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SM Mall of Asia unveils MOA Sky with spectacular event filled with music, art, and culture

The MOA Sky, a 55,000-sq.m. attraction, is introduced at the SM Mall of Asia through a remarkable launch held on Feb. 25.

The SM Mall of Asia (MOA) recently opened its stunning new attraction, the 55,000-sq.m. MOA Sky, with a launch event that was nothing short of extraordinary. It was a whirlwind of entertainment, celebration, and community spirit, leaving attendees with unforgettable memories.

A grand opening with dance and inspiration

The event began with a captivating performance by the National University (NU) Dance Company, followed by an inspiring speech from SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, who highlighted the MOA Sky’s vision and community significance.

“The MOA Sky isn’t just an expansion; it’s an exciting transformation. SM MOA already was a world-class destination as one of the world’s 10 biggest malls, but today, aside from a host of new brands and world-renowned tenant partners within the mall — we have a larger-than-life playground where every experience is bigger and bolder,” he shared.

A visually stunning MOA Sky video then took viewers on a virtual tour of the breathtaking space, building anticipation for the real experience.

The MOA Sky tour: A journey through themed delights

The heart of the event was the MOA Sky Tour, where attendees were guided through various themed stops. The first stop, the 1,800-seat FIFA-grade MOA Football Pitch, was a highlight, featuring the Filipinas, the Philippines’ women’s national football team, generating immense excitement among sports enthusiasts.

The MOA Sky Sanctuary presents a tranquil escape, inviting visitors to find peace within its gardens.

The tour continued with a photo opportunity at the MOA Sanctuary, debuting its exhibition this March. Nestled within a lush garden, it offers a serene escape for contemplation, with a central oval glass structure serving as both a prayer space and art gallery. The tour then moved to a lively celebration at the North Sky Plaza, featuring Filipino-American artist Jefre’s 12 4-meter-tall Zodiac-themed art installations.

Sustainability and pet-friendly fun

SM Prime powers the MOA Sky with a 3-megawatt solar rooftop, showcasing their ongoing commitment to sustainable energy.

The tour also showcased SM Prime’s commitment to sustainability with a stop at the 3-megawatt solar photovoltaic rooftop that harnesses the sun’s energy for a brighter tomorrow.

Dalbong, the champion Philippine Corgi, charms visitors at the 577-sq.m. Paw Park within the MOA Sky.

Animal lovers then enjoyed a Dalbong (a Philippine Corgi dog that won a world title at the World Dog Show 2023 held in Switzerland) exhibition at the sprawling 577-sq.m. Paw Park.

The sixth stop, the South Plaza, was a hub of artistic expression with live artists such as Jouache Panaligan, Erwin Grino, Rai Cruz, and AC Bautista.

Music, fireworks, and a mesmerizing drone show

At the MOA Amphitheater, the crowd revels in the live performances of Adie, Hale, and December Avenue.

As the sun began to set, the energy shifted towards the highly anticipated concert featuring Filipino singer-songwriter Adie, alternative rock band Hale, and indie pop band December Avenue at the MOA Amphitheater. The night sky then lit up with a spectacular fireworks display, followed by a mesmerizing drone show that led the crowd toward the MOA Football Pitch.

A thrilling finale: Filipinas exhibition game

The evening culminated in an exhilarating Filipinas Exhibition Football Game, showcasing the talent and passion of the national women’s football team. A second drone show during halftime added to the spectacle, creating a truly unforgettable experience.

A landmark celebration of community and entertainment

The MOA Football Pitch, a FIFA-grade, 1,800-seat field, can stage global tournaments, college games, and high-energy competitions.

The MOA Sky launch was a resounding success, demonstrating SM Supermalls’ commitment to providing world-class entertainment and experiences. The event not only celebrated the opening of a new landmark but also brought the community together for a night of joy and celebration. The MOA Sky is poised to become a must-visit destination, offering breathtaking views and a unique blend of entertainment, culture, and community spirit.

 


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Philippines central bank sees February inflation at 2.2% to 3.0%

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said reserve ratios for universal and commercial banks will be reduced to 7% effective October 25. — BLOOMBERG

MANILA – Philippine annual inflation was likely to be within a range of 2.2% to 3.0% in February, the central bank said on Friday.

“Going forward, the Monetary Board will continue to take a measured approach in ensuring price stability,” the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said in a statement.

The Philippines’ statistics agency will release inflation data on March 5. — Reuters

Trade gap widens to $5.09 billion in January

DPWORLD.COM

The Philippines’ trade-in-goods deficit widened to a three-month high in January as both exports and imports picked up, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Friday.

The trade deficit could further worsen this year as the US trade war escalates, analysts said.

Preliminary data from the PSA showed the country’s trade balance — the difference between the values of exports and imports — ballooned to a $5.09-billion deficit from $4.14-billion deficit in December and the $4.36 billion gap a year earlier.

Philippine Merchandise Trade Performance (January 2025)

The latest figures showed the widest trade deficit in three months since the $5.81-billion deficit in October 2024.

PSA data showed that year on year, merchandise exports in January grew by 6.3% to $6.36 billion, surpassing the 6% growth projection set by the Development Budget and Coordination Committee (DBCC) this year.

Month on month, exports grew by 12.2%. This ended four straight months of export decline.

By value, it was the highest since the $6.75 billion in August 2024.

Imports went up by 10.8% year on year to $11.45 billion in January. Month on month, it grew 16.7%, ending two months of decline.

Imports growth also exceeded the 5% projection set by the DBCC. The value of imports was the highest in three months or since the $12 billion in October last year.

“The fact that it [electronics and semiconductors] has been negative for a number of months implies that the demand for our semiconductor, is not as hot as the newer, more powerful semiconductors in the world which is really used for AI industry,” George N. Manzano, economist from the University of Asia and the Pacific, said in a phone interview.

Electronic products, the country’s main export commodity as these account for more than half of exports in January, saw a 2.6% decline to $3.37 billion in January from the $3.46 billion in the same month in 2024.

Semiconductors, which accounts for almost 40% of total exports and three-fourths of electronic products that month, also contracted by 6.8% year on year to $2.52 billion.

These declines were offset by the double-digit increases seen in other manufactured goods (up by 66.6% to $471.07 million), coconut oil (up 80.3% to $249.05 million), and other mineral products (up by 33.1% to $247.09 million).

“The fact that our exports are also increasing, that’s also a good indicator,” Mr. Manzano said.

The United States remains the top destination of locally made goods in January, with exports valued at $1.13 billion, accounting for 17.7% of total export sales.

This was followed by Japan with $945.80 million (14.9%), Hong Kong with $722.81 million (11.4%), China with $645.57 million (10.1%), and Singapore with $266.48 million (4.2%).

Meanwhile, import of electronic products grew by 14.2% to $2.51 billion in January, while mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials went up by 7.1% to $1.62 billion.

Other import commodities that saw increases were transport equipment (up by 8.5% to $906.22 million), industrial machinery and equipment (up by 20% to $592.90 million), and iron and steel (up by 17.8% to $497.35 million).

China is still the biggest source of imports in January with $3.31 billion worth of goods, making up 28.9% of the total imports.

It was followed by Japan with $912.71 million (8% share), Indonesia with $892.95 million (7.8%), South Korea with $862.27 million (7.5%), and US with $690.81 million (6%).

George T. Barcelon, chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said in a phone interview that the country’s trade deficit has been increasing over the past few years.

“Locally, we are not producing enough competitive products for the local supplier or manufacturer to serve the market. And as such, it’s cheaper to import. We have quite a big deficit with all the world but also with the ASEAN countries. So those are gaps that must be filled,” Mr. Barcelon said.

“Because every time we have a trade deficit, in other words, it translates to giving jobs to countries outside, and the jobs are not here in our country,” he added.

Mr. Barcelon also mentioned the uncertainties brought about by the looming trade war by the US government under the Trump administration.

“One of the issues on the mind of businessmen is how our trade will go, because our biggest market is still primarily North America,” he said.

“When you’re uncertain, people will not really going to be eager to invest…there is not much investment since they’re waiting whether the trade war is going to actually happen,” he added in a mix of Filipino and English.

“So that’s like the biggest thing right now in the world economy, what the US will do. Because the US is such a big buyer of our exports,” he said.

In a research note, Chinabank Research said that outlook for the industry may remain bleak this year as ongoing efforts may materialize in the long run.

Chinabank Research added that a significant risk will arise if Mr. Trump proceeds with his plan to impose 25% tariffs on semiconductors this year.

It also said that the shortfall in trade deficit “could widen further this year, with major risk coming from increased uncertainties on global trade policy, as well as Trump’s plan to impose reciprocal tariffs as the US is the top destination for Philippine exports.”

Markets are preparing for the potential impact of the trade policies by US President Donald J. Trump, such as reciprocal tariffs on all countries that tax US imports.

Mr. Trump on Thursday will impose 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods starting on March 4, along with an additional 10% duty on Chinese imports of medicines, Reuters reported. Early in February, Mr. Trump imposed 10% levy on Chinese imports. — Kenneth H. Hernandez

[B-SIDE Podcast] How can a brand protect its reputation?

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What causes reputational damage? How can one mitigate the effects of it? What are ways companies can protect their reputation?

In this B-Side episode, BusinessWorld talks about these topics with R.G. W. Gabunada, a partner at Louder PH, a full-service agency, and the CMO of Mansmith and Fielders, a training and consultancy company.

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Interview by Patricia Mirasol
Audio editing by Jayson Mariñas

DOST eyes potential use of cinnamon, pili-based mosquito repellent

source: DOST-FPRDI

by Edg Adrian A. Eva, Reporter

A mosquito repellent made from forest products is being developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to support the country’s efforts against dengue. 

Residual byproducts from essential oil production, such as cinnamon bark, almaciga, and pili resin are being repurposed into incense cones and sticks as insect repellents by experts from the DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI).  

These materials naturally possess insect-repelling properties, according to DOST.  

Based on initial tests, including the “test cage method,” the DOST-FPRDI-formulated incense shows high potential for warding off mosquitoes and houseflies.  

They also analyzed the chemical components responsible for repelling insects.  

“May mga nakita at na-detect na chemical components na responsible for repelling these insects like yung creosol and furfural— na common na ginagamit for fungicide, pesticide, (and disinfectant), mga ganon [“We have identified and detected chemical components responsible for repelling these insects, such as creosol and furfural, which are commonly used as fungicides, pesticides, and disinfectants,” Ms. Florena B. Samiano, leader of the Institute’s Flavors and Fragrances from the Forest Technology Program (F3TP) said in an interview.  

Also, initial feedback indicated that the smoke produced by the incense is non-irritating to the eyes and nose and emits a pleasant smell, Ms. Samiano added.  

While initial studies show the DOST-FPRDI-formulated incense to be effective, further testing on sensory acceptability and industry-scale application are still recommended, Ms. Samiano said.  

“Usok pa lang yung tinest namin. It’s still recommended for further laboratory testing. Para mas safety na i-ano (gamitin) ng tao [We have only tested the smoke so far. Further laboratory testing is still recommended to ensure its safety for human use],” she furthered.  

Rico J. Cabangon, DOST-FPRDI Director said that the DOST continues to harness the potential of wood and non-wood products to address the country’s most pressing issues like dengue.  

“The Philippine forests are replete with natural resources that can help combat dengue and other viral diseases,” Mr. Cabangon said in a statement.  

As of February 21, the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 15,134 dengue cases from January 19 to February 15. This brings the total number of cases for the year to 43,732, a 56% increase from the same period last year.

 

Piloting the technology 

The DOST-FPRDI-formulated incense is set for pilot testing with industry partners in the second to third quarter of the year, Ms. Samiano said.  

They plan to introduce the technology in areas with essential oil extraction facilities, potentially in Zambales, Bacolod, and Bicol.   

Ms. Samiano said that sharing this technology would help partners repurpose a big chunk of raw materials left after the extraction process, which would otherwise go to waste.  

Unleashing Pandora’s Box: DeepSeek, LLMs, and the AI race

DeepSeek is a Chinese AI company that develops large language models, which is a type of AI program that can recognize and generate text, among other tasks. Its new AI model, R1, is said to rival the capabilities of leading AI models, while reportedly costing less to develop.

In this episode, BusinessWorld talks about LLMs, DeepSeek, and the AI arms race with Satnam Narang, a senior staff research engineer at Tenable Inc., a cybersecurity company.

Interview by Patricia Mirasol
Audio editing by Jayson Mariñas

Airline pilots surprised by Chinese live-fire warning near Australia, messages show

MARK OLSEN-UNSPLASH

 – Pilots first heard about a Chinese live-fire naval exercise near Australia last week when already in the air, receiving messages that forced some to change paths through a busy air corridor, satellite text messages to and from pilots seen by Reuters show.

The incident highlights how airlines are increasingly having to react at short notice to geopolitical disruptions and military hazards, such as missile and drone barrages between Israel and Iran last year.

It also shows how China’s military, in its first drills in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, is raising tensions by being more assertive across the Indo-Pacific region, according to Western defense analysts, including near Taiwan.

China has said it gave adequate warning to Australian and New Zealand authorities about the exercise.

Planes first heard about a live-fire drill when a Virgin Australia IPO-VIR.AX pilot picked up a Chinese navy broadcast on the 121.5 MHz emergency radio channel pilots use to communicate between planes at 9.58 a.m. Sydney time last Friday (2258 GMT on Thursday), according to Australian officials.

The pilot reported the broadcast to an air traffic controller, who passed the message to Australia’s military, according to Airservices Australia.

“At that stage we didn’t know whether it was a potential hoax or real,” said Peter Curran, deputy CEO of the air traffic control agency, at a parliamentary hearing this week.

Air traffic control started sending hazard alerts to nearby aircraft, including a Singapore Airlines SIAL.SI flight from Christchurch to Singapore and an Air New Zealand AIR.NZ flight from Auckland to Melbourne around 11:30 a.m., according to previously unreported text messages.

Half an hour later, the Air New Zealand pilots told the ground: “Hi, lots of chatter on 121.5 including Chinese navy. Same pos[ition] and ht/radius as you advised. Cheers.”

An airline dispatcher told the Air New Zealand pilots 20 minutes later there was “unannounced live firing in Tasman to the nth of you by Chinese military.”

“Below is all we know. Broadcast on 121.5… just FYI we have been notified of a Chinese live firing exercise as follows. Posn. 37S 15702E. Radius 40nm. SFC-45000. Until 0300Z. No ack required.”

The messages were sent between aircraft and ground stations using an Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) system.

 

LEGAL BUT ‘IRRESPONSIBLE’

Civil aircraft have been shot down by military assets highlighting the risk of live fire, including Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, a Ukrainian flight departing Tehran in 2020 and a suspected incident involving an Azerbaijani jet over Russia in December.

The Chinese warships were beyond Australia’s 200 nautical mile (370 km) exclusive economic zone on the high seas, where countries routinely do live-fire exercises. China has said the warning it provided complied with international law, which Australia has acknowledged.

However, Australia and New Zealand have said the drills fell short of best practice for notifications.

“In that sense, it was irresponsible,” Australia’s defense force chief Admiral David Johnston told a parliamentary committee.

Pilots are typically alerted to military drills, rocket launches and other airspace issues through Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs, which are usually filed at least 24 hours in advance.

“We/re don/t have a NOTAM in effect for Chinese exercise. Have not seen or heard any of that,” an airline dispatcher told two American Airlines AAL.O flights approaching Sydney and Brisbane from the U.S. at 3:37 a.m. and 3:39 a.m. on Saturday morning.

Steve Cornell, a Qantas QAN.AX captain and a vice president of the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA), said the unexpected incident would have increased the workload on pilots and air traffic control.

“The issue with this one was the short notice, or no notice effectively, really,” Cornell told Reuters. “All of a sudden it came to the attention of the pilots and they had to self-manage maneuvering around this zone.”

Routings were changed for 49 flights last Friday, Airservices said.

Eight hours after Airservices first heard of the live-fire warning, air traffic sent a hazard alert to an Emirates flight from Christchurch to Sydney, but said they have “reports that the activity has finished”.

However a second live-fire warning came on Saturday afternoon, New Zealand’s defense ministry reported.

On Sunday, an airline dispatcher told a Virgin Australia flight about to depart Queenstown, New Zealand for Brisbane: “FYI the govt has confirmed Chinese navy now well south in Southern Ocean”.

The ships are now south of Australia and heading west, New Zealand’s military said on Friday. – Reuters

Taiwan tells China World War Two shows aggression will end in failure

CHINESE AND TAIWANESE flags are seen in this illustration, Aug. 6, 2022. — REUTERS

 – Taiwan’s defense ministry said on Friday that the history of World War Two shows aggression and expansion will end in failure, responding to Chinese comments that the island would come into Beijing’s hands sooner or later.

Democratically governed Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has repeatedly complained of stepped-up Chinese military activity, including drills this week off the island’s southwestern coast that Beijing said were “routine”.

On Thursday, China’s defense ministry, asked about Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang military exercises later this year, said Taiwan was “like a mantis trying to stop a chariot” and “sooner or later we will take you back”.

Taiwan’s defense ministry said in a statement that China has recently been escalating its military threats in the region, destroying the status quo of regional stability, and has become the biggest “troublemaker” in the international community.

“This year marks the 80th anniversary of (the end of) World War Two, and history has proven that any form of aggression and expansion will end in failure,” it said. “The actions of the Communist military in recent years are repeating the mistakes of the invaders and pushing China towards defeat.”

Taiwan’s military is strengthening its forces to safeguard sovereignty, ensure freedom and democracy, and collaborate to maintain security and stability in the region, the ministry added.

Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the Taiwanese people can decide their future.

World War Two, and the full-scale Japanese invasion of China in 1937 that preceded the start of the world war in 1939, is a touchy historical subject in both China and Taiwan.

The Chinese government at the time was the Republic of China and its forces did much of the fighting against Japan.

The republican government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a war with Mao Zedong’s Communists, and Beijing today largely downplays the role of the republican forces.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has accepted Russia’s invitation to attend the commemorations of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, Russian media said this month.

Taiwan was a Japanese colony during the war, and some Taiwanese fought on the side of the Japanese army.

Speaking at a separate event in Taipei to mark a 1947 uprising against Chinese republican troops in Taiwan, known as the “228 Incident“, President Lai Ching-te said China has not given up its attempts to take Taiwan by force.

“The greatest threat to Taiwan’s sovereignty, Taiwan’s democracy and Taiwan’s people being their own master, comes from China,” he said. – Reuters

Shorter tenor Asian bonds can combat tariff-led volatility

BLOOMBERG

Emerging Asian bonds with shorter tenors may be less exposed to any volatility in US rates, relative to their longer-dated peers, due to interest-rate cuts in local markets.

A Bloomberg analysis showed shorter-term emerging Asian debt moved less in tandem with two-year US yields compared with the region’s 10-year bonds. That means front-end bonds of five Asian nations can better withstand any possible tariff-induced resurgence in US yields as local policy makers diverge from the Federal Reserve and cut interest rates.

The relative attractiveness of shorter-dated emerging Asian bonds is coming into view as investors grapple with incremental tariff headlines. US President Donald Trump made contradictory remarks on the timing of Canada and Mexico levies, before a White House official said the deadline remains on March 4. A report on possible reciprocal tariffs is also due in April.

“The probability of US tariff escalation remains high as the trade review on China nears completion and reciprocal tariff policies are evaluated,” said Rajeev De Mello, portfolio manager at Gama Asset Management SA.

He recommends investors to position along shorter-to-mid maturity interest-rate swaps or local-currency bond curves as monetary policy across emerging Asian economies shifts toward easing.

The possibility of US tariffs on Canada and Mexico had pushed up two-year US yields earlier this month as traders bet the move would fuel inflation and prevent further interest-rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. Even though US yields have fallen in recent sessions, Fed officials like Raphael Bostic and Thomas Barkin this week signaled that US rates will need to remain restrictive to tame inflation.

The correlation between the two-year US yield and 10-year Malaysian debt stands at 0.5, while that between 2-year Treasury yields and the three-year ringgit bonds was 0.2, as per Bloomberg analysis. That implies bigger downside for Malaysia’s longer-dated notes should escalation in global trade tensions push up US rates.

“Front-end rates offer somewhat lower exposure” to shifting market pricing around tariff risks, supported by continuation of interest-rate cuts among emerging market central banks this year, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. strategists including Kamakshya Trivedi and Danny Suwanapruti write in a Feb. 12 note.

Bank of Thailand unexpectedly trimmed interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday. Bank of Korea also made a similar rate reduction, with BOK Governor Rhee Chang-yong signaling one or two more quarter-point cuts this year.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas stuck to its guidance for a cumulative 50 basis points of rate easing this year, and said it will slash reserve requirement ratio for big banks by 200 basis points next month. Interest rate cuts are favorable for sovereign bonds, particularly notes on the shorter end of the yield curve.

Shorter dated yields in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, India and South Korea have declined by an average 15 basis points, while 10-year yields have slipped by an average of six basis points this year. — Bloomberg

Teleperformance uses AI to ‘neutralize’ Indian accents of agents

The technology is available for Indian and Filipino accents and is being tuned for other regions, including Latin America. Photographer: Taylor Weidman/Bloomberg

Teleperformance SE, the largest call-center operator in the world, is rolling out an artificial intelligence system that softens English-speaking Indian workers’ accents in real time in a move the company claims will make them more understandable.

The technology, called accent translation, coupled with background noise cancellation, is being deployed in call centers in India, where workers provide customer support to some of Teleperformance’s international clients. Teleperformance provides outsourced customer support and content moderation to global companies including Apple Inc., ByteDance Ltd.’s TikTok and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.

“When you have an Indian agent on the line, sometimes it’s hard to hear, to understand,” Deputy-Chief Executive Officer Thomas Mackenbrock said in an interview with Bloomberg. The technology can “neutralize the accent of the Indian speaker with zero latency,” he said. This “creates more intimacy, increases the customer satisfaction, and reduces the average handling time: it is a win-win for both parties.”

The company declined to disclose which clients are using the technology.

The roll-out of accent translation is part of a bigger push by Teleperformance to invest up to €100 million ($104 million) in AI partnerships this year, the company said in an earnings statement on Thursday. The technology was developed by Palo Alto-based startup Sanas, in which Teleperformance invested $13 million earlier this year. Under the terms of the deal, Teleperformance becomes the exclusive reseller of Sanas’ technology to its clients.

The rise of AI chatbots has led to investor jitters about the sustainability of the human call-center model. Last year, Teleperformance shares fell to their lowest since late 2016 after Swedish fintech company Klarna Bank AB said its AI assistant, powered by OpenAI, was doing the equivalent work of 700 full-time agents. Teleperformance has sought to allay shareholder concerns by using AI to enhance rather than replace employees, which totaled 490,000 as of the end of 2023.

The French company is using AI across the business, including using AI co-pilots to coach new employees and transcribing calls for quality control.

Sanas, the firm that Teleperformance is using to offer this accent-softening service to clients, is one of the AI upstarts blurring the line between where generative AI tech starts and the human ends. The firm’s software also eliminates background noise — like crowing roosters, ambulance sirens and office chatter. That might sound like an aid to agents, rather than a tool that might displace them.

But it carries a risk for customer service bases such as the Philippines that built market-leading positions by cultivating a preponderance of high-quality English speakers. The tools may also be perceived as taking away from workers’ cultural identities and the authenticity of conversations.

Sanas said it developed the technology with a goal of “reducing accent-based discrimination,” according to its website. The technology is available for Indian and Filipino accents and is being tuned for other regions, including Latin America, where Teleperformance has many workers supporting US-based customers, Mackenbrock said.

“AI will be ubiquitous, it is already today,” Mackenbrock said. “But in order to build connections, customer experience, branding awareness, the human element will be incredibly important.”

Teleperformance’s approach appears to be paying off: Teleperformance is forecasting 3% to 5% revenue growth this year, it said in the earnings statement. Fourth-quarter revenue was €2.68 billion, up 12% from last year or 4% on a pro forma basis.

Earlier this month, Klarna’s CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski posted on X that Klarna “just had an epiphany,” saying that “in a world of AI nothing will be as valuable as humans.” Klarna would continue to invest in its AI support, but use cost savings to make sure that “the human service part of Klarna becomes even better,” he added.

Teleperformance is also making a push to provide services to the tech giants building AI models, Mackenbrock said.

“Whether it is OpenAI, or any AI model in the world, it needs human support for training,” he said. This includes creating, testing and labeling data. — Bloomberg

Canada watchdog probing X’s use of personal data in AI models’ training

JULIAN CHRIST-UNSPLASH

 – Canada’s privacy watchdog has opened an investigation into X, the social media platform owned by billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk, on whether its use of Canadians’ personal data to train artificial intelligence (AI) models broke privacy rules.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada said in a statement on Thursday that it launched the probe after receiving a complaint.

“The investigation will focus on the platform’s compliance with federal privacy law with respect to its collection, use, and disclosure of Canadians’ personal information to train artificial intelligence models,” the statement said.

The office did not provide any additional details about the nature of the complaint.

An opposition New Democratic Party lawmaker, Brian Masse, said he had written to the privacy commissioner this week calling for an investigation into X.

“I’m pleased to see the privacy commissioner agree to launch an investigation into X’s use of Canadians’ data,” Mr. Masse said in a statement. “Transparency and sunlight are crucial at a time when algorithms could be manipulated to spread misinformation,” he added.

X did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The investigation into X comes at a time of increased tension between Canada and the United States over trade, border security and a digital services tax on U.S. technology firms.

President Donald Trump, who has tasked Mr. Musk with downsizing the U.S. government, vowed earlier on Thursday to follow through on proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods from March 4 because deadly drugs were still pouring into the U.S. from those countries.

Mr. Musk, CEO of electric vehicle maker Tesla, is also the founder of artificial intelligence startup xAI.

Following Mr. Musk’s 2022 purchase of Twitter and its subsequent renaming as X, the social media platform made xAI’s Grok chatbot available to its users.

Grok is an AI assistant that helps users complete tasks, including answering questions, solving problems and brainstorming, X says on its website.

Last week, xAI introduced Grok-3, the latest iteration of its chatbot, which is being rolled out immediately to Premium+ subscribers on X.

Generative AI models such as Grok require lots of data to train and develop.

Canada’s privacy legislation set out rules for how private-sector organizations can collect, use, and disclose personal information in the course of business, the privacy commissioner has said on its website. They include rules around consent, disclosure, retention and safeguards. – Reuters

AI robots may hold key to nursing Japan’s aging population

RAWPIXEL-FREEPIK

 – Recently in Tokyo an AI-driven robot leaned over a man lying on his back and gently put a hand on his knee and another on a shoulder and rolled him onto his side — a maneuver used to change diapers or prevent bedsores in the elderly.

The 150-kg (330 lb) artificial intelligence-driven humanoid robot called AIREC is a prototype future “caregiver” for Japan’s rapidly ageing population and chronic shortage of aged-care workers.

“Given our highly advanced ageing society and declining births, we will be needing robots’ support for medical and elderly care, and in our daily lives,” said Shigeki Sugano, the Waseda University professor leading AIREC’s research with government funding.

Japan is the world’s most advanced ageing society with a falling birth rate, dwindling working-age population and restrictive immigration policies.

Its “baby boomer” generation, a bulging cohort created by a spike in post-war child births from 1947 to 1949, all turned at least 75 by the end of 2024, exacerbating the severe shortage of aged care workers.

The number of babies born in 2024 fell for a ninth straight year, by 5% to a record low 720,988, data from Japan’s health ministry showed on Thursday.

The nursing sector, meanwhile, is struggling to fill jobs.

It had just one applicant for every 4.25 jobs available in December, far worse than the country’s overall jobs-to-applicants ratio of 1.22, according to government data.

As the government looks overseas to help fill the gap, the number of foreign workers in the sector has grown over the years, but stood only at around 57,000 in 2023, or less than 3% of the overall workforce in the field.

“We are barely keeping our heads above water and in 10, 15 years, the situation will be quite bleak,” said Takashi Miyamoto, a director at Zenkoukai, an operator of elderly-care facilities. “Technology is our best chance to avert that.”

Zenkoukai has actively embraced new technologies, but the use of robots has been limited so far.

At one facility in Tokyo, a bug-eyed, doll-sized robot assists a care worker by singing pop songs and leading residents in simple stretching exercises, while human caretakers busily tended to other pressing tasks.

One of the most practical uses of nursing care technologies currently is as sleep sensors placed under residents’ mattresses to monitor their sleeping conditions, cutting back on humans doing the rounds at night.

Although humanoid robots like Tesla’s Optimus are being developed for the nearer future, Sugano said robots that can safely interact physically with humans require next-level precision and intelligence.

“Humanoid robots are being developed the world over. But they rarely come into direct contact with humans. They just do household chores or some tasks on factory floors,” said Sugano, who is also president of the Robotics Society of Japan.

“Once humans enter the picture, issues like safety and how to coordinate a robot’s moves with each individual’s spring up.”

Sugano’s AIREC robot is capable of helping a person sit up or put on socks, cook scrambled eggs, fold laundry and some other useful tasks around the house.

But Sugano does not expect AIREC to be ready for use in nursing-care and medical facilities until around 2030 and at a hefty price of no less than 10 million yen ($67,000) initially.

Takaki Ito, a care worker at a Zenkoukai facility, is cautiously optimistic about the future of robotic nursing.

“If we have AI-equipped robots that can grasp each care receiver’s living conditions and personal traits, there may be a future for them to directly provide nursing care,” he said.

“But I don’t think robots can understand everything about nursing care. Robots and humans working together to improve nursing care is a future I am hoping for.” – Reuters