• Nearly 9 in 10 developers across Southeast Asia and India state they use AI weekly, with clear productivity gains reported
• Only 43% believe AI can currently perform at mid-level engineer quality
• 79% cite inconsistent outputs as the biggest barrier to deeper AI integration, outweighing concerns about access, cost, or tooling
• Philippines (88%) and Thailand (84%) show highest concerns about output reliability; even mature markets like Singapore (77%) and Malaysia (73%) remain cautious.

SINGAPORE, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Developers across Southeast Asia and India are using AI at scale, but confidence in its reliability has yet to fully mature, according to findings from Agoda’s AI Developer Report 2025. While AI has become a regular part of software development workflows, many engineers remain cautious, treating it as an accelerator rather than a dependable substitute for human judgment. AI adoption is now widespread across the region. Nearly nine in ten developers say they use AI on a weekly basis, and most report clear productivity gains. However, confidence has not kept pace with usage. 

Only 43% believe AI can currently perform at the level of a mid-level engineer, highlighting a persistent gap between adoption and confidence. In fact, several major markets show skepticism above the regional average, like Thailand (48%), India (47%), the Philippines (45%), and Singapore (44%).

Within these markets, confidence erodes further for a subset of developers who say they do not think it is possible for AI to match a mid-level developer in quality today. This view is most pronounced in the Philippines (11%), followed by Singapore (7%), Vietnam (7%), Thailand (7%), and India (5%), showing that for many developers, the trust gap extends beyond temporary hesitation.

Inconsistent output remains the primary concern. Seventy-nine percent of developers cite unreliable results as the biggest barrier to deeper AI integration, outweighing concerns related to access, cost, or tooling. This challenge is most acute in markets such as the Philippines (88%) and Thailand (84%), where concerns about output reliability are highest. Even in more mature AI markets like Singapore (77%) and Malaysia (73%), inconsistent results continue to temper confidence and reinforce the need for human oversight.

In response, developers have adapted their workflows to maintain quality. Two-thirds report they always review AI-generated code before merging, and many routinely rework outputs until they meet production standards.

Instead of reducing accountability, the Report finds that AI use has increased the emphasis on review and human oversight. Verification and ownership have become more prominent in daily development work, with engineers retaining responsibility for final outcomes. Confidence, for now, is conditional, built through repetition, testing, and experience rather than assumed by default.

“The next differentiator will not be who adopts AI first, but who builds a clear framework around it for consistent and productive usage,” said Idan Zalzberg, Chief Technology Officer at Agoda. “Southeast Asia and India’s strengths lie in speed and adaptability. Developers are advancing AI adoption with peer oversight and disciplined practices, but the next step is to pair that momentum with enhanced confidence in its capabilities.”

The findings suggest that AI maturity is no longer defined by adoption alone. While productivity gains are tangible, confidence grows only when outputs are consistent and predictable. Teams with strong review habits report higher confidence, while those without structured verification remain more cautious.

At Agoda, these insights reflect how engineering teams work with AI day to day. Developers are encouraged to experiment with AI tools while maintaining clear ownership over outcomes, with review and verification remaining part of standard development practice. This approach supports productivity gains while reinforcing confidence in the quality of AI-assisted outputs.

The Agoda AI Developer Report 2025 draws on survey responses from developers across Southeast Asia and India and includes insights from regional companies such as Carousell, MoMo, Omise, and SCB 10X. It provides a detailed view of how developers are integrating AI into their workflows, where confidence breaks down, and what it will take to move from widespread use to trusted maturity.

Dali Jia Ma Prints and Fengxian Printmaking Exhibited at CHANDO Future Beauty Innovation Hub

SHANGHAI, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On January 29, 2026, the exhibition Tracing Beauty in Motion — A Printmaking Exchange between Dali Jia Ma Woodblock Prints of Yunnan and Fengxian Printmaking of Shanghai opened to the public at Oriental Beauty Valley CHANDO Future Beauty Innovation Hub. The exhibition is presented in coordination with the Shanghai Municipal Office for Cultural and Creative Industries and the Cooperation and Exchange Office of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, with institutional support from the Fengxian District Bureau of Culture and Tourism, and is jointly organized by Shanghai CHANDO Group, the Dali Craftsman Spirit • Jia Ma Woodblock Print Art Museum, and the Fengxian District Cultural Museum. The exhibition will run through March 1. As part of the broader interregional collaboration framework between Fengxian and Dali, the exhibition offers a platform for cross-regional artistic exchange, tracing a journey from the cultural traditions of the Greater Himalayan region to contemporary printmaking practices along the East China Sea, in line with the exhibition theme “Mountains and Seas in Harmony, Beauty Shared by All.”

Alongside the exhibition, a series of related public programs, including a Spring Festival Garden Fair and a New Year Shopping Festival, are being held. Through a combination of cultural displays, traditional activities, and visitor participation, these programs offer residents and visitors an opportunity to engage with Spring Festival traditions in a contemporary setting.

A Cross-Regional Artistic Exchange
Since Fengxian District and Dali Prefecture established a partnership in 2021, the two local governments have worked together on initiatives spanning industrial collaboration, public services, and talent exchange, supported by a multi-level framework for cooperation. This exhibition extends that collaboration into the field of cultural exchange.

With operations based in Fengxian and longstanding engagement in Yunnan, CHANDO Group has participated in a range of collaborative initiatives linking the two regions. Dali Prefecture in Yunnan serves as a key source of raw materials for the company. In October 2023, the partners introduced a city-themed co-branded product, the limited-edition Polar Holy Water “Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon” — Dali Edition. In July 2024, additional co-branded products followed, including the euspa “Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon” hair and body care collection and the Dali 3000 Sunscreen Set. In the same year, during the Fengxian–Dali cooperation conference, CHANDO Group donated 500,000 yuan to the Dali Foundation for Poverty Alleviation to support local community initiatives. The joint presentation of this intangible cultural heritage printmaking exhibition reflects a further instance of cultural collaboration between the two regions.

At the opening ceremony, Dr. Chen Juanling, General Manager of Public Affairs at CHANDO Group, noted in her remarks that the printmaking exhibition is the 12th initiative in the CHANDO Art Program and coincides with the company’s 25th anniversary, under the theme “Together in Beauty.” She said the company focuses on bringing together technology, culture, and the natural environment through its public cultural initiatives, and that its participation in the exhibition reflects an ongoing commitment to cultural exchange and to the preservation and contemporary presentation of intangible cultural heritage. She added that the exhibition is intended to show how traditional cultural forms can continue to resonate in contemporary settings, while offering the public a range of participatory experiences, including the garden fair, traditional activities, and interactive programs.

Following the remarks, representatives of the participating institutions opened the exhibition and visited CHANDO Future Beauty Innovation Hub, where they viewed both the Science and Art of Cosmetics Exhibition and the Tracing Beauty in Motion printmaking exhibition. Works from both regions are displayed together, fostering dialogue across regions and generations, and highlighting shared cultural appreciation.

Intangible Cultural Heritage in Dialogue: A Cross-Regional Exchange between Jia Ma and Fengxian Prints
The exhibition is organized into two main sections: Marks of Blessing: The Spiritual Map of Jia Ma and Local Dialogues: Fengxian Printmaking Practices, which introduce the artistic traditions and cultural backgrounds of prints from both regions.

Dali Jia Ma prints, originating in the Tang Dynasty, are created using traditional woodblock printing techniques on Jia Ma paper. Their motifs feature deities, natural elements, and scenes from daily life, and have traditionally served ritual and ceremonial functions. Historically used in blessing practices, these prints express the Bai community’s cultural traditions and social values.

Fengxian printmaking, rooted in Jiangnan cultural traditions, draws on established printmaking methods while incorporating contemporary perspectives, using detailed carving and layered compositions to reflect the character of a developing coastal district.

Spring Festival Garden Fair and New Year Shopping Festival: Public Cultural Activities and Community Engagement
Located in Fengxian, Shanghai, Oriental Beauty Valley CHANDO Future Beauty Innovation Hub is a flagship project developed by CHANDO Group. The project brings together cultural programming, tourism, retail, and public exhibitions, combining beauty science education, product displays, intelligent manufacturing showcases, and on-site retail, and providing a publicly accessible venue that links industry, education, and cultural experience. It has been recognized as one of Shanghai’s Top 10 Iconic Cultural and Tourism Projects for 2025.

To coincide with the exhibition opening, CHANDO Future Beauty Innovation Hub launched the Spring Festival Garden Fair and Factory Store New Year Shopping Festival, bringing together traditional culture, hands-on experiences, and consumer activities. The garden fair features public participation stations, including Jia Ma woodblock printing demonstrations, calligraphy and Spring Festival couplets, New Year-themed makeup experiences, seasonal food tastings, fortune drawing, and photo areas, creating a festive environment designed for broad public participation.

CHANDO Group introduced the Bai cultural blessing, “Yangyang Hao” to the Shanghai audience, creating a “Good Luck” installation where visitors can record and display New Year wishes, representing shared aspirations for the year ahead.

The Factory Store New Year Shopping Festival runs through February 13, offering limited-edition product sets and an additional 10% discount on top of store promotions. By linking cultural programming with commercial activity, the initiative supports seasonal consumer activity while contributing to the coordinated development of cultural, tourism, and commercial offerings.

Public Engagement and Regional Cooperation
CHANDO Group has participated in a range of public-interest and cultural programs, including support for the Keyan Return Program for women in scientific research, the Spring Bud Project for rural education, and initiatives promoting cross-regional cultural exchange. The Group continues to assess ways in which corporate participation can support cultural preservation and regional cooperation.

Looking ahead, CHANDO plans to continue utilizing the Oriental Beauty Valley CHANDO Future Beauty Innovation Hub platform to further develop the “cultural, tourism, commercial, and sports exhibitions + industrial tourism” model, with the aim of expanding public access to cultural programs that combine science, art, and everyday life, and supporting sustainable regional cultural development.

Seoul Office Market Enters Structural Reallocation Phase After Record KRW 22.9 Trillion Recovery

NEW YORK and SEOUL, Korea, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Newmark Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NMRK) (“Newmark”), a leading commercial real estate advisor and service provider to global corporations, institutional investors, and owners and occupiers, today released its 2026 Seoul Office Market Outlook for Capital Markets and Leasing, highlighting a robust occupier market alongside a rapidly recovering capital markets environment.

Newmark Group, Inc.

Executive Commentary

“Seoul’s office market remains fundamentally resilient across both occupier and capital markets,” said John Pritchard, Managing Director and Country Head of Newmark Korea. “We are seeing a strategic reallocation of demand, as corporates and investors focus on higher-quality, more efficient assets. Tenant demand is increasingly concentrating in prime and newly developed offices, while aging stock faces growing competitive pressure.”

Judy Jang, Executive Director, Head of Research– Korea, added, “Following the record KRW 22.9 trillion transaction year in 2025, capital is returning to the market as confidence in pricing and income stability improves. Looking ahead, asset-level differentiation will be the defining factor for performance, with market polarization becoming a foundational feature of the Seoul office landscape.”

Occupier Market: Structural Reallocation, Not Demand Exit

Corporate relocations across Seoul in 2025 reflect a fundamental shift in workplace strategy rather than cost-driven exits. Major occupiers are consolidating, upgrading and repositioning their office footprints to support hybrid work, collaboration and talent attraction.

Tenant decision-making is increasingly driven by building quality, ESG performance, accessibility and workplace experience. As a result, demand continues to concentrate in prime and newly delivered offices, while aging and non-renovated stock faces growing competitive pressure. This mirrors trends observed across global gateway cities such as London, New York, Singapore and Tokyo.

Capital Markets: Recovery Turns Fundamental

Seoul’s office investment market staged a strong recovery in 2025, supported by stabilizing interest rates, improving financing conditions and the return of institutional capital. Core and prime assets in Central Business District (CBD), Gangnam Business District (GBD) and Yeouido Business District (YBD) demonstrated strong downside protection, supported by stable leasing fundamentals and long-term investor conviction.

Beyond the traditional core, investor interest is expanding into function-driven office clusters such as Seongsu–Seoul Forest, Magok, Pangyo–Bundang and Sangam DMC, reflecting a broader reallocation of office demand.

Supply & Development Cycle

Rising construction costs and permitting delays have pushed Seoul’s next major supply wave into 2028–2029, extending the current period of limited new completions.

Near-term deliveries in 2026, including G1 Seoul, Rene Square and Eul Tower, will test short-term absorption, but pre-leasing momentum suggests that demand for prime assets remains intact. The delayed development pipeline is expected to support rental stability in prime assets while creating a medium-term inflection point for the market cycle.

Submarket Outlook

• CBD: Short-term vacancy volatility driven by large corporate relocations, with asset repositioning accelerating and the major supply cycle delayed to 2028–2029.
    
• GBD: Low vacancy due to a limited development pipeline, supported by strong headquarters-driven leasing and owner-occupier demand.
    
• YBD: Resilient financial sector demand, portfolio restructuring and redevelopment-driven tenant reshuffling, with future supply largely owner-occupied.

Why Seoul Matters to Global Capital

• Asia’s fourth-largest economy
• Global hub for technology, finance, content, biotech and advanced manufacturing
• One of Asia’s most liquid office investment markets
• Deep domestic institutional capital base
• Growing cross-border investor participation

About Newmark
Newmark Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NMRK), together with its subsidiaries (“Newmark”), is a world leader in commercial real estate, seamlessly powering every phase of the property life cycle. Newmark’s comprehensive suite of services and products is uniquely tailored to each client, from owners to occupiers, investors to founders, and startups to blue-chip companies. Combining the platform’s global reach with market intelligence in both established and emerging property markets, Newmark provides superior service to clients across the industry spectrum. For the twelve months ended September 30, 2025, Newmark generated revenues of over $3.1 billion. As of September 30, 2025, Newmark and its business partners together operated from approximately 170 offices with over 8,500 professionals across four continents. To learn more, visit nmrk.com or follow @newmark.

Discussion of Forward-Looking Statements about Newmark
Statements in this document regarding Newmark that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These include statements about the Company’s business, results, financial position, liquidity, and outlook, which may constitute forward-looking statements and are subject to the risk that the actual impact may differ, possibly materially, from what is currently expected. Except as required by law, Newmark undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see Newmark’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors and Special Note on Forward-Looking Information set forth in these filings and any updates to such risk factors and Special Note on Forward-Looking Information contained in subsequent reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K.

Project highlights Recharge Power’s utility-scale system integration and EPC delivery capabilities

TAIPEI, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Recharge Power Co., Ltd., the energy storage subsidiary of J&V Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (6869), has been selected to undertake the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) works for a large-scale solar-plus-storage project. With a total capacity of 48MW/185.7MWh, this project, as part of HEXA Renewables’ solar-plus-storage integration initiative, demonstrates Recharge Power’s capabilities in hybrid system integration and utility-scale storage delivery.

HEXA Renewables, an international renewable energy platform, focuses on building a diversified portfolio of renewable generation and energy storage integration projects in Taiwan. This collaboration reflects Recharge Power’s track record in complex project execution and system integration.

This solar-plus-storage project, featuring 48MW/185.7MWh of battery storage, is scheduled to break ground in the first half of this year. The deployment of this large-scale energy storage system will provide peak shaving and load shifting services to mitigate the intermittency of renewable power, while improving grid dispatch flexibility, overall resilience, and solar penetration. The project is expected to generate significant EPC revenue during the construction phase and, upon completion, rank among one of Taiwan’s most significant utility-scale solar-plus-storage facilities.

“Recharge Power possesses strong system integration capabilities, supported by established project management, construction coordination, and quality control expertise,” said Spencer Feng, Chief Executive Officer of Recharge Power. “This expertise enabled us to complete Taiwan’s first grid-connected solar-storage project with our parent company, J&V Energy Technology, in December 2023. This project forms part of  HEXA Renewables’ solar-plus-storage integration efforts, standing as one of the largest solar-plus-storage facilities in Taiwan. It further validates our EPC and O&M capabilities in energy storage systems and builds on our accumulated experience in this field.”

Beyond Taiwan’s first solar-plus-storage project, Recharge Power has developed several pioneering and benchmark storage projects in the local market, including Taiwan’s first Automatic Frequency Control (AFC) project, Taipower’s first grid-connected substation energy storage project, and a 200MW/335MWh large-scale storage project. These projects illustrate Recharge Power’s end-to-end technical integration and execution capabilities across multiple grid and energy storage use cases.

“In line with our overall strategy, utility-scale energy storage has become foundational infrastructure supporting the energy transition and grid stability as renewable penetration increases,” said Kai Tan, Deputy General Manager of J&V Energy Technology. “Securing Taiwan’s largest solar-plus-storage EPC project not only solidifies the Group’s leadership position in the domestic storage market, but also creates a vital track record for its further global expansion.”

Mr. Tan added that the Group will draw on its experience from Taiwan’s large-scale solar-plus-storage and grid-level storage projects to strengthen technological integration and operational capabilities. “We plan to expand our storage business into overseas markets with high growth potential, establishing a replicable and scalable international business model. This will sustain long-term growth and deliver deployable, integrated solutions that enable the global energy transition.”

About Recharge Power Co., Ltd.

Recharge Power Co., Ltd., a Battery Energy Storage System Integrator (BESSI) under J&V Energy Technology Co., Ltd., is one of the few companies in Taiwan offering fully integrated, end-to-end services for grid-scale energy storage systems. Its comprehensive solutions and services cover system design review, industrial control and communication systems, site construction, installation, commissioning, as well as long-term operation and maintenance (O&M) and qualified trading services.

To date, its cumulative installed storage capacity exceeds 370MW/886MWh, encompassing multiple milestones in Taiwan’s storage development. These include Taiwan’s first AFC demonstration project, Taipower’s first grid-connected substation energy storage project, the first grid-connected solar-plus-storage project, and the largest privately-owned storage project in Taiwan, demonstrating mature system integration and disciplined engineering execution.

Beyond Taiwan, Recharge Power has continued to build its presence in the Japanese storage market, with several projects already grid-connected and a 24/7 O&M system established across Taiwan and Japan. This provides an operational foundation for the global growth of J&V Energy Technology’s storage business.