news
Why Anthropic's Lower Seat Fees Mask Higher Total Costs
Anthropic's lower seat fees mask higher total costs through token-based usage billing and mandatory spending commitments. Marketing teams face seasonal workload penalties.
insights
Data-driven analysis and thought leadership exploring business, cultural, and consumer shifts in Asia.
news
Why Singapore's AI Leaders Can't Scale Beyond Pilot Phase
64% of Singapore businesses use AI daily, but only 18% achieve autonomous deployment. Trust deficits and data governance gaps are blocking scale.
news
Dentsu Executive Warns Japanese Brands: Creative Caution Costs Market Share
Dentsu's CSO warns Japanese advertisers that playing it safe in creative work directly costs market share as award bodies increasingly reward boldness over safety.
news
Google Blocks 8.3B Ads in 2025 as AI Fraud Surges 63%
Google blocked 8.3B ads in 2025 as AI-powered fraud surged 63%. Scam removals jumped 45% while Southeast Asia tightens ad regulations.
news
Ad Tech M&A Drops 11% as AI Funding Surges Past $400B
Ad tech deal volumes collapsed 11% in Q1 2026 while AI funding exploded past $400B. Strategic buyers are now hunting for incrementality measurement and identity resolution capabilities.
news
Why Brands Are Ditching Static Websites for AI Agents
R/GA and G42 launched Alpha.G42.ai, replacing traditional websites with conversational AI that generates personalized content for each visitor. Brands must adapt as 80% of searches now result in zero clicks.
news
Why Senior Marketers Are Leaving Corporate After 7+ Years
Nespresso Singapore's marketing head exits after 7 years to launch independent ventures. CMOs are increasingly choosing entrepreneurship over corporate roles, signaling a retention crisis traditional compensation cannot solve.
news
Forrester: AI Shifts From Digital to Physical Operations in 2026
Only 20% of businesses saw AI earnings benefits in 2024 despite massive investment. Forrester's 2026 forecast shows AI moving from digital channels into retail and logistics where early deployments report 60% reduction in call loads.
news
Australian Agencies Demand Reset in Media Sales Approach
Australian media agencies show zero tolerance for unprepared sales pitches and irrelevant outreach. New research reveals six behavioral shifts reshaping how agencies expect to be engaged by media sellers.
news
Publishers Cut SaaS Costs 50% as AI Coding Tools Shift Build-vs-Buy
AI coding tools are forcing publishers to renegotiate vendor contracts, with SaaS providers cutting prices over 50% to retain clients. Marketing leaders can leverage this shift for better negotiating terms.
news
Indonesia Gaming Market Hits US$14B Opportunity as Brands Lag
Indonesia's 150M gamers drive a US$14B gaming opportunity by 2030, but most brands are failing to localize strategies. Creator-led discovery, not paid ads, drives adoption.
news
Why AI Is Flipping Agency Economics: Indie Agencies Now Outcompete Holdcos
Independent agencies captured 64% of new Australian advertising business in 2025 as AI enables small teams to match holdco output. Dentsu and WPP report massive losses.