Ethan Harris
A recent report by cybersecurity company Check Point highlights a framework called Hexstrike-AI, which has drawn significant attention in the industry. For a long time, security experts have been concerned that artificial intelligence could be used for malicious attacks—concerns that are now increasingly becoming a reality.
The developers of Hexstrike-AI describe it as an “AI-driven offensive security framework”, designed to help defense teams think like hackers and enhance their protective capabilities. It functions like an AI “brain,” coordinating over 150 specialized security agents and tools to conduct penetration tests, track zero-day vulnerabilities, and generate detailed analysis reports on an organization’s defenses.
However, the double-edged nature of this technology is clear. Exploiting vulnerabilities that once required experienced hackers days or even weeks to uncover can now be accomplished in under 10 minutes with Hexstrike-AI. This also means that if it falls into the wrong hands, the potential risks could multiply dramatically.
A survey by SAP Emarsys of over 10,000 consumers and 1,250 marketing professionals shows that 92% of marketers now use AI in their daily work, rapidly moving the technology from concept to practical application. 71% report that AI accelerates campaign launches, saving over two hours per campaign on average, while 72% say it allows them to focus more on creative and strategic tasks. Post-implementation, 60% have seen an increase in user engagement, and 58% report improved customer loyalty.
However, consumer feedback tells a different story. The so-called “personalization gap” is widening: 40% of consumers feel that brands still don’t truly understand them (up from 25% last year), and 60% say most marketing emails they receive are irrelevant.
More critically, trust in how AI handles personal data is declining. Globally, 63% of consumers do not trust AI with their data, up from 44% in 2024, with the figure in the UK rising to 76%.
The conclusion: while AI is significantly improving marketing efficiency and output, if brands fail to address data transparency and relevance, carefully crafted personalization efforts may be undermined by a growing trust crisis.
Agentic AI is emerging as a major focus for enterprises. Unlike generative AI, which primarily produces content, Agentic AI can make autonomous decisions, coordinate tasks, and execute objectives in dynamic environments, functioning like a team of virtual experts. It emphasizes action and strategic optimization rather than just content creation.
Currently, about one-quarter of companies have launched pilot projects, but only 14% have implemented them fully, with most still in the planning phase. This gap is seen as a key barrier preventing businesses from unlocking the full economic value of AI.
Practical applications are beginning to appear. For example, personal shopping assistants can search for products, generate descriptions, answer queries, and even add items to a shopping cart. Although they cannot complete financial transactions for security reasons, they replicate many functions of human assistants. This also raises questions about the role of traditional websites—if AI can handle search, comparison, and purchase preparation, do consumers still need to navigate complex websites?
In Southeast Asia, data security and infrastructure are critical for enterprises to successfully deploy Agentic AI. AI can only deliver value when data is properly classified, protected, and managed. Additionally, systems must support multi-agent orchestration, persistent memory, and dynamic resource allocation; otherwise, the scope of AI applications will be limited.
According to IDC, by 2027, AI and generative AI are expected to contribute around $120 billion USD to the GDP of six ASEAN countries. Experts suggest that the impact will be broader and faster than many business leaders currently anticipate. In Indonesia, more than 57% of jobs are expected to be augmented or transformed by AI, indicating that the disruption will extend beyond IT operations to enterprise architecture, risk management, and business models.
Over the next three years, Agentic AI is likely to first demonstrate value in IT operations, automating data classification, predictive maintenance, and cybersecurity responses, freeing teams to focus on higher-level strategic work. Its full potential, however, will unfold as it drives economic restructuring and business model transformation across the region.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the banking sector, delivering significant efficiency gains and cost savings while also posing potential threats to employment. The UK financial platform Zopa warns that AI is increasingly replacing functions that were previously labor-intensive, such as compliance, risk management, and fraud detection.
Tasks that once required substantial human effort—like KYC (Know Your Customer) checks and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) monitoring—are now being gradually handled by AI systems. Zopa estimates that by the end of this century, automation of back-office functions alone could save £923 million annually, accounting for over half of the total projected industry savings.
Beyond cost reduction, AI is also seen as a critical tool for regulatory compliance. For example, with the enforcement of APP fraud compensation rules, banks face greater accountability. AI’s ability to detect emerging fraud patterns in real-time and reduce human error is becoming essential for maintaining competitiveness and safeguarding financial security.
Industry experts emphasize that AI is not merely a replacement for human labor. By automating routine audits and data analysis, AI frees specialists to focus on more complex investigations. For combating financial crime, this translates into faster and more precise enforcement, though it also underscores the reality that the employment landscape in banking is being fundamentally transformed.
Google recently rolled out a series of new generative AI features for Google Vids, aimed at lowering the barriers to video creation.
One of the new tools is the image-to-video feature. Users can upload a static photo and provide a brief prompt, and Google’s Veo AI will generate an approximately 8-second animated video with sound. This allows for quick production of content for product promotions or social media, all within minutes.
For users who prefer not to appear on camera, Google has also launched AI avatars. By entering a script and selecting a digital presenter, users can create professional videos without being on screen. This is ideal for training guides, product demonstrations, or team updates.
Additionally, Vids now includes an automatic transcription and trimming tool, which intelligently detects filler words and silent pauses in recordings and removes them with a single click, greatly reducing tedious post-production work.
Google states that these updates will help businesses and individuals create high-quality videos more efficiently, expanding the possibilities for content creation.
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