📰 Tech and AI in Asia

• Singapore to train 40,000 tech workers in AI by 2029 — The Singapore government has announced a massive upskilling initiative aimed at equipping 40,000 technology professionals with AI capabilities, including building agentic systems and automating coding workflows. Asia News Network

• US Undersecretary Helberg visits Singapore for AI diplomacy — US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg is in Singapore (May 17–21) for high-level AI policy talks, signaling continued Washington-Singapore coordination on tech governance and semiconductor supply chains. The Philippine Business News

• China's rejection of Meta's Manus acquisition reshapes the "Singapore route" — Following Beijing's block of Meta's $2 billion purchase of Chinese AI startup Manus, several Chinese tech firms are increasingly looking to establish regional HQs and R&D centers in Singapore as a neutral hub for global expansion. The Times of India

• Singapore minister warns against over-reliance on LLMs — Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan emphasized that human intelligence remains critical in the AI era, cautioning policymakers and businesses not to depend solely on large language models for complex decision-making. South China Morning Post

• AMD sparks Asian tech rally; Nikkei hits record high — Japanese chip and tech stocks surged sharply following AMD's latest announcements, pushing the Nikkei index to a new all-time high and reflecting broader optimism around AI-driven semiconductor demand across Asia. Gotrade