“In the immediate future, what’s going to be interesting is this is the first technology that enables us to automate relationships. Basically, the AI can interact with us the way we interact with us. This sounds very trivial, but if you look at tech and you look at what has enabled tech to scale up to an incredible size around the world is our ability to automate the transaction,” shares Peng in a conversation for Analyse Asia with Founder and podcaster Bernard Leong. 

Southeast Asia has been a hotspot for innovation and growth and, in this chat, Peng sheds light on the ever-evolving landscape of Generative AI in the region. A strong, solid AI startup, in his view, is one that addresses local challenges innovatively and resonates with the region’s customers, paving the way for sustainable growth. 

Hear him speak about his vision of what makes a successful AI startup in the region. Tune in to the full podcast here:

Questions from the interview:

• To start our conversation, can you share your interest in generative AI and how you define generative AI, large language models aka LLMs and generative pre-trained transformers aka GPTs?
• What is the major unlock for this technology that it is hailed as the iPhone moment or new electricity?
• How do you see the different layers of technology for example, the foundation models in the form of LLMs dominated by a few major players such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Hugging Faces, the API layers driven by langchain and the applications where people built plugins to harness generative AI?
• How would you describe the total market opportunity for AI, specifically the recent boom in generative AI in Southeast Asia, given the breakthrough brought about by Chat-GPT?
• What is the one thing you know about Generative AI that not many people know in the Southeast Asia market?
• Could you elaborate on the key trends you see emerging in the AI industry in Southeast Asia, and how they compare to global trends?
• From a venture capitalist's perspective, what business models do you believe are most viable for AI startups operating in Southeast Asia?
• How should AI startups in Southeast Asia approach their go-to-market strategies? What are the key considerations they need to keep in mind?
• What are the key challenges for generative AI startups in Southeast Asia, and how can they navigate them?
• How can generative AI startups balance the drive for innovation with the ethical considerations that come with developing and deploying AI?
• How do you evaluate the potential of an AI startup when considering an investment?
• What would be your advice for regulators on the topics of hallucinations with the fear of generative AI being used for misinformation, copyright matters due to the training of data or the fear of AI destroying the world?
• My traditional closing question: what does a great generative AI startup look like from your perspective?

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