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In focus
- Peter Cowan on what the dark side of AI companions implies about the industry
- Startups bet on greener data centers as AI guzzles power
- Protest goes digital in the Philippines
Hello reader,
The promise of AI has dominated headlines almost daily, with tech companies pitching us visions of job automation, digital companionship, climate solutions, and more. It all sounds utopian, something we should aspire to.
But AI is no magic bullet, and its far-reaching consequences are reflected in several of the premium stories we published this week.
My colleague Melissa Goh’s second installment of her two-part dive into the world of AI companions digs into that tension. The companies behind these apps promise intimacy on demand, but Melissa felt the shine wearing off very quickly.
Perhaps the tech will improve and we’ll soon ditch real brunches with our human friends for virtual versions, but the staying power isn’t there yet. In the meantime, the risks – from unhealthy dependence to blurred boundaries – feel a lot more apparent than the promised rewards.
Image credit: Timmy Loen
Meanwhile, Glenn Kaonang examines a brutal cost of our AI love affair: the energy crisis brewing in Asia’s data centers.
His story looks at the startups scrambling to make systems more efficient before the sector overheats. It’s a reminder that behind every flashy breakthrough, there’s a backbone of unglamorous but essential work keeping the tech world running.
Finally, if you’re building in one of AI’s hot sectors, there’s another risk worth weighing: your choice of investor. VC Kevin Brockland unpacks how to tell hype-driven backers from those with true conviction, and why the distinction can shape a startup’s fate long after the buzz fades.
AI dazzles with possibility, for sure, but the bigger test is whether we can live with its price tag.
Peter Cowan, engagement editor
Editor’s picks
1️⃣ Hooked, hyped, and pampered: the blurry reality of AI friendship
Short cuts
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