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Grab has unveiled 13 new AI-powered features at its GrabX 2026 showcase, positioning its platform as a smarter, everyday companion for users across Southeast Asia. Chief Product Officer Philipp Kandal said the new tools aim to help users make better decisions, reduce friction in mobility and digital services, and enable merchants and driver-partners to operate more efficiently. He added that the rollout reflects Grab’s push to make AI practical and accessible, acting as a “smart companion” that handles everyday tasks so users can focus on their daily lives. The features are grouped into three areas — everyday lifestyle, travel, and business tools — powered by Grab’s Intelligence Layer, built on insights from more than 20 billion rides and orders. In Malaysia, five features are being introduced, including Group Ride, which allows up to four users to share trips and split fares, and Grab More, which enables orders from multiple nearby merchants in a single delivery without extra fees. Other consumer features include GrabMaps for Consumers, offering journey planning, real-time transport comparisons, indoor navigation and personalised directions, as well as a Driver AI Assistant that provides real-time support on navigation and earnings. Grab said Cloud Printer will roll out in Malaysia this month to automate order processing between front counters and kitchens, helping to reduce errors. Looking ahead, Cash Loan — an AI-driven credit feature with flexible repayment plans — is expected by mid-2026, followed by Personalised Travel Experience and GrabStays in the third quarter. The travel feature will integrate flight details, reminders and airport navigation, while GrabStays will offer hotel bookings with same-day rates. Additional features include Discover by Grab, which provides AI-curated food recommendations, and GrabPay for Travel, enabling QR-based payments across Southeast Asia using existing bank cards without the need for top-ups. These are expected to roll out by end-2026. All features are supported by Grab’s AI infrastructure, which turns real-world data such as traffic and in-store activity into actionable insights to improve decision-making and automate tasks. The company also said its Early Access Programme has grown to 200,000 users, contributing around 4,000 feature improvements since launch. A new “shake and share” function has been introduced to allow users to submit instant feedback. Grab noted that rollout timelines will vary by market, depending on regulatory approvals and operational readiness.

Standard Chartered has launched its first Global Fusion Centre in Malaysia to support its global operations. Located at its Global Business Services (GBS) hub in Kuala Lumpur, the centre integrates people, technology and intelligence functions to enhance real-time response and operational coordination. The facility aims to strengthen resilience across the bank’s operations while reinforcing trust with clients, regulators and stakeholders. The centre sits within Standard Chartered’s GBS Malaysia unit, established in 2001 as the country’s first multi-disciplinary global business services centre by an international bank. Today, the unit supports operations in over 50 markets and is the group’s second-largest GBS hub after India, employing more than 4,400 staff—85% of whom are Malaysians. Gobind Singh Deo, Malaysia’s Digital Minister, said the initiative highlights the country’s strength in talent and its position as a trusted regional hub for digital services, technology and high-value operations. Meanwhile, Mak Joon Nien, CEO of Standard Chartered Malaysia, said the move supports Malaysia’s ambition to become a global technology hub, in line with national priorities such as strengthening digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and developing future-ready talent as the country works towards its AI goals by 2030.

Mastercard has rolled out authenticated agentic payment transactions in Singapore and Malaysia, marking the first phase of its AI-powered payments push in ASEAN. The rollout was carried out with United Overseas Bank (UOB) for regional testing, alongside local banks in each market to support implementation. More ASEAN markets are expected to follow. The pilots aim to pave the way for wider adoption on trusted payment rails as more participants join the ecosystem. The initiative is powered by Mastercard Agent Pay, which enables AI-driven transactions using tokenised credentials, verifiable intent and end-to-end auditability via Agentic Tokens and Payment Passkeys. This ensures transactions initiated by AI remain aligned with user authorisation. Mastercard said “verifiable intent”, co-developed with Google, creates a tamper-resistant record of user-approved actions when AI agents transact on their behalf, providing a shared reference for issuers, merchants and consumers. Separately, Mastercard plans to launch a regional AI Centre of Excellence in Singapore later this year. The facility will be its largest innovation hub in Asia-Pacific, bringing together capabilities in AI, cybersecurity, payments, fraud detection and real-time risk management. Jacquelyn Tan said the collaboration highlights how trusted, AI-enabled payments can enhance everyday banking and commerce across diverse markets, while maintaining strong governance as adoption scales. Safdar Khan said the rollout underscores ASEAN’s rapid uptake of secure, AI-driven commerce, adding that early pilots show AI agents can operate responsibly and transparently with transactions anchored in verified user intent.

Sunview Group Bhd’s consortium, comprising its wholly-owned subsidiary Fabulous Sunview Sdn Bhd and Cypark Renewable Energy Sdn Bhd, has secured a RM1.96 billion contract from TNB Power Generation Sdn Bhd (TNB Genco) for a major renewable energy project. The consortium, known as Consortium Cre-Sunview, received a letter of acceptance (LOA) for the engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning of a 595-megawatt alternating current (MWac) floating solar photovoltaic plant, paired with a battery energy storage system at Kenyir Lake, Terengganu. Within the unincorporated joint venture, Cypark Renewable Energy holds a 60% stake, while Fabulous Sunview owns 40%. The project, including all applicable taxes, duties, fees, and sales and service tax (SST), is scheduled to start on 2 June 2026 and is targeted for completion by 29 September 2028. Sunview said the contract is expected to contribute positively to the group’s future earnings, without affecting its share capital or the holdings of substantial shareholders. TNB Genco, the contracting party, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tenaga Nasional Bhd, and this project reinforces Malaysia’s commitment to renewable energy and sustainable power generation.