China’s dominance isn’t science fiction anymore, just look at Indonesia

This week’s On the Rise looks at China’s grip on the Indonesian EV market, Vietnam’s new proptech star, and blurring lines between sci-fi and reality. [Read from your browser]( On the Rise 🚀 Welcome to On the Rise! Delivered every Tuesday via email and through the Tech in Asia website, this free newsletter breaks down the biggest stories and trends in emerging tech. If you’re not a subscriber, get access by [registering here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- IN FOCUS In today's newsletter, we look at: - [How China took the lead in Indonesia’s EV race]( - [M Village, Vietnam’s new proptech star, must pass scaling challenge]( - What old sci-fi books and movies can teach us about today’s technology Hello {NAME} The first science fiction novel that I ever loved has almost no science fiction in it. Instead, [A Canticle for Leibowitz]( written by Walter M. Miller Jr., tells the story of a world desperately trying to retain what little technology it has left after a global nuclear war. It deals repeatedly with the theme of mankind’s inability to handle new technology. Like a lot of older science fiction, Canticle is becoming almost as relevant today as it was when it was published in 1959. At the time - squarely within the Cold War - concerns were rising over the perceived might of the USSR’s missile arsenal over the US’. A number of older science fiction shows are also finding new relevance today. [Firefly]( from 2002 is set in a world where China and the US merged after becoming the world’s top two superpowers. China’s rising dominance is highlighted in this week’s first Big Story: [How China took the lead in Indonesia’s EV race](. As a line in Firefly goes: “This is so [da bianhua.]( In just the first six months of this year, the sales of Chinese EV makers outstripped those of British automobile makers by 8x, our report notes. While Japanese car companies had a grip over Indonesia’s automobile industry, they seem to be losing the race to China. In the second Big Story, Huong, my colleague in Vietnam, writes about [M Village, Vietnam’s new proptech star]( which is trying to differentiate itself with flexible accommodation options. OK, it isn’t Altered Carbon’s AI-run [Ravel Hotel]( but maybe with its recent funding, things will be moving in that direction. M Village has raised about US$4 million in disclosed funding, with an undisclosed series B round also confirmed. But in today’s climate, Canticle stands out for me because of the multiple warnings about man’s inability to handle new tech and the upheavals that ultimately come with it. And to paraphrase [Jurassic Park]( author Michael Crichton, most companies today are only looking at “if they can do something, not if they should.” And no one is saying “no, we shouldn’t.” The demand for cloud computing services is skyrocketing thanks to the near-simultaneous rise of AI and Web3. A [new story]( by The New York Times (NYT) shows that the energy needed to power this technology is causing problems on several fronts. The report points to a peer-reviewed analysis that says that by 2027, AI servers could use an amount of energy similar to the total annual consumption of countries such as Argentina, the Netherlands, and Sweden. That works out to about 0.5% of the world's 2023 electricity use. That’s on top of the [1% to 1.3% already]( being consumed by global data centers (based on 2022 data). And that excludes the 0.4% being used by crypto miners, although a [CoinDesk article]( says that some of that energy is being redirected to AI. So is this having an impact on climate change? Where is this additional energy going to come from? The Guardian doesn’t directly answer the first question, but it does present a survey that shows that the world’s climate is changing faster than expected. According to [the publication’s survey]( many of the world’s leading climate scientists expect global temperatures to rise to at least 2.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels this century. Just a reminder that the [Paris Accord was]( meant to limit this “to well below 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.” The second question is the more troubling, because according to another [NYT report]( local power grids are also being strained by the growth in server farms. Some countries are even considering burning more fossil fuels to fill this growing technology-created energy gap. Some people, [including Bill Gates]( have argued that this is OK because AI will somehow give us insight into how to fix the climate crisis. It’s a wonderful idea, that something humanity created would be able to solve what we can’t. And there is even an article by the World Economic Forum - “[9 ways AI is helping tackle climate change]( - that shows how it might be done. While the article does offer some hints into how AI might help, it mostly tells us how AI is being used to track the problem. It also provides no more insight into how much AI we will need to fix it. This worries me. If the only way we have to save ourselves from a problem of our own creation is to create more of the thing that caused the problem, then we still don’t know how to handle the new technology we created. Maybe it’s time to start rereading the [Martian Chronicles](. -- Scott  --------------------------------------------------------------- DEEP READS Also check out Tech in Asia’s coverage of the emerging tech scene [here](. 1️⃣ [AI founder Anne Cheng admits she doesn’t have a Ph.D. from Stanford]( Tech in Asia's investigation into the founder of Supercharge Lab and investment firm Start Up Nation has unveiled that she misrepresented her educational background. This is the third case - after Vizzio and Octopus - that Tech in Asia has uncovered of a founder who misrepresented their educational qualifications. 2️⃣ [Singapore needs a paradigm shift on how it treats AI]( Reka co-founder and chief scientist Yi Tay says if Singapore wants to achieve its AI hub ambitions, then it needs to attract senior talent who are doers, rather than talkers. The emphasis at AI firms, from the top down, should be on coding. 3️⃣ [Was that whole metaverse thing just a damp squib?]( It’s been over two years since Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg tried to make the metaverse the next big thing. So why are so few companies using it? 4️⃣ [Why you can’t find the little guys on Google anymore]( Google’s latest change to its algorithm has made a lot of people unhappy, with the smallest companies often having the biggest complaints. ---------------------------------------------------------------  EVENTS HAPPENING You can also check out a curated list of trending tech events [over here]( and Tech in Asia’s signature events [here](. [Tech in Asia Conference Kuala Lumpur 2024 : Malaysia on The Rise on July 24 - 25]( Over 1,000 founders and investors have already signed up, and you're invited. This is your chance to be part of the dynamic Southeast Asian tech scene. Hear from top industry speakers like Nadira Yusoff, CEO of Kiddocare, Sheyantha Abeykoon, Group CEO of Boost and Kel Jin Chua, Director of Shopee Singapore at the stage sessions of #TIAConferenceKL. Final release tickets are selling fast. [Secure your tickets today!]( [Tech in Asia’s Founders Meetup in Malaysia on July 25]( What if you could walk into a room filled with Malaysia’s top tech investors and founders, all eager to connect and collaborate on game-changing ideas? Founders Meetup is your opportunity to transform fleeting encounters into lasting partnerships. [Get your tickets now]( – don't let this opportunity pass you by. [KL Conference Exclusive: Elevate Customer Engagement with Twilio on July 24]( Turn passive customers into brand advocates at this exclusive luncheon alongside fellow media, software, and telco leaders. You’ll walk away equipped to create personalized customer journeys, engineer sustainable engagement strategies, and diversify revenue streams. ​​This is an invite-only event. [Apply for an invite here!]( [KL Conference Exclusive: Networking Night on July 24]( Seize the opportunity to connect with the brightest minds and most influential players in Asia's tech ecosystem, all while enjoying panoramic city views and delicious treats. This exclusive event is only open to Tech in Asia Conference Kuala Lumpur Pro Pass holders. [Secure your spot on our guest list today!]( [KL Conference Exclusive: After Party on July 25]( After two days of high-impact learning, join us at the official closing party to unwind, socialize, and celebrate the thriving startup scene in Malaysia. There’s no better way to do so than by immersing yourself in its vibrant energy firsthand. This exclusive event is only open to Tech in Asia Conference Kuala Lumpur Pro Pass holders. [RSVP now to secure your spot!Â]( [Tech in Asia Conference Jakarta on Oct 23-24]( Where is the next Silicon Valley? It might just be Jakarta! Indonesia's young tech talent is booming, and Tech in Asia Conference Jakarta puts you right in the center of the action. Join us at #TIAConferenceJKT to connect with 4000+ region's brightest minds, 150+ hottest startups, and hear straight from 80+ experts. Early-bird tickets are now available! [Snatch the 75% discount while it lasts!]( ---------------------------------------------------------------  That’s it for this edition - we hope you liked it! Do also check out previous issues of the newsletter [here](. Not your cup of tea? You can unsubscribe from this newsletter by going to your “edit profile” page and choosing that option in our preference center. See you soon! [ADVERTISE]( | [SUBSCRIBE]( | [HIRE]( | [FIND JOBS]( P.S. Don't miss out on the biggest tech news and analysis. Add newsletter@techinasia.com to your address book, contacts, or safe sender list. Or simply move us into your inbox. Too many emails? Switch to a different frequency or get new content through our [preference center]( or [unsubscribe](. You can also break our hearts and remove yourself from all Tech in Asia emails over [here](  Copyright © 2024 Tech in Asia, All rights reserved. 63 Robinson Road, Singapore 068894