From Hype to Impact
Co-founder & President of WIZ.AI, provider of Voice AI Agent in Southeast Asia, shared insights on transforming generative AI from buzzword to business driver at Reuters NEXT Asia 2025
Reuters Shanghai Bureau Chief Brenda Goh moderates the AI panel discussion with Jennifer Zhang (Co-Founder and President of WIZ.AI), Eunice Huang (Google’s Head of AI and Emerging Tech Policy, APAC), and Bruce Yang (Co-Founder of SapiensAI) at Reuters NEXT Asia 2025 in Singapore. Photo: Reuters/Edgar Su
Key Takeaways
AI Integration Focus
Moving from adoption to strategic integration across business operations
Voice AI Leadership
Southeast Asia emerges as a key market for voice-first AI solutions
ROI-Driven Approach
Emphasis on measurable business outcomes over technology novelty
Human-AI Collaboration
AI as a business teammate, not replacement technology
The Reuters NEXT Asia 2025 summit in Singapore became a pivotal platform for discussing AI’s transition from theoretical potential to tangible business value. On July 9, 2025, Jennifer Zhang, Co-founder and President of WIZ.AI, joined a distinguished panel alongside leaders from Google and SapiensAI, moderated by Brenda Goh, Reuters’ Shanghai Bureau Chief.
The session explored a central question facing the global tech community today: What does it take to move Generative AI from hype to real-world impact?
“It’s not just about using AI. It’s about knowing when, where, and why to use it.”– Jennifer Zhang, Co-founder & President, WIZ.AI
A Shift in Mindset: From Adoption to Integration
Jennifer’s perspective was clear. AI’s value isn’t in its novelty, but in how meaningfully it’s integrated into business operations. As infrastructure improves and access widens across Southeast Asia and Latin America, organizations have a window of opportunity to adopt AI in ways that are both cost-effective and people-focused.
One promising example is the rise of the Voice AI Agent in Southeast Asia, which is helping enterprises scale customer engagement quickly and efficiently, even in markets with limited digital infrastructure.
Key Ideas Shared on Stage
Treat AI like a teammate, not just a tool
When integrated across departments, from HR to finance, AI can simplify routine tasks and support better decision-making.
ROI is still the north star
Especially in markets where tech infrastructure is uneven, businesses need to weigh the cost of automation against the value it actually delivers.
Build capability, not just adoption
It’s not enough for teams to use AI. They need to be empowered to build with it and shape how it fits into their daily workflows.
Moving past generic AI hype
The next wave of innovation will be led by domain-specific, results-driven applications that are deeply embedded into business processes.
Voice AI Agent in Southeast Asia: A Regional Advantage
At WIZ.AI, we’ve seen firsthand how Voice AI Agents in Southeast Asia are becoming essential to enterprise transformation. Whether it’s automating call center operations or improving accessibility for non-digital-native customers, voice-first solutions offer a practical, high-impact way to bridge technological and linguistic gaps in the region.
These agents don’t just process requests. They understand intent, respond in natural language, and scale human-like conversations across millions of users.
A Broader Conversation About Trust and Transparency
Beyond enterprise use cases, the panel also delved into the importance of data governance, transparency in AI systems, and the ethical challenges of building AI solutions at scale. With public understanding and regulation still catching up, cross-sector collaboration remains essential.
As Jennifer highlighted, this is where AI moves from being a cost center to becoming a strategic enabler.
Looking Ahead
Events like Reuters NEXT Asia are helping shape the narrative around how technology can serve society. Contributing to these discussions is part of WIZ.AI’s broader commitment to responsible AI deployment, particularly in the regions.
“AI won’t replace your job. But someone who knows how to use AI better will.”– Jennifer Zhang
The Path Forward
The conversation around AI in enterprises is evolving from “Can we use AI?” to “How can we use AI most effectively?” This shift in perspective, as demonstrated by leaders like Jennifer Zhang, represents the maturation of AI as a business discipline rather than just a technological novelty.
As the AI landscape continues to evolve, the insights shared by industry leaders provide valuable guidance for organizations navigating their own AI transformation journeys. The key lies in strategic implementation that considers not just technological capabilities, but also human factors, ethical considerations, and long-term business objectives. For more information, click the button to book a demo