspiring creators to capture diverse stories using OPPO imaging technology, helping to support young creators globally. With football culture as one of the program’s core themes, OPPO is not only empowering the next generation of creators with a platform for expression but also enriching stories around football culture through these diverse perspectives, taking the spirit of football beyond borders to connect with broader audiences worldwide. As part of the program, a special documentary video exploring football culture is set to premiere worldwide at the end of June 2026.

As another sensational UEFA Champions League season comes to an end, OPPO looks forward to continuing to use its world-leading innovation to bring football fans around the world more powerful and user-friendly technology that enables everyone to Make Your Moment by capturing football highlights both on and off the pitch. In the meantime, OPPO will continue to deepen its long-term partnerships with global football institutions, promoting new ways of expressing and sharing football culture as it takes the game to the next level worldwide.

Hashtag: #OPPO

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The Mach33: Physical AI Fashion Show, held on 28 May at Galaxy Robot Park in Gangdong District, was presented as more than a novelty catwalk. Galaxy Corporation framed the event as an experiment in coexistence, asking how people and robots might share cultural spaces rather than treating humanoids only as factory tools, laboratory platforms or service machines.

Each model appeared with a shorter humanoid counterpart, often wearing matching or complementary outfits. A tasselled blue Texan-style look, complete with a robot-sized cowboy hat, stood alongside retro silver outerwear, silky dresses fitted to rigid frames and space-age black trousers reminiscent of David Bowie’s 1970s stage style. The styling made the mechanical bodies appear less like exposed prototypes and more like performers entering a commercial entertainment format.

Galaxy Corporation founder and chief executive Choi Yong-ho said the company had realised that robots “need to wear clothes” and argued that robots, like people, should have distinct identities. The company designed the outfits and intends to launch them under the MACH 33 name by the end of the year, positioning robot fashion as a potential extension of its entertainment-technology business.

The event followed the opening phase of Galaxy Robot Park, a 16,500-square-metre venue in eastern Seoul designed around robot concerts, interactive shows, robotic portrait drawing, boxing-style demonstrations and visitor experiences. The park is part of Galaxy Corporation’s effort to create a new live-entertainment category built around “physical AI”, a term used to describe artificial intelligence moving from screens and software into embodied machines operating in shared human spaces.

Galaxy Corporation, known for managing cultural figures including G-Dragon, Taemin and actor Song Kang-ho, has been seeking to merge K-pop spectacle with robotics. Its robot performances have included choreographed dance routines, synchronised stage movement and plans for several shows a day. The company has said it wants to stage more than 1,000 robot performances annually and ultimately take robot-led shows beyond South Korea.

The robot models appeared to be Unitree G1 humanoids, a relatively low-cost platform made by Hangzhou-based Unitree Robotics. The G1 is widely used in demonstrations because of its compact size, balance control, range of motion and comparatively accessible pricing for developers and institutions. Its ability to walk, turn, gesture and respond to programmed choreography makes it suitable for controlled performances, though it remains far from a fully autonomous general-purpose worker.

The show also highlighted the gap between polished presentation and engineering reality. Humanoid robots are becoming more agile, but smooth movement in a runway setting still requires careful staging, reliable control systems and predictable conditions. Research into whole-body teleoperation, motion retargeting and autonomous loco-manipulation continues to point to unresolved challenges, including latency, balance recovery, hand dexterity, human-robot interaction and safe operation in crowded public spaces.

For South Korea’s entertainment sector, the Galaxy event fits a broader pattern of experimentation with virtual idols, AI-generated content, immersive fan platforms and digitally enhanced performances. K-pop’s visual emphasis makes it a natural testing ground for robotic spectacle, but the commercial test will be whether audiences view robot performers as compelling cultural products or as temporary curiosities.

Fashion offers Galaxy a softer route into that debate. Unlike industrial robotics, a runway show does not require humanoids to prove productivity. It asks whether machines can be styled, branded and given a visible role in popular culture. The clothes also conceal some of the awkwardness of exposed mechanical frames, making the robots appear less clinical and more theatrical.

The commercial stakes are growing. Forecasts for humanoid robotics vary widely, but major financial institutions and technology analysts expect the sector to expand sharply over the next two decades as costs fall and AI systems improve. Optimistic projections point to hundreds of millions, or even more than a billion, humanoids by 2050, though adoption is expected to move gradually as companies work through safety, reliability, regulation and public acceptance.

Guan replaces Wang Zhonglin, who has been removed from the posts of Hubei Party secretary, standing committee member and provincial committee member, with a further assignment to be announced. The decision was conveyed at a provincial leadership meeting in Wuhan on May 30, where the central authorities described the change as part of a broader assessment of Hubei’s leadership needs and development priorities.

The appointment gives Guan control of the top political office in a province that sits at the centre of China’s inland transport network and plays a strategic role in advanced manufacturing, water management, grain logistics and Yangtze River economic planning. Hubei’s capital, Wuhan, is a major base for automotive production, optoelectronics, universities, biomedical research and high-end equipment, making the province a testing ground for Beijing’s effort to combine industrial upgrading with regional balance.

Guan, born in December 1969 in Shenyang, Liaoning province, is 56 and a member of the Manchu ethnic group. He holds a doctorate in science and is an alternate member of the 20th Communist Party Central Committee. His career has moved through county administration, municipal planning, provincial government, propaganda work, forestry governance and national resource management, giving him a profile that spans both local economic administration and central regulatory oversight.

His move to Hubei comes less than two years after he rose to the Ministry of Natural Resources, where he became Party secretary and minister in December 2024. That ministry oversees land use, mineral resources, territorial spatial planning, marine resources, surveying and natural resource supervision, areas closely tied to China’s drive to improve food security, industrial self-reliance, ecological protection and urban development discipline.

Before entering the central government, Guan spent much of his early career in Liaoning, including posts linked to Shenyang’s planning and land resources system, Faku county administration, agricultural affairs and provincial government coordination. He later served on the Liaoning provincial Party standing committee and chaired the provincial federation of trade unions. A transfer to Shandong in 2018 placed him in charge of propaganda work and education-related Party responsibilities before his move to Beijing in 2020 to lead the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

That background is likely to shape his work in Hubei, where economic policy is intertwined with land redevelopment, ecological protection along the Yangtze, flood control, industrial zoning and rural revitalisation. Hubei has long been central to China’s “Rise of Central China” strategy, but it also faces familiar pressures, including uneven local government finances, competition for investment, the need to raise household consumption and the challenge of moving manufacturers up the value chain.

Hubei’s economy expanded to 6.266 trillion yuan in 2025, growing 5.5 per cent year on year. Wuhan’s output reached 2.215 trillion yuan, up 5.6 per cent, reinforcing the city’s role as the province’s growth engine. Provincial authorities have set a 2026 growth target of about 5.5 per cent, alongside efforts to keep surveyed urban unemployment at about 5.5 per cent, signalling a policy mix focused on steady expansion, employment and industrial resilience.

The province’s leadership team now pairs Guan with Governor Li Dianxun, who has emphasised manufacturing, consumption, technological innovation and service-sector upgrading in this year’s government work agenda. Hubei has sought to attract investment into automotive components, new energy supply chains, digital industries and cultural consumption, while also promoting Wuhan’s role as a national science and education hub.

Guan’s appointment also reflects a wider pattern in China’s cadre management, where central authorities rotate officials between ministries and provinces to align local governance with national policy priorities. Hubei has political significance beyond its economic weight because of Wuhan’s transport links, its university and research base, and its position along the Yangtze River, a corridor Beijing regards as vital to both industrial security and environmental protection.

Wang Zhonglin, Guan’s predecessor, had led Hubei since late 2024 after serving as governor and, earlier, Party secretary of Wuhan during the city’s post-pandemic recovery. His next role has not been disclosed, leaving the latest move as part of an unfinished personnel sequence at provincial level.

The agreements were signed at the Vietnam-Thailand Business Forum and the Vietnam-Singapore Technology Connectivity Forum, held as part of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s official visits to the Kingdom of Thailand, the Republic of Singapore, and the Republic of the Philippines from May 28 to June 1, 2026.

In Thailand, Vinpearl announced the expansion of its strategic partnerships with Agoda and AirAsia MOVE to strengthen the international presence of its integrated tourism, hospitality, and entertainment ecosystem.

Through Agoda, one of the world’s largest online travel platforms, Vinpearl aims to optimize business performance across its tourism, hospitality, and entertainment portfolio while expanding its reach in key markets including Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, Australia, and long-haul international traveler segments. The partnership also marks a new milestone for VinWonders, with its integrated leisure and hospitality products now being offered directly through Agoda’s global platform.

The partnership with AirAsia MOVE is designed to broaden international access to Vinpearl and VinWonders hospitality, leisure, and entertainment offerings in Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, and Da Nang-Hoi An through one of the region’s leading digital travel platforms. Via AirAsia MOVE, travelers can conveniently book flights, accommodations, and attractions within a single itinerary, making it easier to choose integrated Vinpearl and VinWonders experiences when visiting Vietnam.

With access to a network of more than 700 airlines and over one million hotels worldwide, AirAsia MOVE is expected to further strengthen the visibility of the Vinpearl and VinWonders ecosystem among international travelers, while also enhancing Vietnam’s appeal as a destination for visitors from ASEAN and other key global markets.

In Singapore, Vinpearl also signed partnership agreements with BeMyGuest and GlobalTix, two of the Asia-Pacific region’s leading technology and distribution platforms for travel experiences.

Supported by extensive partner networks and some of the region’s most diverse travel product portfolios, these collaborations are expected to strengthen the presence of the VinWonders brand across Southeast Asia, China, and India, while expanding international access to unique experience offerings in Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, and Da Nang.

Through these agreements, the partners will leverage their respective strengths in technology, distribution, and customer ecosystems to progressively expand the international footprint of Vinpearl and VinWonders while enhancing the global appeal of Vietnamese tourism.

Ms. Ngo Thi Huong, Chief Executive Officer, Vinpearl, said: “These partnerships not only expand Vinpearl’s network of strategic partners but also create a strong foundation for the Vinpearl and VinWonders ecosystem to connect more deeply with global traveler segments through some of the region’s leading travel, aviation, and distribution platforms. This represents an important step in our strategy to strengthen international competitiveness and position Vinpearl destinations among the top choices for travelers across Asia.”

Mr. Krishna Rathi, Associate Vice President, Supply, Agoda, said: “With its extensive scale of operations, diverse portfolio, and ability to develop integrated destinations, Vinpearl is one of the most outstanding partners in Vietnam’s tourism industry today. We believe this partnership will help the Vinpearl and VinWonders ecosystem engage more deeply with rapidly growing international traveler segments across Asia and global markets.”

Ms. Nadia Omer, Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia MOVE, said: “We highly value the opportunity to partner with Vinpearl in unlocking strategic collaboration potential within one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic and fast-growing tourism markets. As an OTA platform with a comprehensive travel ecosystem and extensive regional connectivity, AirAsia MOVE is committed to further enhancing travel connectivity and intra-regional tourism flows. Vietnam is emerging as one of the region’s brightest tourism destinations, and we believe the combination of Vinpearl’s leading hospitality and entertainment ecosystem with AirAsia MOVE’s distribution and connectivity capabilities will create significant growth opportunities for the tourism sector in the years ahead.”

The partnerships with Agoda, AirAsia MOVE, BeMyGuest, and GlobalTix mark another milestone in Vinpearl’s strategy to internationalize its tourism, hospitality, and entertainment ecosystem while expanding the presence of Vinpearl and VinWonders accommodation, leisure, and experience offerings across global travel platforms.

Hashtag: #Vinpearl

https://vinpearl.com/en

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Agoda

Agoda is a global online travel platform offering more than six million accommodation options, including hotels, resorts, apartments, and vacation villas, as well as flight bookings, travel activities, and related travel services. Headquartered in Singapore, Agoda is part of Booking Holdings (Nasdaq: BKNG). The platform operates in 39 languages, provides 24/7 customer support, and employs more than 7,500 people worldwide.

About AirAsia MOVE
AirAsia MOVE (MOVE) is the digital travel platform of Capital A Group and has been recognized by the World Travel Tech Awards as Asia’s Best Travel Booking App for three consecutive years since 2023. Focused on building a comprehensive travel ecosystem, MOVE delivers affordable, seamless, and personalized travel experiences across Southeast Asia and international markets.

The platform currently connects travelers to more than 700 airlines and over one million hotels worldwide while offering a wide range of services including attraction tickets, airport transfers, travel insurance, and integrated travel products. AirAsia MOVE also enhances user experience through its loyalty program and AskBo, an AI-powered travel chatbot.

About BeMyGuest
BeMyGuest is a Singapore-based travel technology company founded in 2012, specializing in booking and distribution solutions for attractions, tours, and travel experiences across the Asia-Pacific region. Its ecosystem includes the Distribution Network and Xplore Booking System, which support sales management, multi-channel distribution, and digital operations for thousands of partners in the experience tourism industry. BeMyGuest is connected to numerous online travel platforms and international distribution partners while providing multilingual solutions and flexible pricing models for integrated systems.

About GlobalTix
GlobalTix is a global technology and distribution platform for attractions, tours, and travel experiences, headquartered in Singapore with operations across multiple Asia-Pacific markets. Founded in 2013, GlobalTix enables attractions and experience operators to connect with travel agencies, online travel platforms, and international distribution partners through a unified platform. Its partners include major brands such as Mount Faber Leisure Group, Taman Safari Indonesia, Mandai Wildlife Group, National Gallery Singapore, and Singapore Airlines.

About Vinpearl

Vinpearl is Vietnam’s leading hospitality, tourism, and entertainment brand, currently operating 60 properties across 20 provinces and cities nationwide. Its ecosystem includes a network of five-star hotels and resorts with more than 17,500 rooms; 15 VinWonders theme parks featuring attractions for visitors of all ages; six world-class golf courses; and three VinPalace convention and performing arts centers. The portfolio also includes two semi-wildlife conservation and care parks, an equestrian academy, and million-dollar live-action performance shows in destinations such as Nha Trang and Phu Quoc, attracting millions of visitors each year.

The unit sits under the president’s office and is evaluating AI start-ups globally, with long-serving executive Zhang Endong leading the effort. The move places investment activity closer to Sea’s top management at a time when the company is trying to convert its scale across Shopee, Garena and Monee into a stronger position in the next phase of consumer internet competition.

The new team is part of a wider internal reorganisation aimed at accelerating AI adoption across Sea’s businesses. Zhang is also involved in projects examining how the technology can be deployed inside the group, from product recommendations and seller tools to game development and financial services. A company spokesperson declined to comment on the investment unit.

The initiative follows a series of signals from chief executive Forrest Li that AI has become central to Sea’s long-term strategy. Li told investors last year that a trillion-dollar market capitalisation could be possible if the company doubled down on artificial intelligence and made the right calls. That ambition is now being tested against tougher operating conditions, heavier competition and investor scrutiny over margins.

Sea’s pivot comes as its core businesses remain sizeable but increasingly contested. Shopee continues to dominate e-commerce across South-east Asia, where price-led competition, live commerce, faster delivery expectations and merchant services have raised both growth potential and operating costs. Rivals including TikTok Shop, Lazada, Amazon and Rakuten are intensifying their own use of AI to personalise shopping, automate seller support and streamline logistics.

Artificial intelligence is already being built into Shopee’s customer and merchant systems. Its applications include recommendation engines, search improvements, advertising tools and seller assistance functions. The strategic logic is straightforward: more effective targeting can increase conversion, better seller tools can deepen merchant loyalty, and automated service functions can reduce costs across markets with different languages, payment habits and logistics infrastructure.

Sea has also expanded its partnership with Google to develop AI-powered tools across e-commerce and gaming. The companies are exploring an agentic shopping prototype for Shopee, designed to move beyond basic search and recommendation functions towards digital assistants capable of helping consumers complete tasks across the shopping journey. Garena is expected to use AI to improve game development productivity, an area where faster content cycles and lower development costs can carry significant commercial value.

Financial performance has given Sea room to invest, though not without pressure. First-quarter revenue rose 46.6 per cent year on year to US$7.1 billion, while gross profit increased 40.7 per cent to US$3.1 billion. Net income reached US$438.2 million, up 6.7 per cent, and adjusted EBITDA rose 9.3 per cent to US$1 billion. The figures showed continued momentum, but also reflected the cost of defending market share and expanding services.

Shopee delivered gross merchandise value of US$37.3 billion in the quarter, up 30.2 per cent from a year earlier, while gross orders climbed 29.3 per cent to 4 billion. Revenue from the e-commerce arm rose 45.1 per cent to US$5.1 billion, though adjusted EBITDA fell to US$223.2 million from US$264.4 million a year earlier, underlining the margin trade-off behind its expansion strategy.

Monee, Sea’s digital financial services unit, has become another pillar of growth. Revenue rose 57.8 per cent to US$1.2 billion, while consumer and small-business loans outstanding reached US$9.9 billion. Non-performing loans more than 90 days past due remained at 1.1 per cent, a key metric as the company expands credit services across emerging markets where risk controls are critical.

Garena, once Sea’s dominant profit engine, also showed stronger momentum. Bookings rose 20.1 per cent to US$931.4 million, while quarterly active users stood at 666.5 million. The unit remains anchored by Free Fire, but Sea’s AI push suggests management sees broader potential in development tools, content generation, player engagement and operational efficiency.

Sea’s AI Centre of Excellence in Singapore adds another layer to the strategy. The centre is intended to strengthen local AI capabilities, support enterprise adoption and develop talent in areas such as engineering, research and product development. Its launch aligns the company with Singapore’s broader ambition to become a regional AI hub and gives Sea a clearer institutional base for experimentation.

The investment team could give Sea access to external innovation at a time when start-ups are moving faster than large platforms in areas such as autonomous commerce, generative game design, fraud detection, credit scoring and AI-enabled logistics. The challenge will be distinguishing durable business models from inflated valuations in a crowded funding environment.

Investors will be watching whether Sea’s AI spending produces measurable gains in revenue growth, user engagement and margin improvement. The company has already shown that it can rebuild profitability after years of expansion-led losses. Its next test is whether AI can become more than an efficiency tool and help create the next major growth curve for one of South-east Asia’s most valuable technology groups.