Unlike other sectors which can be completely disrupted by automation or technology, the healthcare industry is a space where technology can complement rather than threaten. The healthcare industry in the region is at an important juncture of its history. Demand for healthcare in the region has never been greater and is expected to rise even further in the future. Among the factors for this is the aging population of the region.

Technology today is widely associated with the digital realm - computers, the internet, mobile device, and smartphones, - just to name a few, which has seen the mushrooming of a myriad of tech startups. However, technological innovation may not translate to definite technological progress. For example, Uber-fication has seen similar applications based on the ride-sharing giant’s model in various other industries like hospitality, healthcare and personal services.

As digital technologies and automation have advanced, fears about workers’ futures have increased. But, the end result does not have to be negative. The key is education.Already, robots are taking over a growing number of routine and repetitive tasks, putting workers in some sectors under serious pressure. In South Korea, which has the world’s highest density of industrial robots – 631 per 10,000 workers – manufacturing employment is declining, and youth unemployment is high.

More companies are opting for robotic automation of their manufacturing processes to get ahead, as reported by McKinsey & Company in 2017. Mainly, two types of robots, collaborative robots and industrial robots, are permeating the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing has been a pivotal factor in ASEAN’s development story by attracting earnings in foreign currency and investments for infrastructure-building, and creating employment opportunities within the region.

The future of Thailand’s industrial sector lies in robotics and automation.According to Varin Rodphotong, from the Centre of Robotics Excellence (CoRE), robots will significantly help improve the competitiveness of domestic industries in Thailand.

The uniqueness of Google’s new cloud machine learning software, Cloud AutoML, is that it is a foundational software for the democratisation of artificial intelligence for worldwide use. With AI being the next frontier of future economic development, it is even more imperative that such expertise becomes accessible to everyone on an equal level.“Currently, only a handful of businesses in the world have access to the talent and budgets needed to fully appreciate the advancements of ML and AI.

A robot masseuse named Emma is offering Singaporeans high-tech back rubs with a gigantic metal arm and warm silicone tips which its creators say perfectly mimic the human touch.The robot, the brainchild of local startup AiTreat, began work at a clinic in the city-state this week and performs "tui na", a type of massage practised in traditional Chinese medicine.Emma, which stands for Expert Manipulative Massage Automation, consists of a white metal arm with heated silicone tips that