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In focus
- A new AI assistant that acts proactively and bypasses CAPTCHAs
- TreeDots ends Malaysian B2B distribution business after proving to be unsustainable
- Tech in Asia restructures for the future
Hello reader,
When Indonesians encounter someone who’s too passive, we like to say, “Nunggu disuapin?” In English, this literally translates to “Are you waiting to be spoon-fed?”
It’s usually meant to poke fun at people who sit around waiting for instructions instead of taking the initiative. Turns out, this phrase also captures the state of most AI assistants today: They’re reactive and only useful when you prod them with the right command.
That’s the problem IrisGo is trying to fix. Established by an ex-Siri lead engineer, the startup imagines an AI butler that doesn’t just take orders like Iron Man’s Jarvis but also thinks and acts like Batman’s Alfred. It means learning users’ workflow, jumping in at the right moment, and handling digital errands on their behalf.
The idea is bold and maybe a little creepy: IrisGo runs locally and can record the screen (with permission) to replicate how users complete tasks, especially when integrations fall short. The company has already struck OEM deals to ship on upcoming AI PCs and aims to hit 1 million daily users by mid-2026.
In one of today’s top stories, we unpack how the IrisGo team plans to pull this off, and whether users are ready for a digital Alfred hovering over their shoulder.
But chasing the future doesn’t mean ignoring today’s hard realities.
After tracking workforce cuts across Asia for the past two years, the ax fell on us. Yesterday, our CEO and founder Willis Wee announced that Tech in Asia would be laying off 18% of staff as part of a broader effort to restructure for the future.
Our layoff tracker has been updated accordingly. Times remain uncertain, but one thing’s for sure: The colleagues who are leaving Tech in Asia are more than just a statistic. They’ll be deeply missed.
Glenn Kaonang, journalist
Top Stories
1️⃣ Ex-Siri engineer bets AI PCs need a butler, not another Copilot
Image credit: Timmy Loen
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