Key takeaway of GITEX ASIA x AI Everything Singapore 2025: shaping Southeast Asia’s next tech wave
Driving the USD 1‑Trillion Digital Economy — One Bold Vision at a Time. The inaugural GITEX ASIA x AI Everything Singapore (April 23–25, 2025, Marina Bay Sands) emerged as a transformative moment for Southeast Asia’s digital trajectory. With 700+ tech enterprises, 432 global speakers, and over 25,000 industry leaders, the event laid the groundwork for ushering in a USD 1 trillion digital economy by 2030
AI’s Central Role in Economic Reinvention
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Speakers like Sony AI’s Michael Spranger highlighted AI’s power to elevate creativity, particularly within gaming—a sector already valued at USD 107 billion in APAC. Major institutions such as PwC and IDC projected AI to contribute USD 15.7 trillion globally by 2030 and approx. USD 1.6 trillion in APAC by 2028.
AI-powered logistics, healthcare, finance
From optimized supply chains and predictive logistics to precision medicine and fraud detection, AI was not just a tech buzzword—it was a tangible catalyst reshaping core industries.
Singapore as the Strategic Tech Gateway
Singapore AI innovation gateway ASEAN hub
Singapore’s selection as host confirmed its role as ASEAN’s digital nucleus. With robust infrastructure, pro-innovation policies (Smart Nation, SkillsFuture, Tech.Pass), and global connectivity, the city-state is laying the groundwork for broad AI integration.
Cross-border partnerships & ecosystem integration
The event spotlighted rich public-private collaboration, exemplified by tie-ups between Singapore and the UAE (USD 23 billion bilateral trade) and national digital agencies across APAC. This established a deeper layer of cooperative momentum.
Adopting AI at Scale: From POC to ROI
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Leaders emphasized the shift from proof-of-concepts to business-impact platforms. Generative AI is now entering boardroom conversations, with a focus on unlocking value from unstructured data and AI agents that transform consulting, marketing, and legal services.
Urgency for data quality and governance
Across sectors, executives echoed the necessity of robust data foundations—failure here stymies AI potential. GenAI’s promise hinges on high-quality data and trust frameworks.
Infrastructure & Sustainability: Preparing for an AI-First World
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With Asia projected to host 50% of the world’s data centre capacity, sessions detailed cutting-edge developments such as AI-driven cooling (up to 40% energy savings), modular expansion, edge computing, and quantum-ready infrastructure.
Smart cities with human-centered design
APAC can harness AI’s power for smarter urban management—but with care. Slovakia’s Deputy PM noted smart cities must serve residents, not control them—underscoring the importance of ethical design and inclusion .
Cybersecurity: The Foundation of AI Trust
GITEX Cyber Valley Asia
The launch of GITEX Cyber Valley Asia marked a pivotal moment—bringing together CISOs, national security agencies, and vendors in response to an APAC cybersecurity market projected to surpass USD 7 billion by 2029
Pro-active resilience frameworks
From counter-ransomware initiatives to privacy-by-design, the emphasis was on embedding cybersecurity as a strategic enabler—not an afterthought. With generative AI’s rise, this becomes even more urgent.
Most agentic AI projects right now are early stage experiments or proofs of concept that are mostly driven by hype and are often misapplied. Gartner warns that over 40% of AI agent projects will be scrapped by 2027, due to “rising costs and unclear business value”, as current models do not have the maturity and vendors to autonomously achieve complex business goals or follow nuanced instructions over time. Data preparation and data management are the key to avoid those risks.
Pierre-Francois Vieau
Senior VP at VISEO Asia-Oceania
Thought-Leadership Takeaways: How Asia Can Lead
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Strategic Imperative |
Why It Matters |
Action Steps |
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Scale AI across value chains |
From factory floors to front-office, AI unlocks organizational agility and profitability. |
Transition pilots into enterprise-wide deployments, prioritizing data management strategies. |
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Embed trust, ethics, and regulation |
Public trust is key for AI adoption—especially in finance and public services. |
Adopt ethical frameworks, privacy-conscious design, and proactive cybersecurity. |
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Invest in infrastructure and sustainability |
Efficient, resilient, and green data platforms fuel scalable AI ecosystems. |
Channel investments into AI-optimized data centers, edge networks, and modular tech. |
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Cultivate human-AI synergy |
Empowered workers using AI tools outperform those replaced. |
Upskill teams, promote AI literacy, and embed AI in everyday workflows. |
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Foster cross-border collaboration |
Innovation thrives in global ecosystems. |
Build strategic alliances with governments, VC funds, and international tech firms. |
Embracing Asia’s AI Future
GITEX ASIA x AI Everything Singapore wasn’t just about tech demos—it was a manifesto for Asia’s digital destiny. With bold financial projections, cross-sector leadership, and infrastructure foresight, the event laid the groundwork for a future where AI drives inclusive, sustainable, human-centered growth.
To lead this next wave, Asian organizations must act on data, ethics, infrastructure, talent, and collaboration. Only then can the vision—USD 1 trillion digital economy, elevated industries, smarter cities, resilient societies—be fully realized.