🌟 GenAI ASEAN Monthly Newsletter, December 2024
📢 The GenAI ASEAN Monthly Newsletter is an initiative by GenAI Fund to keep you informed about the latest trends, breakthroughs, and developments in Generative AI across Southeast Asia. Each month, we curate and summarize key highlights, including 💰 investments, 📜 policy shifts, 🚀 startup innovations, and 🤝 impactful collaborations shaping the GenAI ecosystem in ASEAN.
📅 For December 2024, this edition covers exciting updates such as NVIDIA’s strategic moves in Vietnam and Thailand, 🇲🇾 Malaysia’s ambitious AI policy initiatives, 🌍 groundbreaking advancements in local language AI models, and tailored GenAI solutions for Southeast Asia.
💡 As part of our mission to empower the GenAI Southeast Asia ecosystem, this newsletter serves as a trusted resource for founders, investors, and corporate leaders to stay ahead in the 🌐 world of Generative AI in ASEAN.
📰 Key Highlights for December 2024
1️⃣ NVIDIA Acquires VinBrain (Vietnam)
- 📝 Summary of what happened:
🏥 NVIDIA has acquired VinBrain, an AI healthcare startup under Vingroup, which has provided AI-based tools to 182 hospitals across various countries. This acquisition follows NVIDIA’s agreement with the 🇻🇳 Vietnamese government to establish AI research and data centers in Vietnam. - 🔍 Why this matters to GenAI ecosystem in ASEAN:
💡 This acquisition signifies NVIDIA’s commitment to enhancing AI capabilities in Southeast Asia, particularly in the healthcare sector. It positions Vietnam as a growing hub for Generative AI innovation and may attract further investments and collaborations within the region. - 🔗 Source: Vietnam News
2️⃣ Malaysia Launches National AI Office
- 📝 Summary of what happened:
🇲🇾 On December 12, 2024, Malaysia inaugurated a National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Office to develop policies and address regulatory issues, aiming to establish itself as a regional AI hub for Southeast Asia. Strategic partnerships with tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft were also announced. - 🔍 Why this matters to GenAI ecosystem in ASEAN:
🚀 The establishment of a centralized AI agency reflects Malaysia’s proactive approach to AI governance and development. This initiative fosters Generative AI innovation in Southeast Asia, attracts investments, and sets a precedent for AI policy frameworks in the region. - 🔗 Source: Reuters
3️⃣ NVIDIA CEO Backs Thai ‘Sovereign AI’ Project
- 📝 Summary of what happened:
🇹🇭 Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, expressed support for Thailand’s “Sovereign AI” initiative during his visit. He emphasized the importance of local AI infrastructure and Thailand’s potential to become a “land of artificial intelligence.” - 🔍 Why this matters to GenAI ecosystem in ASEAN:
🌟 NVIDIA’s backing highlights Thailand’s dedication to self-reliant AI infrastructure, boosting national competitiveness in Generative AI for ASEAN and strengthening the region’s growing AI sector. - 🔗 Source: Bangkok Post
4️⃣ Mesolitica Develops Malaysian LLM for Generative AI Assistants
- 📝 Summary of what happened:
🤖 Malaysian AI startup Mesolitica has developed MaLLaM, a Malaysian language large language model (LLM) hosted on AWS. This model supports local nuances, including slang and dialects, and has applications in customer service, content generation, and data analysis. - 🔍 Why this matters to GenAI ecosystem in ASEAN:
🌏 MaLLaM represents a major step in creating localized Generative AI models, making GenAI more accessible and effective for Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia. - 🔗 Source: TechNode Global
5️⃣ BOTNOI Builds Multilingual GenAI Assistant Customized for Southeast Asia
- 📝 Summary of what happened:
🗣️ Thai startup BOTNOI launched BOTNOI Voice, a multilingual AI platform tailored for Southeast Asian languages and cultures. Built on AWS, it supports over 200 voices in more than 20 languages, focusing on Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Lao, Burmese, and Cambodian. - 🔍 Why this matters to GenAI ecosystem in ASEAN:
💬 BOTNOI Voice demonstrates the potential of region-specific Generative AI applications, improving customer service and engagement in Southeast Asia across diverse industries. - 🔗 Source: Vietnam Investment Review
🎉 Stay tuned for the next edition of the GenAI ASEAN Monthly Newsletter to explore more exciting updates in the dynamic Generative AI ecosystem across Southeast Asia!