• Half (50%) of business leaders from the financial services sector report that AI is deployed in their organisations but limited to selected departments or functions, while a combined 20% are either still in an exploratory stage (11%) or have no concrete plans for adoption (9%).

• Leaders cite data governance and privacy compliance (34%), cybersecurity and risk concerns (32%), data fragmentation and quality issues (31%), regulatory uncertainty around AI use (30%), and shortages in AI talent and technical expertise (30%) as the main barriers preventing AI from being deployed at scale in the sector.

• More than two in five leaders (42%) report difficulty attracting talent with emerging skills such as AI, ESG and cybersecurity, while 39% say they struggle to upskill existing employees at the required pace by regulatory and market changes.

• Finance leaders identify AI and machine learning expertise as the most critical capability to develop (46%), yet is also cited as the most lacking (34%). Other critical skills for the sector include cybersecurity (41%) and AI governance and ethical AI practices (38%).

SINGAPORE, April 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — While financial institutions are adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI), workforce capabilities are struggling to keep pace. Additionally, AI adoption has yet to be scaled consistently across organisations, with half (50%) of business leaders surveyed reporting that AI is deployed in their organisations but is limited to selected departments or functions, while a combined 20% are either still in an exploratory stage (11%) or have no concrete plans for adoption (9%).

While business leaders identify AI adoption (63%) as the driver with the greatest workforce impact in the coming two years, there are barriers to deploy AI at scale in the sector. They cite data governance and privacy compliance (34%), cybersecurity and risk concerns (32%), data fragmentation and quality issues (31%), regulatory uncertainty around AI use (30%), and shortages in AI talent and technical expertise (30%) as the main barriers to AI-scaling.

These are some of the key findings from NTUC LearningHub’s Industry Insights Report on Financial Services, which surveyed 200 business leaders to examine how technological change, sustainability priorities and workforce capabilities are shaping the future of the industry.

Against this backdrop, workforce readiness emerged as a key challenge. More than two in five leaders (42%) report difficulty attracting talent with emerging skills such as AI, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and cybersecurity, while 39% say they struggle to upskill existing employees quickly enough to keep pace with regulatory and market changes.

Beyond talent availability, the report also points to capability gaps within the financial services sector. Business leaders identify AI and machine learning expertise as the most critical future capability (46%), yet more than one-third of leaders (34%) say it is currently lacking in their workforce. Other skills business leaders believe are critical to develop in the sector include cybersecurity (41%) and AI governance and ethical AI practices (38%), fraud and financial crime prevention (34%), and risk management (31%).

In response to these challenges, organisations in the sector are stepping up their investment in training and development. More than one-third of business leaders (37%) report having sent employees for financial services-related training in the past two years, while 50% of leaders say they plan to do so within the next one to two years, signalling a strong intent to strengthen workforce capabilities. This emphasis in workforce development is reinforced by broad recognition of formal credentials, with more than four in five business leaders (25% very important, 59% quite important) acknowledging the importance of industry-recognised certifications in validating employee competencies.

At the same time, business leaders recognise that workforce development must extend beyond technical capabilities. They also identify a continuous learning mindset (41%), critical thinking (40%), and creativity in product and service innovation (39%) as the top human skills for professionals in the financial services to develop.

Commenting on the report’s findings, Mr Tay Ee Learn, Assistant Chief Executive and Chief Sector Skills Officer, NTUC LearningHub, says, “AI is already being used across many parts of the financial services sector, but widespread usage alone does not automatically translate into productivity or competitive advantage. The findings show that the real challenge lies in scaling AI responsibly across the organisation, where gaps in talent, governance and data capabilities continue to hold teams back. For organisations, especially small and medium‑sized firms, AI can be a powerful tool but only if employees are equipped with the right technical, governance and human capabilities. Structured upskilling that integrates AI and data expertise, cybersecurity, ethical AI practices and critical thinking is essential to help organisations move beyond pilots and unlock measurable business impact. This is where targeted training and industry‑recognised certifications play a vital role in building the capabilities needed to make AI work at scale.”

To download the Industry Insights Report on Financial Services, please visit https://www.ntuclearninghub.com/media/research-reports/2026/financial-services. To find out more about the courses, training, and grants, please contact NTUC LearningHub at www.ntuclearninghub.com.

About NTUC LearningHub

NTUC LearningHub is the leading Continuing Education and Training provider in Singapore which aims to transform the lifelong employability of working people. Since our corporatisation in 2004, we have been working with employers and individual learners to provide learning solutions in areas such as Infocomm Technology, Generative AI & Cloud, Healthcare, Retail & Food Services, Employability & Literacy, Business Excellence, Workplace Safety & Health, Security, Human Resources & Coaching and Foreign Workers Training.

To date, NTUC LearningHub has helped over 34,000 organisations and achieved more than 3.2 million training places across more than 1,000 courses with a pool of about 1,000 certified trainers. As a Total Learning Solutions provider to organisations, we also forge partnerships to offer a wide range of relevant end-to-end training. Besides in-person training, we also offer instructor-led virtual live classes (VLCs) and asynchronous online learning. The NTUC LearningHub Learning eXperience Platform (LXP)—a one-stop online learning platform—offers timely, bite-sized and quality content for learners to upskill anytime and anywhere. Beyond learning, LXP also serves as a platform for jobs and skills development for both workers and companies.

For more information, visit www.ntuclearninghub.com.

PANAMA CITY, April 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BingX, a leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3-AI company, has announced the launch of SpaceX Pre-IPO perpetual futures, alongside the introduction of the SpaceX Xpool Airdrop campaign. This dual initiative enables users to gain exposure to one of the most closely watched private companies while earning rewards through participation.

SPACEX (VNTL) perpetual futures officially launched on April 14, 2026, and quickly gained strong traction among users, with SPACEX (PreStocks) launching on April 16, 2026. Within the first 24 hours of its launch, SpaceX (VNTL) rose to the third-largest new TradFi asset on the platform by trading volume.

BingX is also introducing a dedicated airdrop event for SpaceX Pre-IPO RWA, offering structured rewards for new users and exclusive benefits for VIP members, with BingX Xpool staking to become available from April 21, 2026. This initiative reinforces BingX’s commitment to enhancing user experience while leveraging its proven track record of delivering stable returns through the Xpool ecosystem.

“SpaceX is exactly the type of high-interest asset that users have historically been unable to access,” said Pablo Monti, Spokesperson at BingX. “This launch not only expands our TradFi offerings, but also bridging the gap by unlocking access to high-growth private market opportunities.”

About BingX

Founded in 2018, BingX is a leading crypto exchange and Web3-AI company, serving over 40 million users worldwide. Ranked among the top five global crypto derivatives exchanges and a pioneer of crypto copy trading, BingX addresses the evolving needs of users across all experience levels.

Powered by a comprehensive suite of AI-driven products and services, including futures, spot, copy trading, and TradFi offerings, BingX empowers users with innovative tools designed to enhance performance, confidence, and efficiency.

BingX has been the principal partner of Chelsea FC since 2024, and became the first official crypto exchange partner of Scuderia Ferrari HP in 2026.

For more information, please visit: https://bingx.com/

• Singapore set to host BLAST’s third event as multi-year partnership with Singapore Tourism Board continues to grow

SINGAPORE, April 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BLAST has today announced that the first BLAST Premier Open of 2027 will take place in Singapore from 15-28 March 2027, marking the next major milestone in its multi-year partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

The event will be BLAST’s third tournament hosted in Singapore, following the hugely successful BLAST Premier World Final 2024 and BLAST Dota Slam Singapore 2025, and represents the latest step in a long-term commitment to bring world-class esports and entertainment experiences to the region.

Singapore has already proven to be a standout destination on the global BLAST calendar. The sold-out BLAST Premier World Final 2024 marked BLAST’s debut in Southeast Asia and welcomed passionate fans from across the region and beyond, while BLAST Dota Slam Singapore 2025 further demonstrated the city’s ability to host premium esports arena events at scale.

Running from 15-28 March 2027, BLAST Premier Open Singapore 2027 – BLAST’s first arena CS event of 2027 – will bring elite Counter-Strike competition back to Singapore, featuring some of the best teams in the world and another high-energy live event experience for local and international fans alike. The tournament will once again place Singapore at the centre of the global esports conversation and further strengthen its growing reputation as one of Asia’s leading hubs for gaming, entertainment and major live events.

James Woollard, VP of Destinations and Market Development at BLAST, said: “Singapore has already played host to two hugely important BLAST events and each one has shown why the city is such a natural home for top competitive entertainment and esports. From the incredible atmosphere at the BLAST Premier World Final in 2024 to the success of Dota Slam Singapore in 2025, the passion of the fans, the strength of the local ecosystem and the support of the Singapore Tourism Board have made this partnership incredibly special.

“We’re thrilled to announce BLAST Premier Open Season 1 2027 in Singapore as the next chapter in that journey. This will be our third event in the city and a major moment for Counter-Strike in Asia. Singapore continues to establish itself as one of the most exciting esports and entertainment destinations in the world, and we’re proud to keep building our long-term future here together with STB.”

Lilian Chee, Director of Sports at Singapore Tourism Board, said: “BLAST has been a valued partner in establishing Singapore as the premier destination for global esports and live entertainment. The success of the BLAST Premier World Final in 2024 demonstrated how world-class events can attract international visitors and captivate local audiences with electrifying competition. We look forward to hosting BLAST Premier Open 2027 as the third milestone in our growing partnership, and we are committed to building on this momentum in the years ahead while strengthening Singapore’s position as a leading destination for live entertainment events.”

BLAST’s multi-year partnership with STB is designed to deliver a long-term pipeline of major esports events to Singapore, driving international exposure, tourism impact and new opportunities for local businesses and the wider gaming ecosystem. With four more events to come, including next year’s Counter-Strike tournament, Singapore’s position on the international esports calendar is set to become even stronger.

Fans can sign up at BLAST.tv to be the first to receive ticketing updates, exclusive news and announcements on future BLAST events in Singapore.

About BLAST

BLAST is a global competitive entertainment company with a mission to bring mega entertainment to the world, taking esports, gaming and other new competitive formats to the next level.

BLAST is famous for pioneering the esports category through stunning high production quality, big creative ideas and game changing fan-first moments. Bringing together the biggest teams and brightest superstars to fight it out for glory and big-money-multi-million-dollar prize pools in the world’s biggest arenas from London and Singapore to Austin and Rio.

BLAST has offices in Copenhagen (HQ), London, Berlin, Mumbai, Malta and New York City. The company is currently working with world-leading game publishers Epic Games, Valve, Supercell and Ubisoft to produce, market and deliver esports for popular titles Rocket League, Fortnite, Rainbow Six, Brawl Stars, Dota 2 and Counter-Strike 2.

BEIJING, April 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Along China’s eastern seaboard, the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in Zhejiang Province is barely ever quiet. Ships come and go around the clock, and inland, factory floors maintain a similar rhythm.

This combination helps explain Ningbo’s prominent role in China’s industrial landscape. It is not just a major port, but also one of the country’s most important manufacturing hubs.

Here, traditional industries still make up about 55 percent of its industrial base, roughly in line with the national structure. Its industrial reach is strikingly wide, spanning 36 of China’s 41 major industrial categories. More than 90 percent of its manufacturers are privately owned, though large state-backed firms also remain part of the picture.

All these features make Ningbo a revealing microcosm of China’s manufacturing sector in transition.

“Transition” is certainly the right word. In recent years, the city has steadily upgraded its manufacturing base, using digital tools, industrial internet platforms and AI to make production smarter, more efficient and more precise.

The pace has quickened this year. In the first two months of 2026, the value-added industrial output of enterprises above designated size in Ningbo rose 9.3 percent year on year, 4 percentage points faster than the full-year rate for 2025. Of the city’s 36 major industries, 27 expanded. Output in carmaking, computers and communications equipment, as well as general equipment manufacturing, all posted strong growth during this period.

Yet the more revealing story lies not in the headline numbers, but in the changes unfolding on the factory floor.

At an interactive display area run by Ningbo Puzhi Future Robotics Co., Ltd., humanoid robots sway to music while wheeled machines stack goods on supermarket shelves. Streams of data from touch sensors, robotic-arm movements and video feeds are then fed back into model training.

For Zhou Xingyou, chairman of the embodied intelligence business and vice president of Joyson Holding Co., Ltd., a globally oriented smart-manufacturing company with operations ranging from automotive systems to embodied intelligence robotics, Ningbo’s edge lies in its abundance of real-world industrial scenarios.

Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/350168.html