Artificial Intelligence: The Next Frontier for Asian Companies

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AI is key to unlocking future corporate and economic competitiveness according to Lenovo 

The aggressive adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) by businesses in Asia continues to grow. Just last year, Frost & Sullivan predicted that the continent will soon overtake U.S. in the use of AI in the workplace. In 2016, Asia posted total AI investments close to the $200 billion mark.

Paving the way for this continued acceleration is Lenovo, the leading global technology brand. Earlier this year, Lenovo announced that it would invest $1.2 billion in AI, big data and IoT research and development over the next four years, reinforcing the company’s commitment to AI as a critical enabler for future prosperity and growth.

“AI is fast becoming an affordable and indispensable tool to solve business challenges and identify market opportunities. AI provides a company more freedom for business development and innovation as it provides content, services, and experiences in a more immersive and innovative way,” said Michael Ngan, General Manager, Lenovo Philippines.

Recent developments have made AI — the process of training a machine to learn in a way which resembles a human brain — more flexible and easier to use. A case in point is the prevalence of applications and smart assistants that can perform AI-based tasks based on user commands.

During the 3rd Lenovo Tech World Summit held recently, the company announced product concepts of smart devices, some of which include CAVA (Context Aware Virtual Assistant), a digital assistant that uses deep learning-based face recognition systems and natural language understanding technologies, and the Xiaole platform that is designed to help businesses create personalized customer interactions for the purpose of nurturing relationships.

A solution for every department

Citing a research study by Accenture which reveals that AI can boost labor productivity by up to 40 percent, Lenovo affirms that AI’s ability to fundamentally change the way how work is being done in every facet of the company, not just in IT, as the main reason for AI’s surging popularity among businesses in Asia.

With data being the currency in today’s digital age, companies can utilize AI to gather crucial customer insight for a better “humanized” customer experience. AI is enabling companies to more effectively engage their employees with a greater social presence and provide immediate responses to customer queries, all in a personalized format. AI-based chatbots are now being used to handle initial contact with customers, taking care of simple tasks and allowing human operators to handle the more complex interactions.

“AI makes it possible to quickly and effectively collect and analyze data,” Ngan explained. “At Lenovo, for example, we use crucial data provided by machine learning to better understand our customers’ views about our products as well as what features they hope to see in our future offerings. Using AI as a tool to strengthen our customer-centric approach to product development has allowed us to establish ourselves as a global leader in PC development.”

AI is not a trend that is expected to fade any time soon. The AI market is expected to top $16.06 billion by 2022, and it’s high time for companies to adapt. “An ‘intelligent workplace’ can make even the most complex of tasks easier for everyone, regardless of the industry. With AI, a company can revolutionize productivity, which in turn can lead to a better overall experience for customers and therefore having a huge advantage against competitors,” said Ngan.

‘Teen Wolf’ Star Tyler Hoechlin and More Guests Leap Into APCC 2017

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Sharpen your fangs and get your capes out, as AsiaPOP Comicon Manila 2017 (APCC Manila) unveils its next celebrity guest—no less than Hollywood actor Tyler Hoechlin—who is set to soar at APCC Manila, slated from August 25 to 27 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Tyler Hoechlin plays tragic werewolf Derek Hale in the MTV series Teen Wolf. He also stunned audiences last year with his appearance as the iconic Superman in the CW series Supergirl.

An established performer who had been acting since he was nine, Hoechlin's first big break came when he played the timid Michael Sullivan, Jr. in the crime film Road to Perdition. This landed him several nominations and awards, as well as the role of Martin Brewer in the long-running series 7th Heaven.

The rest was history, as he made appearance after appearance in a wide variety of movies and television series: horror flicks such as 2008’s Solstice, comedies such as 2011’s Hall Pass, and appearances in the likes of CSI Miami, Lincoln Heights, My Boys, and Castle.

“It is great to have Tyler Hoechlin as one of our main talents at AsiaPOP Comicon Manila 2017 as he resonates very well with our target pop-culture Filipino fans who have loved him immensely in Teen Wolf, while he has also made an impact in the iconic character of Superman in Supergirl TV series” said Abdulla Mahmood, Director - Marketing and International Business Development, while further adding “It’s a fantastic opportunity for Tyler Hoechlin’s die-hard fans to meet and greet him in intimate session during the event in Manila”.

Hoechlin will next be seen in the global sensational series, Fifty Shades Freed, the third installment in the bestselling Fifty Shades series and stars opposite Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan.

He is slated to appear in the Peter Hutchings-directed series Departures, alongside of Asa Butterfield, Nina Dobrev, and Maisie Williams.

Also joining the fray is another veteran of the comics industry, Rodney Ramos. Having been a professional penciller and inker for more than 15 years, Ramos' skills have graced the pages of various titles across major studios Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Marvel U.K., Valiant, Acclaim, Malibu, and Continuity Comics.

His inking credits include the critically-acclaimed Transmetropolitan, Spider-Man, X-Men, Batman, Wonder Woman, and many more. 

The two join guest Ray Fisher, who plays DC’s Cyborg in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League, for a weekend of unforgettably awesome experiences for fans of movies, TV, comics, music, cosplay, and everything in between!

Catch them alongside other big stars for meet-and-greet sessions, autograph signing sessions, and once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities at APCC Manila 2017, with ticket prices and schedule to be announced soon.

For APCC Manila 2017 entry tickets, they are now available via SM Tickets website, https://smtickets.com/, or at all SM Tickets outlets, with ticket prices at PhP600 (one-day pass), PhP900 (two-day pass), and PhP1,100 (three-day pass). All these will give the ticketholder access to stage activities, performances, and the main show floor. The event is free for children aged five years and below for all days, but a valid identification is required for verification purposes before entering the show floor.

A limited edition Collector’s Pack is available at a discounted price of PhP 3,500. This special offer is available for purchase at SM Tickets online (https://smtickets.com/events/view/5868) and SM Tickets outlets while supplies last. Collector's Pack includes 1/12 Scale Iron Man “Shotgun” Collectible Figure, 1x APCC 3-Day Pass, 1x Special Edition Captain America Comic Book, and 1x APCC 2016 Tote Bag. 

 

Also available is the Ultimate Merch Bundle, priced at PhP 1,600. The bundle includes 1x APCC 3Day Pass, 1x Special Edition Captain America Comic Book, 1x APCC 2016 Tote Bag, 1x Sticker Set, 1x APCC 2017 Cotton T-Shirt (S-XL), 2x APCC Lanyards, and 1x Star Wars Lanyard. This bundle is limited to 100 sets only, and is available at SM Tickets online, and at all SM Ticket outlets near you! For more information and event updates, visit www.asiapopcomicon.com/manila, or follow their official Facebook Page www.facebook.com/apccmanila, Twitter account @AsiaPOPComicon, and Instagram account @asiapopcomicon.

New Nokia 105 Now on Sale in Philippines at 850 Php

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 New Nokia 105 Features a Larger Screen and Tactile Keymat All for an Even Better Price

The award-winning Nokia 105 now features a sculpted design, larger screen and an all new keymat for better usability, as well as outstanding battery performance

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, announced the third generation Nokia 105 is available in Philippines nationwide at Php 850.

With well over 200 million Nokia 105s sold to date around the world, this award winning handset now features an all new sculpted design, outstanding battery life, and improved usability thanks to its larger screen size and new tactile island keymat. All of these enhancements come at an even lower price than before, making it more affordable than ever to get connected. With more than 1.3 billion feature phone users around the world, many from markets in Asia and Africa[i], the reliability and excellent value the Nokia 105 offers is set to ensure yet more people around the world can get connected.

Designed to take on everyday life

Clearly inspired by the Nokia phone design heritage, the new contoured style of the Nokia 105 makes it a superb fit for your hand with a beautiful, natural shape. Featuring inherent colour throughout its polycarbonate casing, minimising the visual impact of knocks and bumps, the Nokia 105 is built to take on everyday life, giving you the quality, reliability and robust design you would expect from a Nokia phone. The new island keymat features separated keys for improved usability, and the larger 1.8-inch screen delivers a better viewing experience when playing favourite games, like Snake Xenzia, which comes preloaded.

Taking full advantage of the larger screen, the Nokia 105 also comes preloaded with two try and buy games – Doodle Jump and Crossy Road[ii].

Outstanding performance

With up to 15.7 hours[iii]talk time and a month long standbyiii, the Nokia 105 lets you talk from sunrise to sunset on just one charge. And with enough storage space for up to 500 text messages and up to 2,000 contacts, you’ll have all your essentials in your pocket.

The Nokia 105 also features the ever popular LED torchlight – simply press the up key twice to quickly turn the torch on and off.

“We understand that people who are looking for great feature phones are motivated by different needs. But when it comes to phone features the needs are the same; long battery life, robust build quality, and high quality voice functionality,” commented Juho Sarvikas, Chief Product Officer, HMD Global. “Add to that classic, timeless looks and you have what is simply a great phone – the Nokia 105.”

“We are excited to introduce the new Nokia 105 to Philippines at our most accessible price point ever. With more than 4 billion people remaining offline[iv]and unable to benefit from the social and economic development opportunities of the internet, simply getting connected by voice and text is still such an important step for many people around the world,” commented Shannon Mead, Phillippines Country Manager, HMD Global. “More than 400 million feature phones were sold globally in 2016[v]. We cannot underestimate the need and benefit of being connected and we are dedicated to delivering devices that can enable many people around the world to expand their horizon.”

Available in Dual and Single SIM variants[vi], the Nokia 105 also features an inbuilt FM Radio and charges using a standard Micro USB cable (USB 2.0).

Retailing at Php 850 for the dual SIM variant, the Nokia 105 will be available in white and black – each colour with a matte finish.