Editor’s Summary

• Ganzin will introduce AURORA IIE, its latest ASIC-based eye-tracking solution designed for next-generation AR/AI glasses and VR/MR headset.
• AURORA IIE moves eye-tracking computation from an NPU to a proprietary Eye Processing Unit 2 (EPU2), reducing power consumption to 1/4 of NPU-based solutions, enabling true always-on eye-tracking.
• Always-on eye-tracking allows gaze interaction and continuous capture of eye-based physiological indicators.
• AURORA IIE supports up to 120 Hz throughput, empowering advanced VR/MR devices, medical applications, and academic research.
• Ideal architecture: one ASIC processor (EPU2), two eye sensors, and two IR LEDs — maintaining the same ultra-compact design philosophy of Ganzin’s previous AURORA IIS platform.
• With the introduction of AURORA IIE, Ganzin now delivers a complete, scalable eye-tracking product line — from software IP to turnkey NPU solutions and finally an ultra-low-power ASIC platform ready for mass production.

NEW TAIPEI CITY, Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ganzin, a pioneer in glint-free wearable eye-tracking technology, is excited to announce the global debut of its next-generation AURORA IIE eye-tracking solution at CES 2026. Building on the success of last year’s AURORA IIS NPU solution, AURORA IIE introduces a custom-designed ASIC processor–Eye Processing Unit 2 (EPU2)–dedicated solely to eye-tracking computation.

For years, the high computational power required for eye-tracking has prevented AR/AI glasses from integrating this feature in a truly power-efficient manner. While AURORA IIS successfully offloaded processing from the host platform to a compact NPU, enabling substantial power savings, the move to ASIC marks another breakthrough.

EPU2: The Future of the Edge AI Computing for Wearable Eye Tracking

AURORA IIE is powered by Ganzin’s in-house developed ASIC, EPU2, engineered specifically for low-power, high-performance eye-tracking on wearable platforms. Compared to last year’s NPU-based architecture, the new ASIC achieves:

• 1/4 the power consumption of an NPU
• Always-on operation for gaze interaction and biometric sensing
• Ultra-compact form factor optimized for AR/AI smartglasses
• 120 Hz processing throughput, meeting the demands of VR/MR devices, medical institutions, and research labs

A Seamless, Minimalist Hardware Architecture

The AURORA IIE solution maintains the simplicity of Ganzin’s signature design:

• One dedicated ASIC processor, 3.6 x 3.6mm
• Two miniature eye sensors
• Two ultra-small IR LEDs

Flexible Product Portfolio and Business Models for Seamless Integration

With the launch of AURORA IIE, Ganzin now offers a fully scalable eye-tracking product portfolio tailored to different development stages and integration needs:

AURORA-II — Software IP Licensing

A proven, highly flexible eye-tracking software stack that delivers robust performance across diverse hardware platforms. Ideal for partners seeking maximum design freedom and customization capability.

AURORA-IIS — NPU-Based Turnkey Solution

A production-ready reference design leveraging partner NPUs to accelerate system integration and shorten time-to-market, while maintaining excellent flexibility, power efficiency, and performance.

AURORA-IIE — ASIC-Based EPU2 Platform

Ganzin’s next-generation ASIC solution featuring the EPU2 processor, delivering ultra-low-power, always-on eye-tracking in a compact, procurement-ready hardware form factor for mass-production devices.

Together, the AURORA family enables customers to adopt the right solution at every stage — from early prototyping to large-scale commercial deployment.

Leadership Statement

“AURORA IIE represents the next evolutionary stage of wearable eye-tracking,” said Dr. Shao-Yi Chien, CEO of Ganzin. “Our custom ASIC, EPU2, enables unprecedented power efficiency and allows always-on operation, opening the door to new applications in interaction, wellness, and research.”

Experience AURORA IIE at CES 2026

Ganzin will host private demonstrations of the AURORA IIE solution at its executive suite in the Westgate Hotel during CES 2026.

About Ganzin

Ganzin is a global leader in lightweight, compact, and energy-efficient eye-tracking technology for next-generation wearable and immersive devices. With a mission to create the most practical, easy-to-use eye-tracking solution for everyone, Ganzin provides hardware and software total solution that enable seamless integration into AR/AI glasses, VR/MR headsets.

SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Tencent Cloud, the cloud business of leading global technology and entertainment company Tencent, has been named a Leader in the recently released IDC MarketScape: Asia/Pacific AI-Enabled Front Office Conversational AI Software 2025 Vendor Assessment report (doc #AP52998625, November 2025).

Front office conversational AI brings intelligent, interactive capabilities that enhance user experiences and provide enterprises with end-to-end solutions from service to marketing, significantly improving operational efficiency. Today, it is one of the most representative application scenarios for generative AI.

As a pioneer in conversational AI, Tencent Cloud has accumulated rich experience in product application. For example, Tencent QiDian Customer Service leverages large language models (LLMs) and its proprietary Agent Development Platform (ADP) to power service chatbots for clients like DHL-Sinotrans, reducing daily manual service requests by 200 and increasing chatbot resolution rate from 69% to 74%.

To further elevate interactive experiences, Tencent Cloud AI Digital Human, also built on large language models, features precise intent recognition and lifelike, real-time interactions. This technology has already been deployed by global organizations such as Singapore Changi Airport and the Offshore Company of Vector Group, the world’s sixth largest (and Asia’s leading) PR company, optimizing their customer experiences.

Tencent Cloud’s Agent Development Platform (ADP) leverages Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), workflow orchestration, and multi-agent frameworks to help businesses rapidly build sophisticated AI agents. These agents go beyond answering questions to autonomously execute complex tasks like identity verification, cross-system order tracking, and database queries. The time from application development to launch has been reduced to as little as three minutes. Tencent Cloud’s ADP is now widely deployed and has been making real-world impact across sectors such as public affairs, media, and retail, with its capabilities accessible globally via Tencent Cloud’s international platform.

For instance, Huazhu Group, a world-class hotel group operating in 19 countries with over 12,000 hotels and 290 million members, partnered with Tencent Cloud’s ADP to create a “24/7 Digital Butler” within its app—Huaxia AI. Capable of handling complex tasks such as information inquiries, order management, guest requests, and in-room IoT controls, this digital butler significantly enhances the hotel’s operational efficiency.

Similarly, in the financial sector, Tencent Cloud collaborated with a leading securities firm to launch an “Intelligent Investment Assistant.” Designed to address investor queries, the assistant can provides information such as company earnings reports, industry trends, market hotspots, and historical stock performance—along with in-depth analysis. To date, the assistant has processed nearly 2 million queries, helping the securities firm achieve a 3x month-over-month increase in user penetration.

Tencent Cloud’s conversational AI footprint now extends across the Asia-Pacific region, with significant adoption in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. These solutions are driving digital transformation in sectors such as automotive manufacturing, cross-border logistics, pharmaceutical retail, and financial insurance. By integrating AI conversation into the essential services such as retail, dining, hospitality, and transportation of daily life, Tencent Cloud is making interactions more efficient while maintaining a human-centric approach.

In order to provide solutions tailored to local languages, cultures, and compliance needs, Tencent Cloud has established local teams and technical support centers across the globe, ensuring global enterprises receive responsive, localized service. Looking forward, Tencent Cloud will continue to deepen the integration of AI technology with industry-specific scenarios, offering more intelligent, adaptive, and fine-tuned products and services to help enterprises worldwide harness the power of AI and thrive in the intelligent era.

About Tencent Cloud:

Tencent Cloud, one of the world’s leading cloud companies, is committed to creating innovative solutions to resolve real-world issues and enabling digital transformation for smart industries. Through our extensive global infrastructure, Tencent Cloud provides businesses across the globe with stable and secure industry-leading cloud products and services, leveraging technological advancements such as cloud computing, Big Data analytics, AI, IoT, and network security. It is our constant mission to meet the needs of industries across the board, including the fields of gaming, media and entertainment, finance, healthcare, property, retail, travel, and transportation.

About IDC MarketScape:

IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of technology and service suppliers in a given market. The research utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each supplier’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of technology suppliers can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective suppliers.

The Norwegian Refugee Council’s Better Learning Programme, funded by Education Cannot Wait, delivers mental health and psychosocial support alongside education for children in Gaza.

GAZA, Palestine, Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In a tent in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, 12-year-old Masa carefully places her colored pencil on the page, tracing the curve of a wave. Her brown hair is pulled back in a ponytail, secured with two plastic barrettes. The sea she draws is calm and glimmering. 

Masa works on a drawing during a session of the Better Learning Programme in Gaza. © NRC

In her real world, nothing is calm. But in this small act of creativity – in the rhythm of drawing and comfort of her new learning space – Masa is learning to breathe again. 

She has already endured more loss than any child should. “I used to live a beautiful and peaceful life in the Al-Nasr area. My school was my wonderful world where I gathered with friends. But after the war started, we were forced to flee multiple times until we ended up in a tent at the Saned site in Deir al-Balah. My life became nothing but emptiness, suffering and extreme loneliness,” Masa says. After attacks and displacement orders forced her to flee her home – and the school and friendships that once gave her joy – she faced a daily battle with fear and feelings of despair. 

When a temporary learning space was established at the Saned site, Masa regained a small semblance of the childhood she once knew. She now attends learning sessions in a safe environment where she’s rebuilding her lost skills in Arabic and mathematics, making new friends, learning calming and coping techniques, and rediscovering joy through play and art. 

This initiative is funded by Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises in the United Nations, and is part of the Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) flagship Better Learning Programme (BLP). For children like Masa, it’s a first step towards recovery and hope.

Where Learning Establishes the Foundation for Healing

When Masa’s family fled Al-Nasr, the 12-year-old not only left behind her home, but her school, friends and beloved teachers. She spent long days in the family’s small tent in Saned site, her anxiety growing in the silence. She says, “I always felt isolated and distressed, with no one to talk to.” 

Even stepping outside of the tent was dangerous. Her mother urged her to stay inside, afraid for her safety. Her beloved aunt was killed in an airstrike on a school where she was sheltering, and her cousin’s leg was amputated after sustaining injuries in the same attack. Masa says, “I woke up terrified many times at night, sometimes waking my brother to calm me. I felt that death was getting closer to us and war and bombings were stealing the people we love.”

Everything changed the day a group of teachers visited her family’s tent. They spoke to her mother about a new learning tent at the site and encouraged Masa to join. 

Today, Masa regularly attends psychosocial and learning sessions through the BLP. The initiative weaves together basic education – including Arabic and mathematics – with therapeutic tools like breathing techniques, storytelling and guided drawing to help children process trauma and stress. “I learned deep breathing exercises, the safe place technique and relaxation methods. I practiced these techniques regularly, especially picturing my safe place,” says Masa.

One core aim of the initiative is to teach children self-regulation, calming and coping skills. Now, when Masa feels afraid, she remembers her teacher’s words – that negative thoughts make us feel hopeless. She then takes out her drawing supplies or talks to friends to cope.

Educators and community members are also equipped with tools to create safe learning environments and support children’s emotional recovery – part of ECW’s commitment to holistic quality education. ECW has supported education in the State of Palestine since 2019, where its investments have reached nearly one million crisis-affected children to date, 51% of them girls.

Masa says, “Since joining the sessions at the educational tent, I have felt some hope that life could return to us. I made friends and established a routine in my life. I also started drawing beautiful pictures again.” 

Rediscovering Hope, One Lesson at a Time

Masa now walks to the learning tent each day, where she reads, draws and relearns math and Arabic – the building blocks to education that two years of war had threatened to erase. She dreams of becoming a doctor. “I want to help children. It is my right, like all children in the world, to dream, grow and build my future,” she says. 

Yet, for children like her, that future hangs in the balance. Continued investment in education and mental health support is not a luxury – it is a necessity. BLP is just one step in a much longer journey towards recovery. But it is a powerful one.

“This grant from ECW allows us to begin restoring mental health and learning services,” says Jan Egeland, Secretary General of NRC. “But it is only a drop in an ocean of need. These children must not be forgotten.” 

In a corner of a tent in Deir al-Balah, Masa picks up her pencil again. The waves on the page are growing stronger. She still carries the weight of grief, but her drawings whisper something else: resilience. “I love drawing the sea because it reminds me that life is still possible and beautiful.” 

– How NEC’s AI Is Creating What’s Ahead in Malaysia

TOKYO, Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) recently won awards in various categories at the Newsweek AI Impact APAC & EMEA Awards, which identify and recognize organisations for their innovative use of AI to solve everyday business challenges.

Malaysia’s continued focus on digital transformation across industries underscores the need for AI that is reliable, transparent, and trusted. NEC’s recognition at the Newsweek AI Impact Awards reflects the growing relevance of trusted AI as organisations across Malaysia scale digital services and drive innovation.

Award Summary

NEC’s proprietary AI technologies and solutions were recognized in the following categories.

1.     AI Brand & Retail > Best Outcomes, Product Development and Innovation

(1)  Title

AI-Powered New Product Demand Forecasting: Driving Consensus Through Predictive Insights

(2)  Overview

In traditional new product development, insufficient historical data made it difficult to create accurate forecasts. NEC’s AI-powered New Product Demand Forecasting Solution leverages proprietary AI to predict and support stakeholder consensus-building.

(3)  Reference URL

https://jpn.nec.com/press/202406/20240617_01.html (Japanese text)

2．Best of “Most Innovative AI Technology or Service” > Extraordinary Impact in AI innovation

(1)  Title

NEC’s Negotiation AI: Automating Delivery Adjustments for Greater Efficiency

(2)  Overview

NEC’s proprietary AI technology automates the negotiation and adjustment processes traditionally performed by humans. It automatically derives essential and desirable conditions for negotiations and proposes mutually acceptable, optimal terms. Leveraging this technology, NEC aims to automate delivery date and quantity adjustments in the procurement of parts from suppliers. A proof-of-concept applied to procurement operations within the NEC Group confirmed significant improvements in operational efficiency.

(3)  Reference URL

https://www.nec.com/en/global/solutions/ai/analyze/negotiationai.html

3．Best of “Most Innovative AI Technology or Service” > Extraordinary Impact in AI Transparency or Responsibility

(1)  Title

Fact or Fiction?  How NEC’s AI Keeps LLMs Trustworthy

(2)  Overview

NEC is addressing LLM hallucination issues by providing three functions—Quality Checker, LLM Explainer, and Fact Checker—to verify LLM outputs and enhance safety. Rollout began sequentially starting in October 2024. These functions are compatible with both NEC’s proprietary AI core technology NEC cotomi and the “Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service.” This enables reliable generative AI across a wide range of applications.

(3)  Reference URL

https://jpn.nec.com/press/202409/20240918_04.html (Japanese text)

4．AI Workplace > Best Outcomes, Leadership and Succession Planning

(1)  Title

Client Zero: NEC Leading AI Implementation at the Forefront of Transformation

(2)  Overview

NEC positions itself as “Client Zero” (the first customer of its own solutions), building a model for corporate transformation by leveraging cutting-edge technologies, including AI. It also extends these results to its customers, with the introduction of AI into management dashboards, for example. This enables not only the visualization of actual performance data but also the incorporation of performance forecasts, facilitating rapid decision-making and swift action to anticipate future developments.

(3)  Reference URL

https://jpn.nec.com/press/202407/20240710_01.html (Japanese text)

Going forward, NEC will continue to research and develop safe and secure AI that successfully drives transformation, contributing to solving customers’ business challenges.

Wataru Irie, Managing Director of NEC Corporation of Malaysia, shares, “This recognition reinforces NEC’s commitment to delivering trusted and responsible AI in support of Malaysia’s Smart Nation 2030 ambitions. By ensuring every innovation is reliable and built for long-term impact, we continue Creating What’s Ahead for Malaysia.”

About NEC

The NEC Group leverages technology to create social value and promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. NEC Corporation was established in 1899. Today, the NEC Group’s approximately 110,000 employees utilize world-leading AI, security, and communications technologies to solve the most pressing needs of customers and society.

For more information, please visit https://www.nec.com, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

HONG KONG, Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Women Leaders in Energy Awards 2026, a cornerstone initiative of The Battery Show Asia, have officially opened for global nominations. The awards seek to honor the women driving strategic innovation and sustainable development across the entire energy value chain. This initiative shines a spotlight on women pioneers who are reshaping the future of energy through strategic innovation, technological breakthroughs, and sustainable development.

According to International Energy Agency (IEA), women represent only about 20% of the workforce in the global energy industry, with the proportion of female senior managers significantly lower than in other industries. Structural barriers continue to limit women’s participation in driving energy innovation and influencing management decision-making. The Women Leaders in Energy Awards aim to address these gaps by amplifying the voices of women in the energy sector, establishing a global platform for female leaders, and fostering a paradigm shift toward gender inclusivity and innovation.

“Despite women being pivotal to innovation, they remain significantly underrepresented in the energy sector, particularly in leadership roles”, said Dan Ye, Vice President – Strategic Initiatives at Informa Markets Asia and Head of The Battery Show Asia. “The Women Leaders in Energy Awards are more than just recognition. They are a critical platform to amplify these voices, inspire the next generation, and accelerate the industry’s shift towards true gender inclusivity and collaborative innovation.”

Award Categories

Under the theme “The Dawn Light, Illuminating the Future of Energy”, the Women Leaders in Energy Awards 2026 feature two distinguished categories:

• Energy Changemaker Award: Recognizing influential female leaders who are driving industry transformation and creating significant value for the energy sector.
• Energy Rising Star Award: Celebrating women leading the charge in energy innovation through cutting-edge technologies and groundbreaking business models.

Nomination and Timeline

Nominations are now open to honor established industry leaders and inspiring stories of resilience and innovation from women rewriting the narrative of energy transformation. Key dates include:

• Nomination Deadline: January 30, 2026
• Shortlist Announcement: February 27, 2026
• Award Ceremony: March 10, 2026, during The Battery Show Asia 2026 Gala Dinner

This initiative is more than an accolade – it is a vital platform connecting female leaders, industry organizations, and decision-makers. We encourage:

• Corporate Leaders: Nominate the women changemakers in your teams.
• Emerging Innovators: Boldly share your groundbreaking achievements.
• Energy Enthusiasts: Spread the word about this dual revolution of gender and innovation.

For more information and to submit a nomination, please visit: www.thebatteryshow.asia/awards/

Let us celebrate and empower the women shaping the future of energy!

About The Battery Show Asia

The world’s leading battery and energy exhibition, The Battery Show made its electrifying Asian debut in July 2025. In 2026, the show returns to AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong (March 10–12), welcoming 20,000+ policymakers, innovators, engineers, manufacturers, and thought leaders for three days of immersive networking and cutting-edge showcases.

For Awards Nomination & Sponsorship, please contact:

Hubert Guan

Email: Hubert.Guan@informa.com

-Advances smart homes through Ambient AI that understands user context and delivers proactive services

-Leverages a single camera and proprietary on-device LLMs to enhance privacy protection and product competitiveness

-Targets the North American smart home market with a global product launch planned for Q1 2026, with NAVER D2SF providing active support for global expansion

SEONGNAM, South Korea, Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — NAVER D2SF, corporate venturing(CV) arm of NAVER, announced a new investment in Sorcerics, an Ambient AI startup developing autonomous AI home solutions. Sorcerics has built an AI-powered home system that understands users’ situations, intentions, and contextual signals to proactively deliver services, and is preparing for a global product launch in North America in the first quarter of 2026.

Guided by the philosophy of Ambient AI—where technology blends naturally into everyday environments—Sorcerics aims to transform smart homes into spaces that “take care of users on their own.” While conventional smart home systems operate passively by responding only to explicit commands, Sorcerics pursues a fully autonomous AI home that adapts to users and delivers services proactively based on contextual understanding.

Sorcerics’ AI home solution combines a single camera with its proprietary large language model (LLM) to analyze user gestures, behaviors, and environmental cues, enabling a nuanced understanding of user intent and the delivery of optimal services. For example, instead of simply turning off the lights when a user lies down, the system interprets the user’s readiness for sleep and adjusts lighting levels accordingly. By running up to five AI models simultaneously on-device, the solution enhances privacy protection while maintaining high performance. In addition, Sorcerics has secured product competitiveness by developing aesthetically refined hardware at approximately one-quarter of the cost of comparable solutions.

The Sorcerics founding team, led by CEO Hyeonjong Ryu, brings strong engineering expertise and execution capabilities, with more than a decade of experience in core product development and research at global technology companies including Google. The company is currently conducting beta tests in North America and is targeting a Kickstarter launch in the first quarter of 2026. Sorcerics also plans to participate in CES 2026 to showcase its product to global consumers and potential partners.

Although approximately 48% of households in North America already own at least one smart device, the market still lacks proactive, integrated solutions capable of meeting rapidly growing user expectations. Sorcerics plans to address this gap swiftly, aiming to establish a strong market position and build durable entry barriers. To support this growth, the company is actively recruiting top talent across AI, software, hardware, business, and marketing functions.

Yang Sang-hwan, Head of NAVER D2SF, stated, “The true value of technology lies not in users having to understand and learn it, but in technology understanding users and delivering services naturally. Sorcerics has the potential to overcome the limitations of existing smart home solutions and create truly convenient smart environments for users.” He added, “With more than 80% of NAVER D2SF’s portfolio companies actively expanding into global markets, we will continue to support capable technology startups as they pursue meaningful growth on the global stage.” (END)

About NAVER
Founded in 1999, NAVER is Korea’s largest Internet company and one of the world’s top tech companies. Leading cutting-edge technologies, NAVER operates No.1 search engine in Korea and holds various business portfolios encompassing commerce, fintech, cloud, AI and robotics, as well as other global online services such as LINE mobile messenger, Webtoon and Webnovel publishing, SNOW video camera app and ZEPETO metaverse platform.

NAVER recorded sales of KRW 10.74 trillion (USD 7.5 billion) in 2024. TEAM NAVER continues to enhance its business portfolio and expand its global presence across Japan, North America, and Europe, while pursuing innovation through continuous research and development in future technologies.
To learn more, visit www.navercorp.com/en