Gitex Asia x Ai Everything Singapore concluded its first edition in a thrilling finale at Marina Bay Sands on 25 April, showcasing Southeast Asia’s rapid rise as a global innovation hub. Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre and KAOUN International in affiliation with Gitex Global, the three-day event drew significant crowds eager to witness the latest advancements in AI, robotics, cloud computing, cybersecurity, smart cities, and telecommunications.
The event, which ran from 23 to 25 April, placed Southeast Asia’s digital transformation in sharp focus. With a diverse range of industries on display and groundbreaking technologies presented by regional and international innovators, Gitex Asia x Ai Everything Singapore positioned itself as a key catalyst in advancing the region’s digital economy.
Robotics industry captures attention
Robotics stood out as one of the key highlights, with a future of human-robot collaboration firmly under the spotlight. Market Research Future projects the robotics market to exceed US$200 billion by 2030, and companies like Booster Robotics from China demonstrated why. The company, founded in 2023, introduced the Booster T1, recently named the ‘fastest free-walk robot’ at the 2024 IEEE-RAS Humanoids Championship.
Chaoyi Li, Head of Globalisation at Booster Robotics, shared a bold vision for the future, stating: “Humanoid robots will be everywhere around the world in the future and as reliable, affordable, and useful as laptops are today. They can help us everywhere, taking responsibility for many of the tedious, repetitive, and potentially dangerous jobs out there; enabling people to be more human rather than robotic. This is why we’re actively uniting with AI developers to deploy multi-functional robots for all kinds of scenarios and industries globally.”
Beyond robotics, the event also celebrated wider advancements in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, with major firms presenting solutions set to redefine industries across the region.
Supernova Challenge spotlights startup excellence
A major highlight was the Supernova Challenge finals, which brought Asia’s brightest startups together under the North Star Asia banner. Following Southeast Asia’s record-high startup ecosystem valuation of US$454 billion in 2024, ten finalists competed for a share of the US$100,000 prize pool.
Chhaya Technologies from Bangladesh claimed the top prize of US$50,000 with its digital micro-insurance platform, aimed at delivering affordable and accessible insurance solutions to underserved communities and expatriates. Shawon Shahriar, CEO of Chhaya, expressed his excitement following the victory: “We’re delighted to win. This competition it one we’ve been anticipating for some time now – it’s been so exciting, and the atmosphere has been electric. Our ambition now is to keep building and forge a future where financial security is assured for everyone worldwide.”
Startups from Australia, Canada, India, Republic of Korea, Serbia, Singapore, and Vietnam also pitched their ideas to a panel of expert judges, competing not only for prizes but also for visibility and potential investor support.
AI’s impact on sport and digital innovation showcased
Adding to the excitement was the participation of former French international footballer Bacary Sagna. In a special session titled ‘Future of Sports Tech’, Sagna shared insights into how AI is transforming professional sports. He said: “AI cameras cover every moment of matches today, gathering insights and data that clubs use to value players and evaluate their form and performances. Athletes also value and assess themselves using this data, from passing and pace to distance covered on the field. It’s revolutionary and is here to stay because the technology has been transformational.”
Sagna also spoke about AI’s role beyond the pitch, highlighting how it can assist athletes in preparing for life after sport: “AI can now be used to positively impact lives through advice surrounding financial security, education, nutrition, how to invest, and so on. It’s very important for young athletes especially to educate themselves – and AI can help.”
On the final day, visitors also explored next-generation solutions from top global tech firms. Fortinet presented its AI-driven Security Operations Centre platform, iFLYTEK introduced its On-Prem LMM All-In-One solution for secure AI deployment, Kaspersky exhibited its critical infrastructure offerings, Ericsson displayed cloud and edge computing innovations, and Gorilla Technology showcased its network security and video analytics solutions.
Jay Chandan, Chairman and CEO of Gorilla Technology, praised the event’s impact, saying: “This was a landmark event for Gorilla Technology and an unrivalled platform where innovation in safe and smart cities with AI was centre stage. It was very exciting to join leading industry experts and explore new avenues that drive our technology forward and empower businesses with smarter, safer solutions. This dynamic convergence of global tech leaders and innovators has catalysed cutting-edge collaborations and paved the way for disruptive breakthroughs that benefit participants and elevate the entire technology ecosystem.”
Gitex Asia x Ai Everything Singapore successfully established itself as a vital platform for boosting Southeast Asia’s digital ambitions, driving strategic partnerships, and unlocking the region’s US$1 trillion digital economy potential. Over 700 exhibitors and award-winning startups, 400 expert speakers, and 250 investors from more than 70 countries participated across three days, setting the stage for future industry growth and innovation.
