• Empowering ASEAN & global businesses to make sound data-driven decisions while ensuring privacy and compliance

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Feb. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Athenatech AI Sdn Berhad (athenatech.ai ), one of Malaysia’s top six AI start-ups to watch, today announced the launch of subsidiary AxxonAI (axxonai.com), a Large Language Model (LLM) based synthetic data intelligence platform. This milestone positions AxxonAI as the first Malaysian company to offer this capability, addressing the growing challenges of data scarcity and privacy constraints faced by enterprises across the ASEAN region and global markets.

SUPPORTING MALAYSIA’S NATIONAL AI AGENDA

In line with Malaysia’s aspiration to become an AI Nation by 2030, guided by the National AI Action Plan 2026–2030, Athenatech.ai and AxxonAI are aligning their innovation efforts with national priorities set out by the National AI Office (NAIO). This alignment reflects a shared commitment to advancing next-generation AI capabilities that drive productivity, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.

As part of this initiative, AxxonAI is establishing a Global Delivery Centre (GDC) focused on AI training, synthetic data, and generative AI insights. The GDC aims to deliver measurable impact across key sectors while supporting Malaysia’s ambition to strengthen its AI ecosystem and progressively position the country as a trusted and competitive AI hub within ASEAN.

AxxonAI has also been granted Malaysia Digital status, reinforcing the company’s commitment to supporting Malaysia’s growth as a regional AI hub serving global markets.

AXXONAI: A UNIQUE PLATFORM

Designed to emulate real-world data patterns with astonishing accuracy, this technology enables organisations across industries to build impactful, effective, and ethical AI-driven solutions that support growth, innovation, and better decision-making. AxxonAI is a privacy-centred generative AI with a multi-tiered synthetic data cognitive intelligence platform, designed for enterprise-level artificial intelligence applications in the ASEAN region and beyond.

AxxonAI generates synthetic data using Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) with LLMs. This enables the creation of privacy-safe, statistically equivalent datasets for industries working with real-world data. Rather than deploying one-size-fits-all datasets, AxxonAI can now create datasets tailored to the local market, recognising its unique data patterns, regulatory requirements, and business objectives.

The platform’s added feature is data decoupling and fine-tuning, which are important concepts in machine learning and data engineering.  It separates or isolates different aspects of synthetic data generation to improve control, quality, and utility.  Fine-tuning involves adapting pre-trained models using artificially generated datasets. This becomes a significant advancement for Segmentation & Hyper-personalisation in BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, Incomprehensible) consumer contexts.

Sonny (Soumitra) Dey, the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Athenatech.ai and AxxonAI, emphasised, “AI should be both powerful and principled. Our synthetic data engine, AxxonAI, proves that businesses don’t have to choose between innovation and privacy. This technology empowers enterprises to achieve real growth while maintaining high standards of data ethics and security. AxxonAI is specifically built to meet the needs of businesses in Asia and the ASEAN region. Its localisation and personalised synthetic data platform, with a focus on ASEAN, distinguish us in the market. We aim to enable our partners to make optimal business decisions, supported by reliable, real-world data. In the coming months, we will be partnering with numerous companies on different versions of our AxxonAI integrated with Agentic Function.”

LOCAL FOCUS, GLOBAL REACH

Currently, ASEAN enterprises and companies lack sufficient localised and regional data^[1] that is both readily available and structured in formats suitable for effectively training AI models for the regional market. Existing AI data solutions lack regional customisations and are cost-prohibitive for businesses, particularly for SMEs to adopt fully.  While general models are available, the datasets are global-centric and not tailored to the regional market.  

The cost of using global datasets is also higher^[2], as they include all available data and are not personalised and localised for the region’s requirements. Consequently, the outputs provided to customers may not be as accurate or aligned with local insights. Furthermore, strict privacy regulations under the Personal Data Protection Act 2010/ General Data Protection Regulation (PDPA/GDPR) limit companies’ ability to use real-world customer data for AI training and development.

AxxonAI is designed to help unlock a business’s full potential while ensuring data privacy and reducing compliance risk. What makes AxxonAI stand out is its ASEAN focus and the use of a localised LLM designed for regional languages and business practices, supported by the Quality Score feature included in the platform. AxxonAI is also designed with PDPA compliance at its core and, importantly, is affordable for even SMEs to adopt for their own use.

PARTNERSHIP IN HEALTHCARE

AxxonAI, in partnership with Sancy Berhad, one of Malaysia’s leading digital healthcare solution providers, will now enable clinicians and administrators to derive powerful, actionable insights from patient data while maintaining absolute compliance with privacy regulations and eliminating the risk of personal identification. The collaboration marks a significant step toward transforming healthcare delivery through secure, intelligent, and sovereign AI-driven solutions.                                                                             

Under this partnership, AxxonAI’s advanced synthetic data generation and intelligence capabilities will integrate with Sancy Berhad’s healthcare ecosystem to accelerate innovation in patient care, operational efficiency, and healthcare tourism. The collaboration will initially focus on two flagship initiatives:

• Connected Care: A data-driven healthcare tourism solution designed to attract international patients while ensuring privacy and compliance with local regulations.
• Ring: A patient-centric care model that leverages synthetic data and predictive intelligence to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and streamline hospital-to-home care journeys.

Both initiatives pave the way for a more cost-efficient, patient-centric, and effective healthcare system.

Prabuddha Chakravertty, Group Managing Director of Sancy Berhad, shared, “Through AxxonAI’s advanced synthetic data intelligence platform, Sancy Berhad is transforming how it approaches patient care, resource allocation, and clinical decision-making. The platform generates statistically accurate, regulatory-compliant synthetic patient profiles that mirror real-world populations, empowering healthcare teams to optimise treatment pathways, predict critical care demands, and improve patient outcomes without ever compromising individual privacy.“

COMING UP

Multiple versions of AxxonAI are currently under development, including implementations based on Small Language Models (SLMs) and integrations with Agentic Functions, specifically designed for SMEs in Malaysia. The team is testing and refining these domain-specific AI models to launch solutions for Agriculture, Automotive, BFSI, Telecommunications, Property, Logistics, Supply Chain, and Media & Entertainment by early 2026.

Sonny (Soumitra) Dey (ex-Accenture) currently leads a core team at AxxonAI, comprising top Malaysian and Global AI experts. The able team is mentored by Malaysian industry stalwarts such as Sharani Mohamed (Technopreneur, known for Government Defence & Security Technology Solutions Architect) and Omar Shaari (Ex-Dentsu).

The core team of AxxonAI, consists of: Sutapa Bhattacharya, Managing Partner, Strategy, Innovation & Business Continuity (Ex-Leo Burnett and TNB), Sudip Ghosh, CRO – BFIS/Telco/Energy (Former JAPAC & MEA Sales, Oracle & IBM), Teruchelwam Pillai, Chief Technology Officer – Healthcare (Ex-Sime Darby), Dr S. Katae, Chief AI Engineer – LLM (Ex-Deep Mind), Gloria Gomes, Strategy & Insight (Ex-Byte Dance Malaysia), Gerald Faust, Sovereign Cloud & Data Centres  (Ex JAPAC & ME Lead SNP & SAP), Amit Kurhekar, Martech (Ex Moneylion and P&G), Jacek Kucieba, Chief of Business Efficiency and Impact (Ex SAS), Ragunathan Marthammuthu, AI Academy & L&D (Right Track Education), Haris Mateen, Chief of Agentic Solutions (Ex MIMS), Saravanan Ramaiah, Chief Finance Officer (Ex-IPG), Sugato Banerjee, Country Head, South Asia and Dubai (Ex-JWT, Standard Chartered, Visa, Videocon),  and Adriel Chan, Lead – GTM

## END ##

About AxxonAI 

AxxonAI, developed by Athenatech.ai, a Malaysia Digital–certified company, is a next-generation synthetic GenAI platform that empowers organisations to maximise the value of their data—without compromising privacy, security, or regulatory compliance.

Built on advanced LLM frameworks and methodologies, AxxonAI produces high-fidelity synthetic data that mirrors real-world statistical patterns while containing zero personally identifiable information. This enables enterprises to innovate, analyse, and scale with confidence.

AxxonAI’s core capability lies in data decoupling and fine-tuning, key concepts in machine learning and data engineering. These processes separate and control aspects of synthetic data generation, improving data quality, flexibility, and practical usefulness. Fine-tuning involves customising pre-trained models using artificially generated datasets, delivering significant advantages for segmentation and hyper-personalisation in BANI consumer environments.

The BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, Incomprehensible) world presents distinct challenges for understanding consumers. In such volatile conditions, consumer behaviour shifts rapidly and unpredictably. Traditional datasets quickly become outdated, while privacy regulations restrict access to detailed personal information. Synthetic data helps model uncertainty and volatility, enabling the creation of scenarios that reflect the fragile, nonlinear dynamics of real-world consumer decision-making. This is where AxxonAI shines.

DUBBO, Australia, Feb. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sungrow, the leading global PV inverter and energy storage system provider, has successfully delivered a hybrid battery energy storage solution in collaboration with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Dubbo Regional Council, supporting advanced research into Energy Management Systems (EMS) and Virtual Power Plant (VPP) technologies.

The project provides a dedicated product and system platform for the UNSW Energy Team to test, validate and industrialise next-generation EMS and VPP algorithms. Integrated with energy assets at the Dubbo Regional Council Building, the system also contributes to Council’s broader sustainability, energy efficiency and resilience objectives.

Project Overview

Sungrow was selected as the exclusive equipment supplier, UNSW acted as the engineering lead for the project, with Dubbo Regional Council as the system owner. The project was funded through TRaCE (Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy), an initiative under the Australian Department of Education designed to accelerate the translation of university research into real-world applications. The project commenced in Q1 2025 and has now been successfully completed.

Technical Highlights:Intelligent Control, Coordinated Performance

• System Composition: The solution consists of two Sungrow SH15T/SBH300 hybrid energy storage systems coordinated through a Logger1000.
• Integration Method: The system is AC-coupled to the building’s existing solar PV installation, enabling seamless integration without disrupting the operation of the existing solar array.
• Control and Coordination: UNSW’s Energy Management System (EMS) controls the entire setup via a single logger, while Sungrow’s battery systems operate in a coordinated manner to ensure stable, efficient, and reliable performance.
• Advanced Functions: The platform supports advanced capabilities such as load monitoring, demand-side management, and predictive energy optimization based on weather and occupancy data.

Translating Research into Real-World Impact

This project represents a significant milestone in bridging academic research with practical energy solutions for Australian communities. By integrating Sungrow’s hybrid battery systems with UNSW’s EMS, the solution enables both behind-the-meter (BTM) and front-of-the-meter (FTM) functionality. This delivers operational value to Dubbo Regional Council by optimising energy use and reducing costs, while providing UNSW with a live, real-world “living lab” to validate and refine its research outcomes using real-time data.

“The system will allow us to save money directly for our community. Financial sustainability is one of the areas we are very focused on at the moment, and a real challenge for Councils right now, and this project will allow us to reduce our operating costs, which in turn reduces the costs for our community,” said Dubbo Regional Council Mayor Josh Black.

“By combining Sungrow’s expertise, UNSW with the commitment of Dubbo Regional Council and the support of TRaCE, we are developing a solution that not only enhances energy efficiency today but also paves the way for scalable, sustainable energy management in buildings across Australia,” said Scientia Professor Deo Prasad AO, UNSW Project Leader.

Strong Local Partnerships

The successful delivery of the project was underpinned by close collaboration with experienced local partners. Diverse Electrical, Sungrow’s long-term installation partner in the Dubbo region, delivered high-quality installation and commissioning services, working closely with UNSW and Council stakeholders throughout the project. SolarJuice also supported the deployment through local product distribution, ensuring timely access to equipment and logistical support.

Future Outlook

Sungrow and UNSW will continue to strengthen their collaboration on hybrid battery systems and energy management research. Future enhancements to the system are expected to include electric vehicle (EV) integration, National Electricity Market (NEM) trading capabilities, and backup power functionality, utilising Sungrow hardware and managed by UNSW’s EMS.

Beyond this installation, Sungrow’s Commercial & Industrial teams and UNSW are also progressing additional projects under the TRaCE initiative, further supporting the transition of Australian energy research into scalable, real-world solutions.

About Sungrow

Sungrow, a global leader in renewable energy technology, has pioneered sustainable power solutions for over 29 years. As of June 2025, Sungrow has installed 870 GW of power electronic converters worldwide. The Company is recognized as the world’s most bankable PV inverter and energy storage company (BloombergNEF). Its innovations power clean energy projects across the globe, supported by a network of 520 service outlets guaranteeing excellent customer experience. At Sungrow, we’re committed to bridging to a sustainable future through cutting-edge technology and unparalleled service. For more information, please visit: www.sungrowpower.com/en.

Contact: 
Luly Wang, luly.wang@sungrow-hq.com

BEIJING, Feb. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On February 8, iQIYI, China’s leading online entertainment platform, officially opened iQIYI LAND, its first global offline theme park, in Yangzhou, a city in central Jiangsu Province in eastern China. As China’s first immersive indoor theme park developed by a streaming platform, the launch marks a significant milestone in iQIYI’s strategy to integrate technology with creativity, expand the value of its IP beyond streaming, and bring its content ecosystem to life through physical, immersive experiences.

“At iQIYI, we have spent 15 years forging emotional bonds online,” said Yu GONG, Founder and CEO of iQIYI. “With iQIYI LAND, we’re bringing that connection into the real world. By blending original Chinese IP with immersive technologies such as VR and AI, we are pioneering a next-generation, interactive theme park deeply tied to our content. As demand for offline entertainment surges, we see iQIYI LAND as a new driver for our long-term growth.”

iQIYI executives, local partners, industry leaders, celebrities, and member representatives gathered for the opening ceremony. Leading cast members from hit dramas made surprise appearances in themed zones, bringing their on-screen stories to life. In the “Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty” zone, principal cast members engaged with visitors; in the “The Knockout”zone, one actor returned to the recreated “Old Factory Street”; and in the “Mysterious Lotus Casebook,” a performer appeared on the immersive stage. Their presence marked the transformation of beloved screen narratives into interactive experiences, welcoming the park’s first guests from across China.

Covering approximately 10,000 square meters, iQIYI LAND Yangzhou features a compact, high-efficiency indoor design for year-round operation and rapid IP cycles. Unlike traditional outdoor theme parks, it leverages digital production and immersive engineering to enable fast iteration and seamless content integration.

The park features seven core experience zones:

Immersive Theaters: A flagship immersive ride combining VR, motion systems, scent, wind, sound and real actors. Visitors enter story worlds such as “Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty”, participating directly in plotlines through interactive missions. Fans of “Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty” relive climactic moments through original voice acting synced with motion platforms, scents, and touch effects (walking treacherous cliffs, soaring through skies, battling mythical human-faced eagle monsters). 

Light-and-Shadow Spaces: A digital technology to recreate cinematic scenes such as the grasslands of “To the Wonder” or fantasy cloud worlds from “Love Between Fairy and Devil”. Visitors walk inside dynamic visual environments and trigger story elements through movement.

Immersive Stage Performances: Live theatrical productions integrating LED screens, rotating stages, projections and real actors. For example, “Mysterious Lotus Casebook” features martial arts choreography and cinematic effects, blending drama and technology.

Iconic Film-and-TV Scene Photo Spots: Highly recognizable drama locations reconstructed for visitors, such as Gao Qiqiang’s house from “The Knockout”, Zhang Fengxia’s grocery store from “To the Wonder” and Canal teahouse scenes from “Northward”.

Live Character Interactions: Professional performers act as IP characters, creating surprise storylines and role-play interactions. Visitors can unlock hidden plots and experience “being inside the drama.”

Social Games: Multiplayer interactive game zones and competitions projected onto LED screens creating social entertainment and spectator engagement.

IP-Exclusive Retail and Dining: Themed restaurants and merchandise shops with IP-inspired menus and limited-edition collectibles. Dining is designed as part of storytelling rather than simple food service.

iQIYI LAND aims to extend IP lifecycles and deepen fan engagement through immersive experiences and consumer products, supporting future content releases. New parks in Kaifeng, a city in eastern Henan Province in central China, and in Beijing, China’s capital in the north,  are in development, blending local culture with storytelling. By merging digital innovation with Chinese narratives, iQIYI is creating destinations that attract audiences beyond the screen and fuel growth in China’s cultural tourism sector.

Contact:
iQIYI Press
press@qiyi.com 

HONG KONG, Feb. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On 28 January, The Shaw Prize Foundation announced the establishment of The Shaw Prize in Computer Science, joining the existing prizes in Astronomy, Life Science and Medicine, and Mathematical Sciences.

The inaugural Selection Committee, comprising world-leading experts, will select the first laureate(s). Nominations will open from September to November 2026, with the announcement scheduled for spring 2027.

Leading the committee is Professor Jennifer Chayes, Dean of the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society at UC Berkeley. She pointed to the committee’s diverse composition as a core strength: “Our committee brings together extraordinary expertise from around the globe, reflecting the international and interdisciplinary nature of computer science today. This diversity ensures a balanced, inclusive, and rigorous evaluation process.”

Professor Tony Chan, who chaired the Planning Committee that shaped the new prize, joins the Selection Committee as a member. A former President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, he hoped that The Shaw Prize “will lend its prestige and track record to recognize true outstanding contributions to computer science.”

Another former university president on the committee is Professor John L Hennessy, who served as President of Stanford University for 16 years and received the 2017 ACM A.M. Turing Award. “I hope The Shaw Prize,” he said, “brings deep recognition of the importance and intellectual depth of computer science as a field.”

The committee includes another three Turing Award laureates – Professors Jack Dongarra, Yann LeCun, and Joseph Sifakis. Professor Dongarra, a 2021 Turing awardee and currently Research Professor Emeritus at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, said it is a privilege to help define this new prize from the ground up: “I hope the Prize signals that bold, field-defining ideas—especially recent ones—are seen, valued, and celebrated by the global community.”

Professor Sifakis, a 2007 awardee and currently Emeritus CNRS Research Director at Verimag Laboratory, addressed the field’s deepest challenges: “The answer to the quest for intelligence lies in exploring mental phenomena and understanding how consciousness arose in living organisms.”

Professor LeCun, Executive Chairman at AMI Labs and Jacob T. Schwartz Professor of Computer Science at New York University, received the Turing Award in 2018. He served for many years as Chief AI Scientist at Meta.

“Computing is one of the most important human capabilities”, said Council Chairman of HKUST, Professor Harry Shum. He recognised the power of computer science: “We are reaching human intelligence level quickly. This is going to have unprecedented and profound impact to humanity, mostly beneficial, but not without many concerns.”

Concluding the perspectives, Professor Jeannette M Wing, Executive Vice President for Research and Professor of Computer Science at Columbia University, said: “It’s a tribute to computer science for The Shaw Prize Foundation to recognize our field and to honor those who have not only provided a scientific understanding of computation, but also developed technology that has transformed every aspect of our lives.”

• Findings from Visa’s State of Digital Commerce in Asia Pacific study, commissioned by Visa and conducted by YouGov, surveying 14,764 consumers across 14 markets.

SINGAPORE, Feb. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Visa, a world leader in digital payments, today released new survey findings on the state of digital commerce in Asia Pacific, revealing that while consumers are increasingly using AI to shop, concerns over security and transparency are creating hesitation at the crucial moment of checkout.

With Asia Pacific’s rapid shift towards digital commerce and mobile-first shopping, the research shows that consumers are drawing a clear line between using AI to help them browse and trusting the same technology to handle their money and personal data. Demonstrating clearly how AI is used to spark discovery and securely handle payments is critical for consumers to feel confident using the technology to shop and pay.

“The way people shop is changing quickly, with AI now playing a growing role in how consumers discover and choose products,” said T.R. Ramachandran, Head of Products & Solutions, Asia Pacific at Visa. “But as AI becomes part of the checkout experience, trust and control become even more important. Consumers want to understand how their data is being used and feel confident that every transaction is secure. Building that trust is what will determine whether AI-powered commerce can truly scale.”

Affluent and digitally savvy consumers show higher levels of caution toward AI-enabled shopping

Consumers across Asia Pacific are increasingly relying on AI for the early stages of shopping, with 74% using AI-powered tools to discover, track or learn about products. Yet 26% remain unsure if AI recommendations fully align with their best interests, pointing to a desire for greater transparency and user control in AI-powered shopping.

The research also reveals that this caution is more pronounced among affluent households^[1], where 39% express higher expectations around how their data is used, compared to 29% among lower-income groups. Digital-first markets such as Australia (38%), New Zealand (37%) and Singapore (34%) also show above-average caution.

These findings underscore the need for trusted frameworks in AI-driven commerce, an area where Visa is enabling businesses to connect consumers, AI agents and merchants through a secure, scalable trust layer supported by Visa Intelligent Commerce and the Trusted Agent Protocol.

AI powers discovery, but trust decides the checkout                         

While consumers are comfortable using AI to compare prices and better understand product features, this confidence fades as transactions become more personal. The study finds that 32% of consumers remain reluctant to share personal or payment information with AI systems, and nearly half (45%) say they would be more open to AI-powered or agentic commerce if they had stronger assurances around payment security.

These findings highlight that while AI can successfully drive discovery, secure authentication and trusted payment experiences are essential to convert interest into action to unlock the full lifecycle of AI-enabled commerce.

“Consumers are ready for AI to play a more active role in shopping, and agentic commerce has already started scaling beyond concept and into daily life,” added T.R. Ramachandran. “For this shift to accelerate, trust and secure authentication must be in place. With solutions such as Tokenisation and Visa Payment Passkeys, Visa is delivering the seamless and secure experiences customers need — enabling people to shop with greater confidence as AI becomes a more natural part of everyday commerce.”

Emerging markets show higher openness to AI-driven commerce

Openness to agentic commerce varies across Asia Pacific, revealing that digital maturity does not automatically translate into trust. India and Vietnam lead the region, with 42% of consumers in each market open to using AI for online purchases, indicating strong appetites to experiment with new ways of shopping.

In contrast, consumers in digitally mature economies show greater reservation towards AI-enabled online shopping, with 14% in Singapore, 14% in Japan and 16% in New Zealand expressing interest. This hesitancy reflects higher expectations for data protection, security and personal control before embracing agentic commerce. The study also finds that improved payment security is the strongest enabler of increased adoption in these markets, reinforcing the need for a secure and trusted agentic ecosystem.

About the State of Digital Commerce in Asia Pacific 2025 study

The State of Digital Commerce in Asia Pacific 2025 study was conducted by YouGov in September 2025. The study surveyed 14,764 consumers aged 18 years and above across 14 Asia Pacific markets.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.