The second edition of GITEX AI ASIA 2026 concluded at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, bringing together a massive convergence of global technology leaders, startups, and investors. The event highlighted Southeast Asia's rapid transition into an AI-driven economy, with artificial intelligence investment in the region projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 25% and surpass US$110 billion by 2028. The broader ASEAN digital economy is poised to unlock a US$2 trillion market by 2030, driven by harmonized trade rules, cybersecurity standards, and digital payments.
The event featured participation from over 110 countries, with more than 550 enterprises and startups, 175 speakers, and investors managing upwards of US$350 billion in assets. A key component was the North Star Asia startup showcase, where more than 300 startups from over 50 countries connected with investors. The Supernova Challenge crowned Singapore-based Ailytics as champion, awarding it SG$30,000 for its AI-powered workplace safety platform that converts standard CCTV into monitoring tools. Japan's Lifescapes and South Korea's Codespresso were first and second runners-up, respectively.
Cybersecurity emerged as a critical priority, with the ASEAN market valued at US$5.5 billion in 2025 and projected to nearly triple to US$14 billion by 2031. David Koh, Commissioner of Cybersecurity for Singapore, highlighted a fourfold increase in advanced threat attacks between 2021 and 2024. Discussions emphasized the need for 'secure-by-design' AI, especially in regulated sectors like banking, and the regional challenge of digital growth outpacing cyber resilience.
The event also spotlighted the race for next-generation infrastructure. Dian Siswarini, President Director of PT Telkom Indonesia, emphasized treating digital infrastructure as a strategic asset for national competitiveness in an AI-native, 6G world. Major tech firms presented their solutions: H3C showcased full-stack digital infrastructure capabilities; iFLYTEK previewed AI glasses for real-time translation; Forescout demonstrated cybersecurity asset control; and Datalec Precision Installations unveiled its "AI-Ready Data Centre" concept for the Asia-Pacific region.
Investment trends pointed towards capital concentrating around startups in durable themes like AI and infrastructure. Saemin Ahn, Managing Partner at Rakuten Capital, noted a focus on startups solving mission-critical problems. Yinghui Kuang, Partner of Granite Asia, highlighted the pragmatic path of gaining commercial traction first when commercializing hard science, sharing that his firm had looked at over 100 humanoid startups in the last 12 months alone.
