The Afternoon Update with Lynlee Foo

Deepfakes are no longer a niche concern. They are fuelling scams across Asia Pacific, from Singapore to Hong Kong, and eroding public trust in financial institutions. On Industry Insight, Christophe Barel, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC), explains why AI-powered fraud is now a systemic risk to the region’s financial sector. He shares how phishing and synthetic identities are evolving, why fraud cases have surged by over 1,500% in Singapore, and what happens when consumer confidence in banks starts to crack. This is Part 1 of our special series on deepfake fraud focusing on the industry-wide risks and why collective defense is critical to safeguarding digital finance. (*Part 2 of this deepfake fraud series, 'Biometrics & Liveness: Securing digital identity against deepfakes' focuses on the technology protecting digital identity)

After years of debate over hybrid work, APAC’s office market is bouncing back. Companies are tightening return-to-office rules, expanding again, and competing for the best CBD locations. In Singapore, resilient rents, limited supply, and strong investor appetite are keeping the CBD firmly in focus. On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks with Ada Choi, Head of Research for Asia Pacific at CBRE, about what’s driving this rebound; from stricter workplace policies to the “flight to quality” shaping corporate real estate strategies, and what it means for investors, occupiers, and Singapore’s role as a regional hub.

Singapore’s nightlife scene has always been about the music, the energy, and the night out. But a new generation is changing the game. Known for being budget-conscious and wellness-minded, the Gen Zs are redefining what it means to party.  So what is driving the Gen Zs to change how Singapore’s nightlife is like? And to what extent is it really caused by the younger generation? On Viewpoint, Lynlee Foo speaks to Teo Kai Xiang from The Straits Times and Patrick Lewis (DJ LeNerd), Founder of Revelry Entertainment to find out more.

With the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone expected to spur cross-border business, travel and investment, what role will hospitality play in anchoring that growth? Ascott’s newly announced flagship in Coronation Square Johor Bahru, directly connected to the RTS, offers one of the first real tests. How are hospitality players positioning themselves to capture rising demand? And what does it mean for the future of cross-border stays?  On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks to Serena Lim, Chief Growth Officer, The Ascott Limited to find out more.

Digital payments are booming in Singapore - the Monetary Authority of Singapore reports that e-payments more than doubled to S$1.25 trillion in 2023, with over 90% of adults now registered for PayNow. Yet for many SMEs in sectors like F&B, retail, and beauty, digital adoption remains patchy. As Southeast Asia’s SMEs race to catch up, why is Singapore emerging as a hub for PayTech innovation? And how are partnerships and cross-border expansion reshaping the competitive landscape across the region? On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks to Christopher Yu, President & Chief Financial Officer, KPay to find out more.

Artificial intelligence is moving beyond chatbots and algorithms - it is being embedded into the backbone of global markets. With $55.8 trillion in assets under custody, global financial giant BNY is at the centre of this shift. On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo sits down with Leigh-Ann Russell, CIO and Global Head of Engineering at BNY, to find out how the bank has scaled 80+ AI solutions, trained nearly its entire workforce in generative AI, and is balancing innovation with regulation while preparing Asia’s markets for an AI-enabled future.

For someone living with visual impairment, even the simplest daily tasks like picking the right carton of milk at the supermarket, can be a challenge. Enter AiSee, an AI-powered wearable that is akin to a “visual companion”, created at the National University of Singapore to help people better connect with the world around them. So how exactly is it reshaping accessibility? And how could it pave the way for more inclusive innovation in Singapore and beyond? On Good Tech, Lynlee Foo speaks to Associate Professor Suranga Nanayakkara, Co-founder of AiSee, from the Department of Information Systems & Analytics, at NUS Computing to find out more.

Data and AI giant Databricks has surpassed a US$100B valuation with over US$1B in AI revenue. On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks with Adam Conway, SVP of Products at Databricks about what’s fueling this momentum, how Asia’s AI adoption differs from the US, and why agentic AI could be the region’s next big leap.

Findings from a report by financial compliance software firm Fenergo show that regulators worldwide issued more than US$1.2 billion in fines against financial institutions in the first half of 2025 - a staggering year-on-year increase. While North America accounted for the largest penalties, Asia was not spared, with enforcement actions in China, Malaysia, Australia, and Singapore, where MAS issued multiple fines for AML breaches. On Industry Insight, host Lynlee Foo speaks with Cengiz Kiamil, Managing Director at Fenergo, about what’s driving this surge in fines, why sanctions and digital assets are increasingly in the crosshairs, and how Asia’s financial institutions should respond.

Anime has surged from subculture to a US$30B global industry, with streaming, merchandising, and fandom driving growth far beyond Japan. On Industry Insight, Lynlee Foo speaks with Kendrick Wong, CEO of Singapore-based Kasagi Labo, a pioneering anime venture studio about why anime resonates with global audiences, the business model shifts powering its expansion, and how Singapore is emerging as a launchpad for this billion-fan future.