Robots, speed dating and an unmanned booth: notes from The Business Show Asia and AIMX 2026 #172

Robots, speed dating and an unmanned booth: notes from The Business Show Asia and AIMX 2026 #172

The Business Show Asia promised scale—8,000+ visitors and 250 exhibitors—while AIMX focused on real-world and embodied AI. For The Thousand Ships, I found potential collaborations across Singapore, Japan, China and the Philippines.

“Speed Networking” was business’s answer to speed dating: timed introductions and rapid rotations. Good concept; intense execution. Everyone sat side-by-side and shoulder-to-shoulder, straining to hear the person opposite. Energetic, yes. Optimal for Marina Bay Sands? Not quite. More breathing room might have produced better conversations.

Some of my best exchanges were with Chinese nationals representing Japanese deep-tech firms. Both women and men carried themselves with poise, technical knowledge and a sincere desire to collaborate.

Chinese robotics representatives were equally candid. They described senior Singapore customers arriving with expectations shaped by spectacular parade broadcasts and viral videos—the perfect robot, flawless movement, even kung-fu—then attaching a S$100,000 budget to what might realistically be a S$5 million outcome.

I apologised for some awkward encounters. Seniority does not automatically confer AI literacy.

A robot is cold hardware until learning gives it capability. Behind a polished demonstration may sit thousands—or tens of thousands—of hours of training, data, simulation, integration and testing. Remove the trained model and control stack—the “learned chip” in layman’s terms—and much of the magic disappears. Replicate it across 1,000 machines, and you have a spectacular coordinated display.

The value is not merely in the metal. It is in the learning—and each factory, hospital, warehouse and hotel requires different learning.

Another observation: some female representatives seemed more concerned about being treated as dating prospects than being asked about their solutions. Visitors, we can do better. A business expo should create professional opportunity, not defensive body language.

Then there was Huawei. When I passed, its booth was unmanned—and none of the displays was even switched on. It was pitch-black. Stealth mode, I guess.

We have unmanned vehicles and drones. Now, apparently, the unmanned exhibition booth. Impressive automation.

Do Singapore’s KTV sessions now begin at 1pm? If so, thank you for supporting the day economy. I remain impressed by Huawei’s apparent work-life flexibility. Readers, please update me on the night scene—sorry, the day scene.

Jokes aside, I leave grateful for the genuine connections made. I especially appreciate the Philippine Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, established in 2022, and its work strengthening business ties between our two countries.

That bridge matters. The Thousand Ships looks forward to helping more ideas, capabilities and relationships cross it.

#TheBusinessShowAsia #AIMXSingapore #AI #Robotics #Philippines #Singapore