Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and KAOUN International in affiliation with GITEX GLOBAL, the Asian inaugural edition of the world’s largest show is running at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore from April 23-25.

Under the theme ‘Advancing Bold Partnerships in Asia’, the region’s largest inaugural tech, startup, and digital investments event welcomes 700+ enterprises and award-winning startups from 20+ industry sectors and 70+ countries alongside 400+ global expert speakers and 250+ leading investors.

With PwC projecting AI could potentially contribute as much as US$15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030 and IDC anticipating the technology will yield an Asia-Pacific (APAC) economic impact exceeding US$1.6 trillion by 2028, the day two proceedings thrust the region’s AI revolution into the spotlight. Across a series of high-profile panels and debates, various industry-specific conversations enforced the view that AI is a launchpad for transformative, cross-sector AI-powered progress.

Revolutionising a US$107 Billion Regional Industry

Valued at US$107 billion by Inkwood Research, the APAC gaming sector today reigns supreme as the world’s largest and fastest-growing gaming market. Alongside digital penetration, a tech-savvy population, and the rise of esports, AI has emerged as a primary catalyst revolutionising the sector while cementing APACs status as a global innovation hub for AI-driven gaming advancements.

Michael Spanger, President of SONY AI in Japan, discussed how AI is propelling Sony’s mission to elevate and unleash human imagination and creativity. Addressing audiences, he revealed: “When it comes to AI in gaming, we want to support creators. Entertainment is ultimately about humans selling stories to other humans through technology – and the consumer-creator connection will always remain. AI is enhancing creativity, accelerating industry progression, and opening up new ways of thinking about what’s possible. We are recreating immersive, engaging, and extremely realistic gaming experiences – and we’re working with groundbreaking technology that empowers creators and is accessible globally.”

‘A Unique Opportunity to Redesign Financial Services’

Alongside gaming, another of Asia’s most prominent industries undergoing profound digital transformation is financial services as AI broadens horizons to enhanced efficiency, innovation, and customer-centric services. Boston Consulting Group recently revealed that APAC region’s financial wealth could rise by almost 30% by 2028 – with GenAI identified as a primary enabler for improved operational efficiencies and client experiences.

Discussing AI-related possibilities and potential in financial services, Shayan Hazir, Chief Digital Officer, Asia (xHK) & MENAT, HSBC Singapore, said: “Each revolution has added significantly to the global GDP and driven new business models. We must be open to what's coming because there’s a unique opportunity to redesign financial services. We’re a regulated industry, and we've built our protocols on the back of strong governance and perhaps a lack of creativity. If we start taking new technology and applying it to redesign, the human transformation – embracing change and how we work – is key. AI is a part of this dimensional shift alongside blockchain, digital assets, and quantum computing.”

GenAI: A US$110 Billion Game-changer

With International Data Corporation forecasting that APAC AI and Gen AI investments could reach US$110 billion by 2028 alone, world-renowned AI experts also converged to discuss the technology and its influence and impact across the business world in due course. Among the most pressing discussion topics was whether AI is an unavoidable transformation of business models.

Patrick Tammer, Senior Investment Director at SCALE AI, the Canadian Government’s AI investment fund overseeing a US$125 million-plus AI innovation projects portfolio, shared his opinions, revealing: “GenAI changed the landscape by making AI mainstream and unlocking the power of unstructured data for advanced analytics and prediction. Many business processes, especially in the service sector, rely heavily on unstructured data, making GenAI a game-changer. This trend will accelerate in the coming years. Virtually every industry will experience significant AI-driven disruption and transformation in the next decade with GenAI – and particularly AI agents – fundamentally reshaping service-based business models, such as consulting, marketing, and legal services.”

Charting a Course to a Smart & Sustainable Future

Elsewhere across GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore’s highly lauded second day programme, numerous discussions centred around sustainability and humanity’s path toward a greener future, including through smart city development and seamless emerging technologies integration.

Amongst the many high-profile visitors who shared fascinating insights, projections, and perspectives was Peter Kmec, Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic for EU Recovery Plan and Knowledge Economy.

During his address, Mr Kmec stressed the importance of maintaining human control over emerging technologies and ensuring no communities are left behind in the smart city era of tomorrow. He said: “When it comes to smart cities, those we see in 2035 will be entirely different to those we see today because technological development is so fast and smart city structures and sustainability models are evolving. While combining physical infrastructure with the new technologies we need, it’s most important to ensure that AI, IoT, and all other technologies are good servants – not good masters. It’s the role of governments to bring the necessary pieces together and build smart societies alongside smart cities so that we don’t create gaps between our urban and rural areas.”

Tony Verb, Founding Partner & CEO of Carbonless Asia – an investment, innovation and knowledge platform launched to support the decarbonisation of Asia – also joined the discussions, adding: “We remain behind from a Net Zero targets and achievements perspective. In this global economic and trade policy climate, we must unite to build on momentum and realise our intent to identify technology solutions that can deliver desired decarbonisation impact in a meaningful and commercially viable manner.”

GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore presents a thrilling journey into technology’s new frontiers through a world-class event and exhibition programme spanning 180+ hours of content and eight key themes, from AI, biotech, cloud, and cybersecurity to quantum, green tech, health tech, and smart cities.

While hosting powerful debates surrounding the most pressing topics in tech, it stands as a three-day celebration of technological innovation, visionary collaboration, and universal digital ambition – welcoming renowned tech leaders, founders, investors, national digital agency officials, and regulators to examine first-hand the latest tech solutions revolutionising societies and industries.