Chinese Artificial intelligence (AI) startup Manus has completed a global transformation by moving its headquarters to Singapore and being acquired by Meta, reportedly for over $2 billion. SMU Associate Professor of Finance Fu Fangjian said the Chinese government does not appear intent on restricting AI companies from expanding overseas. He added that major Chinese AI models such as DeepSeek and Qwen are open-source, indicating that China is taking a relatively open stance towards AI development.
A research co-authored by SMU Assistant Professor of Marketing Linyi Li and MIT Sloan School of Management Professor Catherine Tucker found that generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) can be an effective tool for addressing obesity, without the need for medication and resultant side effects, reducing related healthcare costs and health inequities. They added that by providing real-time, personalised, and actionable feedback, GenAI helped bridge knowledge gaps, making weight loss education more accessible.
Commenting on an ST-Kantar survey, SMU Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour & Human Resources Jared Nai said it is common for workers in their second job and beyond to feel more satisfied, as many first-job holders experience a “reality shock” when entering the workforce. He noted that workplace dynamics often involve intangible factors, which can be a culture shock for graduates from a largely meritocratic education system.
In a commentary, SMU Senior Lecturer of Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources Paul Lim discussed whether the ‘996’ work culture commonly associated with Chinese companies would dominate Singapore’s workplace as more Chinese firms set up operations here, and if Singapore can continue to uphold fair workplace norms.
SMU Assistant Professor of Marketing Shilpa Madan said that Coca-Cola Company’s Share A Coke campaign feels charmingly low-key in an era when everything is personalised. She contrasted its low-tech embodiment against predictive and generative algorithms, calling it unexpectedly fun and warm. She also highlighted how possessions act as memory cues and how finding one’s name on a can, sharing it in real life, and the social content that spins out of it can stretch a single brand encounter across time and across channels.
In a study co-authored by SMU Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour & Human Resources Michael Schaerer, findings revealed that people who make aggressive first offers do walk away with better deals, but also face dramatically higher chances of losing the deal entirely and permanently damaging how the other person views them. The researchers cautioned that negotiators should tread carefully when the relationship matters, when dealing with multiple issues, or when they need the other person’s goodwill down the road.
The renminbi (RMB) has appreciated significantly over the past six months as US dollar weakens. SMU Associate Professor of Finance Fu Fangjian pointed out that the People's Bank of China (PBoC) has not followed suit with easing measures, but rather maintained policy restraint under deflationary pressures, with its core objective of maintaining the overall stability of the RMB exchange rate.
Commenting on Singapore’s competitive dining landscape, SMU Associate Professor of Marketing (Education) Seshan Ramaswami said that in a market saturated with cafes and local coffee shops, Luckin Coffee's app-based ordering system and takeaway model made it stand out, while allowing it to save on rent and automatically generate user data.
Crisis management simulations in executive education courses are now being recalibrated to address geopolitical instability, digital threats, and supply chain disruptions. SMU Professor of Communication Management (Practice) Augustine Pang stressed that the realism of crisis simulation exercises is a key advantage, as executives gain hands-on experience and practical skills that traditional classroom teaching often cannot provide.
SMU Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship (Education) Terence Fan said in a CNA interview that the one-stop webpage launched by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is important for giving commuters real-time, cross-line information during maintenance or disruptions, helping to ease anxiety and build trust. He added that the initiative is a low-cost but effective way for LTA to restore commuter confidence, and suggested clearer thresholds for when delays should be formally announced.
