Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan – Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory (SFIT) has ranked first in Asia-Pacific and second globally in the Rising Star category of fDi Intelligence’s Global Free Zones of the Year Awards 2026, becoming the first financial hub from Central Asia to win.

The judging panel highly praised Tamchy SFIT’s long-term strategy for attracting residents across its priority sectors. The judges also highlighted the jurisdiction’s extensive package of business incentives, including a zero corporate income tax rate for 49 years and unrestricted profit repatriation.

fDi Intelligence is the Financial Times’ specialist division for foreign direct investment (FDI). Its annual Global Free Zones of the Year Awards benchmark free zones around the world across a number of key categories.

The Rising Star category, in particular, recognises the strongest newly established zones, judged on their potential, early evidence of investor interest and the strategic advantages they offer investors.

Ayaz Baetov, First Deputy Chairman of Tamchy SFIT’s Management Council, welcomed the recognition as a significant milestone for the project.

“Being ranked first in Asia-Pacific and second globally so early in Tamchy SFIT’s development is an important international endorsement of our vision. We are creating a next-generation financial jurisdiction that combines the certainty of established international legal practices with the speed, flexibility and digital infrastructure that global businesses increasingly expect”, Baetov said.

Established by law in July 2025, Tamchy SFIT was formally inaugurated by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on 3 July 2026, less than a year later. Built from the ground up, the jurisdiction operates on the principles of English common law, with its own financial regulator, an International Dispute Resolution Centre and a single-window digital registrar. A special tax regime guarantees a 0% rate on profits, dividends, capital gains and VAT for 49 years, and allows 100% foreign ownership. The model is designed to accommodate a wide range of businesses, from funds, family offices and holding companies to international trading firms, fintech businesses and other innovation-driven enterprises.

The 6,000-hectare territory on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul is being developed as an integrated ecosystem that brings together business, living and wellness. A Grade A business centre is already operational, offering modern office spaces and meeting facilities. Issyk-Kul International Airport is within walking distance of the business district. Five more buildings, including a second business centre for residents and two office buildings, are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

The first residents that registered at Tamchy SFIT at its launch included companies from Switzerland, South Korea, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates. More than 30 further companies are currently completing registration, fully benefitting from the digital one-stop-shop system.

Contact:

Azat Asambayev, Tamchy SFIT Press Office Representative

tamchysfit.com

+ 996 (224) 111116

press@tamchysfit.com

About Tamchy SFIT

Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory (SFIT) is a new international financial jurisdiction on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul in the Kyrgyz Republic, inaugurated in July 2026. Built on the principles of English common law, with its own financial regulator, an independent court and a digital one-stop shop, it offers a special tax regime for 49 years and 100% foreign ownership. Positioned at the intersection of the five EAEU economies and the Eurasian corridor, Tamchy SFIT aims to host around 4,000 resident companies and create more than 10,000 jobs by 2035.

Hamilton, Bermuda, Oct. 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — STS Digital, a Bermuda Monetary Authority regulated principal trading firm specialised in institutional digital asset derivatives and structured products, has been named North America’s Best Digital Assets Trading Platform/Venue by Euromoney, recognising the firm’s continued development of institutional-grade digital asset trading infrastructure.

The award marks another significant milestone for STS Digital, following a series of industry recognitions over the past year, including its recent Digital Asset Provider of the Year award from FOW.

The Euromoney recognition comes as STS Digital continues to expand its institutional trading capabilities, combining deep liquidity, exotic and vanilla options and structured products with capital-efficient trading solutions and robust risk management.

Over the past year, STS Digital has introduced several major initiatives designed to address the evolving requirements of institutional market participants. These include a strategic partnership with Clear Street, the introduction of cross-asset portfolio margin across eligible spot, options and structured product positions, and the launch of its Quantitative Investment Strategies (QIS) platform, including its inaugural strategy, Smart Bitcoin.

Together, these developments demonstrate the firm’s commitment to providing institutions with a comprehensive trading ecosystem capable of supporting increasingly sophisticated digital asset strategies.

“Being recognised by Euromoney as North America’s Best Digital Assets Trading Platform/Venue is an important achievement for STS Digital and reflects the progress we have made in building institutional-grade trading infrastructure. Institutional participants are demanding greater sophistication, deeper liquidity and more efficient ways to manage their digital asset exposure. Our focus has been on delivering those capabilities through a unified platform that combines execution, derivatives, structured products and risk management. This award is a testament to the dedication of our team and the trust our clients place in us.” – Maxime Seiler, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of STS Digital. 

Expanding Institutional Trading Capabilities

STS Digital provides institutional and professional clients with access to more than 400 digital assets across spot markets, vanilla and exotic options, and structured products, through a unified platform spanning UI, API and voice trading channels.

Operating as a principal counterparty, the firm provides institutional and professional clients with a single credit relationship and access to liquidity across its product suite, helping simplify institutional trading operations and counterparty risk management.

In August 2026, STS Digital introduced a cross-asset portfolio margin for eligible institutional clients following completion of the Bermuda Monetary Authority’s material-change process. The framework enables eligible positions and collateral across spot, options and structured products to be assessed within a unified risk framework, supporting improved capital efficiency while maintaining rigorous risk controls.

The company has also continued to strengthen its institutional market infrastructure through strategic relationships with Clear Street and BitGo, enhancing connectivity across trading, liquidity, custody and settlement.

In parallel, STS Digital launched its Quantitative Investment Strategies platform, providing professional and institutional clients with access to rules-based, systematically executed  bilateral OTC strategies.. Its inaugural strategy, Smart Bitcoin, is designed to provide systematically executed bitcoin exposure through a defined volatility framework.

“Digital asset markets are entering a new phase of institutional development, where the quality of trading infrastructure is becoming just as important as access to liquidity. Institutions increasingly expect the same level of sophistication, capital efficiency, and risk management that they have come to rely on in traditional financial markets. We believe our continued investment in derivatives, structured products and integrated trading solutions positions STS Digital to meet those expectations as the market evolves.”- Gideon Hyams, Co-Founder and Chairman of STS Digital

Continued Industry Recognition

The Euromoney award adds to a growing list of industry accolades for STS Digital, reflecting the firm’s continued investment in institutional digital asset markets.

Most recently, STS Digital was named Digital Asset Provider of the Year by FOW, following three previous industry awards in less than one year. The firm has also been recognised for Best Derivatives Trading Solution at the TradingTech Insight Awards USA 2026 and received the Marketing Innovation (Asia) award at the inaugural WealthBriefing Innovation in Marketing Awards.

These recognitions reflect the breadth of STS Digital’s capabilities, spanning derivatives trading, institutional liquidity, structured products solutions and market infrastructure. For STS Digital, the latest award represents further validation of its strategy to bridge the gap between traditional financial market infrastructure and the evolving digital asset ecosystem.

About STS Digital

STS Digital Ltd. is a regulated principal trading firm specialising in digital asset derivatives and structured products, providing institutional-grade market access to professional clients and financial institutions. Clients can trade more than 400 tokens across vanilla and exotic options, spot, and structured products through a unified platform spanning UI, API and voice channels. Founded by derivatives veterans, STS Digital delivers deep liquidity, competitive pricing,  and rigorous risk management to ensure a seamless trading experience.

STS Digital Ltd. is licensed by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA), holding a DABA Class F Licence. The BMA is an internationally recognised financial regulator, an active member of the IAIS, GIFCS and GIICS, and participates in FSB and OECD-related forums and committees.

STS Digital is backed by leading industry investors including CMT Digital, Kraken’s parent Payward, Arrington Capital, Strobe Ventures, F-Prime and BitRock Capital.

Website: https://www.stsdigital.io/

Media Contacts

Karen Bertoli
Chief Marketing Officer
E: karen@stsdigital.io
T: +1 (305) 216 4190

Disclaimer

The content provided is for general informational purposes only and shall not be construed as financial, investment, legal, tax or any other professional advice. No representations or warranties are made, and nothing herein creates any contractual obligations, advisory relationship or liability. STS Digital Ltd. is regulated and supervised by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA). Client acceptance is limited to professional and institutional clients and subject to prior onboarding and satisfactory KYC verification.

CONTACT: karen(a)stsdigital.io

Network now spans 642 cities region-wide, including 18 new country markets across the Nordics, Central Europe and the Balkans.

Top 10 cities: London, Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Milan, Brussels, Berlin, Rome, Amsterdam and Lisbon.

Top 10 countries: United Kingdom, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Switzerland and Sweden.

Global network surges 235% year-to-date to 7,600+ locations in 126 countries.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hotdesk.com, an independent flexible workspace marketplace, today announced the expansion of its European footprint to 2,078 locations across 38 countries, representing 192% growth from 712 locations in 20 countries at the beginning of the year.

The expansion spans 642 cities region-wide, establishing coverage across nearly every major city on the European continent, with 18 new country entries across the Nordics, Central Europe and the Balkans. It’s part of a global network that has surged 235% since the start of 2026 to 7,600+ locations across 126 countries and 2,100+ cities.

What This Means

Hotdesk.com connects companies and individuals to co-working spaces, serviced offices, and flexible workspace through a unified booking platform. The European expansion gives customers access to more than 2,000 locations across major metro areas, spanning desks, meeting rooms, and private offices, from hourly to annual terms, plus enterprise packages for employee mobility. As an asset-light marketplace, Hotdesk.com does not hold leases on the spaces it lists — each space is owned and operated by an independent host or operator.

“What excites us about this expansion isn’t the number of cities — it’s the people in them: a business meeting in London, a founder building something in Lisbon’s startup scene, or someone who needs a desk for a week in a city she’s never worked from before. Hotdesk exists for all of them, to access workspaces on-demand and belong, everywhere,” said Mohamed Khaled, Founder & CEO of Hotdesk.

“Our European network nearly tripled this year without adding a single lease to our balance sheet,” said Giles Heyring, President of Hotdesk. “That’s the advantage of an asset-light, rapidly scalable tech company that doesn’t hold property.”

“Spain’s strength in this expansion traces back to its position as our first market in Europe, which gave us an early foothold,” added Mohamed ElSarrag, Co-founder & COO of Hotdesk.

About Hotdesk.com

Hotdesk.com is an independent flexible workspace marketplace operating in 126 countries and 2,194 cities worldwide. The platform connects businesses and individuals to co-working spaces and serviced offices through a unified booking experience. Its enterprise product, HotdeskONE, powers multi-city workspace programs for global companies, while HotdeskOS equips flexible workspace owners and operators with the tools to grow and manage their spaces. For more information, visit www.hotdesk.com.

Media Contact

Public Relations: pr@hotdesk.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aecce48f-d8f4-422f-9b46-d1de5a3c0651

Source: CNBC

Source: CNBC

Source: CNBC

Launching October 22 on Nintendo Switch 2!

KYOTO, JAPAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 October 2026 – Q-Games has announced that it will publish Beyond the Dark: Nightwatch, the upcoming horror game from French developer Atlantis Studio, across Asia, and has released a new trailer. It is a two-player asymmetric co-op horror game built around tension, communication, observation and trust.

Latest Trailer
Nintendo Store *Available starting October 22

Players must combine information from their individual perspectives as they work together to escape a haunted house far from civilization. Communication is essential for survival. By sharing information and coordinating their actions, players must overcome the horrors that await them and find a way out. The game also features Troy Baker, the renowned voice actor known for his roles in The Last of Us and Death Stranding. The Nintendo Store page for Asia is scheduled to go live on Thursday, October 22, with the game launching on Nintendo Switch 2 the same day.

ABOUT THE GAME
Beyond the Dark: Nightwatch is a two-player horror experience. One player, the Explorer, enters the House in first person, searching for clues, solving mysteries and trying to escape before Gloam finds them. The other, the Overseer, stays behind the cameras, using surveillance systems, documents, and tactical tools to track what is happening and guide their partner.

The game supports couch co-op, GameShare, Local Network, and Online Play. Using GameShare, two players can play together even if the other console is either a Nintendo Switch 2 or a Nintendo Switch.

GAME FEATURES

• A Two-Player Horror Experience: Built exclusively for two players, communication is essential for survival.
• Asymmetric Exploration: Combine different perspectives to uncover the House’s secrets and stay alive.
• An Oppressive Environment: Explore a claustrophobic house filled with hidden threats.
• Communication Drives Escape: Share clear instructions, warn your partner of danger and coordinate actions to escape.
• GameShare and Co-op: Play together via local co-op, GameShare, Local Network or online play.

BASIC INFORMATION
Title: Beyond the Dark: Nightwatch
Developer: Atlantis Studio
Publisher: Q-Games
Genre: Horror / Asymmetric Co-op
Mode: 2 Player (Local Co-op, Couch Co-op, GameShare, Local Network, Online Play)
Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2
Price: HKD 138 / TWD 490 / JPY 2,480 / KRW 24,000 / MYR 59 / SGD 21.99 / THB 450 / PHP 799
Discord
PressKit

Hashtag: #QGames #BeyondTheDarkNightwatch #NintendoSwitch2

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

]]> https://asiainsiders.net/born-to-be-open-roboparty-launches-rp1-a-full-stack-open-source-humanoid/ Thu, 15 Oct 2026 17:00:00 +0000 https://asiainsiders.net/born-to-be-open-roboparty-launches-rp1-a-full-stack-open-source-humanoid SHANGHAI, Oct. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — RoboParty today officially launches RP1 (ROBOTO 01), a high-performance, full-stack open-source humanoid robot designed for advanced robotics research and embodied AI development. With open access to both hardware and software, RP1 enables researchers to customize the system, integrate their own algorithms, and test new approaches on real hardware.

As AI increasingly moves into the physical world, humanoid robots are becoming a key platform for the next generation of embodied intelligence. But if their core technologies remain hidden inside black boxes, will innovation be defined only by the few who have access to the underlying systems?

The future of embodied AI should not be built on technological black boxes. Every researcher and developer should have the opportunity to participate.

AI models continue to advance, yet the physical systems that bring their capabilities into the real world still face significant limitations.

For robotics researchers, closed hardware and low-level control systems restrict experimental flexibility and system innovation. For embodied AI developers, limited visibility into a robot’s internal behavior makes it difficult to pinpoint problems across model policies, control systems and hardware execution.

RP1 addresses these limitations by opening access to its robot body design and technical resources for RoboParty’s in-house-developed ROMOMO joint actuator modules, alongside technical documentation and research materials. Together, these resources establish an open development ecosystem encompassing mechanical structures, actuators, motion control, simulation environments, software development kits (SDKs) and training tools.

Full-Stack Open Source Across Hardware and Software

Open-source robotics should extend beyond software interfaces. To advance humanoid robotics research, developers need to understand, modify and validate the physical systems that underpin intelligent behavior.

RP1 was built around this principle.

At the hardware level, RP1 integrates RoboParty’s in-house-developed ROMOMO joint actuator modules with an optimized mechanical structure and motion-control architecture. Its low-level drivers and control algorithms are also fully open source, with the software stack extending to firmware, development tools, simulation resources and robot learning frameworks. Access to hardware designs and underlying technologies allows researchers to explore the relationships among mechanical design, joint response, control behavior and learning policies.

Researchers can go beyond sending commands to a fixed robot platform. They can analyze and modify the underlying systems that determine how the robot executes movement.

When a robot fails to perform an intended action accurately, the cause may lie in the model, control policy, actuator response or mechanical structure. An open development ecosystem enables researchers to trace problems across these layers and optimize them together, with access to systems they can inspect and modify.

True open source extends beyond code to the robot itself, putting full control of the system in developers’ hands.

Designed to Adapt to Research Needs

The standard RP1 stands approximately 1.3 meters tall and features 24 actuated degrees of freedom (DoF), supporting research into gait, balance control and sim-to-real transfer. The Pro version features 30 actuated DoF, including a 2-DoF neck and two 7-DoF arms, supporting research into end-to-end policies, human-robot interaction and data collection for embodied AI. These DoF counts exclude the dexterous hands.

RP1’s modular structure and open control interfaces allow research teams to adapt the platform to their experimental needs. Teams can begin with bipedal locomotion research, then configure additional hardware and software for perception, data collection or manipulation experiments.

Interchangeable head modules and wrist end effectors support multiple configurations, including RoboParty’s in-house-developed RP Hand dexterous hand. These interfaces allow teams to conduct a range of experiments on the same robot platform.

Open hardware and software also support controlled experiments. Researchers can compare different control methods on identical hardware or hold the control method constant while examining how hardware configuration changes affect experimental results. Recording hardware versions, software configurations and test conditions helps teams trace the causes of differences in results.

Enabling Developers to Focus on Embodied AI Models

RP1 already supports foundational motor capabilities, including continuous walking, recovery from external disturbances, getting back up after a fall and human motion tracking. These capabilities provide an established foundation for embodied AI model development, reducing the need for teams to repeatedly develop low-level motor skills and allowing them to focus on higher-level intelligent policies and complex tasks.

For Whole Body Intelligence development, RP1 provides a robot body capable of dynamic motion, whole-body control (WBC), and supporting tools for virtual reality (VR) teleoperation, data collection and playback, and motion retargeting. It also provides integrated development workflows for WBC-based whole-body motion execution, teleoperation using VR or motion-capture devices, and RP Hand control.

WBC coordinates the arms, torso and legs to support dynamic motion tracking and posture adjustment, providing a stable motion-execution foundation for tasks that combine locomotion and manipulation. Integrated with RoboParty’s in-house-developed PartyOS embodied AI system, the UFO unsupervised reinforcement learning framework and MimicLite motion imitation technology, RP1 supports motor skill learning, control policy development and higher-level applications.

RP1 also provides an open toolchain spanning data collection, training in simulation, deployment on physical robots and experimental validation. Researchers can deploy models on the robot, analyze discrepancies between model outputs and actual physical responses, and independently adjust control policies and hardware configurations. This creates a continuous development loop from algorithm development to real-world execution, feedback and refinement.

To meet embodied AI development requirements for experimental stability and reproducibility, RP1 incorporates systematic improvements across its mechanical structure, core actuators and manufacturing processes. RoboParty’s in-house-developed ROMOMO actuators, structural optimization and manufacturing quality management are designed to improve consistency in physical response, overall reliability and maintainability. These measures help minimize the influence of hardware variation on experimental results and provide a stable physical platform for repeated model training and validation over extended periods.

Building a Shared Foundation for Global Innovation

RoboParty launched the RPO open-source project in January 2026, releasing mechanical and electrical design resources, along with training and deployment materials. The project has garnered more than 2,600 GitHub stars, enabling developers to reproduce and extend the robot design using publicly available resources.

RP1 continues this open-source approach, bringing together ROMOMO joint actuator modules, research from RoboParty Lab and the ongoing development of PartyOS to expand the technology foundation for robotics research and embodied AI model development.

"We believe the future of embodied AI should not be defined by just a handful of closed systems," said Yi Huang, founder of RoboParty. "With RP1, we want to open up more than code. We want to give researchers the opportunity to truly understand, modify and continuously advance robotic capabilities. When more teams can innovate on a shared technical foundation, the entire industry can move further forward."

RoboParty’s vision is to make the future of embodied AI open to everyone ready to explore it.

GitHub: https://github.com/Roboparty/RP1 

Website: https://roboparty.com 

Media Contact: marketing@roboparty.com

About RoboParty

Founded in Shanghai in 2025, RoboParty develops humanoid robot hardware, motion-control technologies, robotics software and open development tools. Its product and technology portfolio includes the RPO and RP1 humanoid platforms, in-house-developed ROMOMO joint actuator modules, the RP Hand dexterous hand and the evolving PartyOS embodied AI system. Through openly available engineering resources and development tools, the company supports robotics research, embodied AI development and collaboration across teams.

https://youtu.be/sbUyQWx8ItQ

The event was opened by Tin Pei Ling, Member of Parliament, and Dato’ Tony Khor Chong Boon, President of the Federation of Motor and Credit Companies Associations of Malaysia (FMCCAM). Through keynote presentations, panel discussions and live technology demonstrations, participants examined how AI-driven solutions can improve customer experiences while ensuring transparency, security and responsible decision-making.

AIMCONNECT 2026 Highlights the Shift Towards Connected Mobility

During the keynote address, “The Next Mobility Economy: Intelligence, Connection, Trust,” X Star Technology CEO Shawn Yang highlighted the growing gap between consumers’ digital engagement and completed automotive transactions.

Shawn Yang noted that consumers increasingly begin their vehicle purchase journey online, with research showing strong demand for AI-supported decision-making. According to figures shared during the keynote, 90% of car buyers conduct online research before visiting dealerships, 63% expect to use AI during their next vehicle purchase and 67% believe AI will influence their financing decisions.

However, the automotive journey remains fragmented. Customers often move between dealerships, financing providers and multiple systems, creating unnecessary friction during purchasing and ownership processes.

“Customers are not lost in one stage; they are lost to the friction between them,” Yang said. Yang said. The CEO explained that the next stage of mobility innovation requires closer cooperation between automotive companies, financial institutions and technology providers. Rather than improving isolated parts of the journey, the industry must create connected experiences that allow information, decisions and services to move more efficiently between stakeholders.

During AIMCONNECT 2026, technology demonstrations showcased emerging solutions designed to address these challenges. X Star Technology presented its Xport platform, demonstrating one-click lead-to-loan matching and real-time approval capabilities. Aimotion, MStar, AI Wingman and MK.X also introduced their latest innovations, highlighting the potential of AI-enabled tools across the automotive value chain.

Building Trust as AI Takes a Greater Role in Decision-Making

A key theme throughout AIMCONNECT 2026 was the importance of trust as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly involved in customer-facing processes.

While AI can improve speed and efficiency, industry leaders emphasised that technology must operate within clear boundaries. Decisions involving financing, customer eligibility and financial commitments require transparency, human oversight and accountability.

Yang introduced X Star Technology’s proprietary Harness framework, which combines AI operating boundaries, human supervision and traceable data management. The framework is designed to ensure that AI systems operate within authorised parameters while allowing complex cases to be escalated for human review.

“In auto finance, a single flawed decision risks customer harm and regulatory non-compliance. For AI to operate across the customer journey with true autonomy, trust cannot be an afterthought; it must be engineered into the architecture from day one,” Yang said.

The discussions also highlighted the importance of balancing personalisation with privacy. While consumers increasingly expect services tailored to their needs, excessive automation or unnecessary intervention may reduce trust. Effective AI solutions must therefore combine intelligence with appropriate restraint.

Strengthening Connections Across the Auto Finance Ecosystem

Another major discussion at AIMCONNECT 2026 focused on how stronger collaboration between automotive companies, financial institutions and technology providers can create a more efficient and trusted financing experience.

During the panel discussion “Building a Connected Auto Finance Ecosystem,” moderated by MStar CEO Zhang Peng, industry representatives explored the role of data connectivity, cybersecurity and responsible technology adoption in shaping the future of automotive finance.

Speakers from Deloitte, Deutsche Bank, The CEO Circle and JWT Bespoke examined how financial institutions and mobility businesses can use technology to improve decision-making while maintaining customer confidence.

“Better data infrastructure and connectivity can help the industry make more informed financing decisions, but technology must go hand in hand with trust,” Zhang said.

The discussion emphasised that connectivity is not simply about collecting more data. A truly integrated ecosystem requires organisations to establish clear principles for how information is shared, protected and used. Customers must also understand what information they provide and how it contributes to a better service experience.

Matthew Duncan, Director and CEO of JWT Bespoke, highlighted the importance of balancing innovation with consumer protection, drawing from Australia’s experience in automotive and financial regulation.

“Regulation works best when it protects customers and still gives the industry room to improve how people buy and finance their cars,” Duncan said.

Exploring the Future of Vehicle Ownership

Beyond financing and transactions, AIMCONNECT 2026 also examined a broader question facing the mobility industry: how will consumers define vehicle ownership in the future?

The rise of leasing, subscription services, car-sharing and ride-hailing has expanded consumer choices, creating new possibilities beyond traditional ownership models.

During the panel “The Future of Owning a Car,” moderated by Shawn Yang, industry leaders discussed how changing consumer expectations may influence future mobility behaviour.

An audience poll showed a closely divided perspective. While 54% of participants believed flexible mobility solutions could become the preferred choice within the next decade, 46% expected vehicle ownership to remain the dominant preference.

The result reflected the complexity of future mobility trends. Rather than replacing ownership completely, emerging mobility models may provide consumers with more options depending on their lifestyle, financial situation and travel needs.

James Ng, Managing Director of BYD Singapore and President of BYD Philippines, shared insights into BYD’s technology development journey.

“BYD’s first phase was electrification, delivering performance. The second phase is intelligence, using AI to enhance the customer experience. The third phase will focus on integration,” Ng said.

Xiao Ting, CEO of MK.X, noted that increasingly capable AI assistants could change how consumers approach mobility decisions.

“The decision may increasingly be less about owning a car and more about finding the right mobility solution for each journey,” noted the CEO.

Ng also highlighted the broader applications of BYD’s technology beyond vehicles, including Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and renewable energy solutions that contribute to a wider technology ecosystem.

These developments suggest that the future mobility landscape will involve not only automakers, but also dealers, financial institutions and technology platforms adapting their services to meet changing consumer expectations.

AI Is Expanding the Vehicle Experience Beyond the Point of Sale

The role of artificial intelligence throughout the vehicle ownership lifecycle was another key focus at AIMCONNECT 2026.

During the panel “How Is AI Reshaping Mobility?” moderated by X Star Chief Technology Officer Michael Jia, industry experts discussed how AI can support consumers beyond vehicle selection and purchase.

Panel participants included Carson Zhang of Aimotion, Connor Liu of Google Cloud, Dr Harold Teng of MK.X Technology and Bryan Tan of Carro.

When delegates were asked where AI would create the greatest impact, personalised ownership services ranked ahead of vehicle selection, automotive financing and in-car intelligence. The results suggested that industry participants see significant opportunities in improving the ownership experience after purchase.

Bryan Tan, Chief Scientist at Carro Group and CEO of Carro Indonesia, explained that vehicle value assessment is becoming increasingly influenced by new data sources. For electric vehicles, factors such as battery condition and charging history are becoming important considerations alongside traditional indicators such as mileage.

Tan also noted that markets such as Singapore have unique considerations, including the impact of the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) system on vehicle value.

These examples demonstrate how advances in automotive technology are influencing areas beyond driving performance, extending into finance, resale value and long-term ownership decisions.

However, industry leaders agreed that AI adoption must remain focused on practical benefits.

“The focus must remain on delivering practical benefits, enhancing safety and making mobility more intuitive for consumers,” Dr Teng said.

Collaboration Will Define the Next Stage of Mobility Innovation

Across the discussions at AIMCONNECT 2026, one common message emerged: the future of mobility will be shaped by collaboration.

Automotive manufacturers and dealers must better understand customer needs and reduce unnecessary friction throughout the ownership journey. Financial institutions must improve efficiency while maintaining responsible lending practices. Technology providers must develop solutions that meet operational, regulatory and customer expectations.

For policymakers and industry stakeholders, the challenge will be encouraging innovation while maintaining public confidence.

“No single company can transform the entire mobility journey on its own,” Xiao Ting said.

Zhang highlighted that the success of future mobility solutions should be measured not only by speed and efficiency, but also by how effectively the industry works together to serve customers.

“Progress should be measured not only by how quickly a loan can be approved, but by how well the industry works together to serve the customer,” Zhang said.

AIMCONNECT 2026 demonstrated that artificial intelligence will play an increasingly important role in mobility, but technology alone will not define the future. The next phase of automotive transformation will depend on building systems that are intelligent, transparent and connected — supported by stronger partnerships across the mobility ecosystem.

Hashtag: #XStar

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About AIMCONNECT 2026

AIMCONNECT 2026 brings together automotive leaders, dealers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), financial institutions, technology innovators and industry decision-makers to explore the future of automotive commerce and mobility.

Through industry dialogue, thought leadership sessions and live technology demonstrations, AIMCONNECT provides a platform for stakeholders to exchange insights and collaborate on the next generation of connected mobility solutions.

]]> https://asiainsiders.net/axa-global-healthcare-mind-health-report-reveals-global-differences-in-how-cost-and-stigma-affect-access-to-professional-mental-health-care/ Thu, 15 Oct 2026 15:20:00 +0000 https://asiainsiders.net/axa-global-healthcare-mind-health-report-reveals-global-differences-in-how-cost-and-stigma-affect-access-to-professional-mental-health-care

The 2026 survey of 19,000 people across 18 countries finds cost and stigma remain significant barriers to professional mental health support, with AI emerging as a way people work around them, particularly among non-natives

Hashtag: #AXA

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

AXA Global Healthcare

AXA Health International is part of the AXA Health business and specialises in international health and wellbeing solutions. AXA Global Healthcare operates as one of the commercial entities functioning within AXA Health International, providing premium international health insurance to individuals and businesses worldwide and has been protecting the healthcare needs of globally mobile citizens for more than 60 years. Customers are supported in more than 200 countries through a global virtual doctor service, second medical opinion, personal case management, and evacuation and repatriation assistance, with access to AXA’s global medical network of over 2 million healthcare providers. For more information visit axaglobalhealthcare.com.

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