AI and Cloud: Powering the Economies of Tomorrow

 

 

In this engaging conversation, Dowson Tong, Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Executive Officer of the Cloud and Smart Industries Group at Tencent, shared Tencent’s journey in the cloud and technology sector.

 

The session outlines Tencent’s transformation from a messaging service into a dominant cloud player. The discussion focuses on Tencent’s ‘cloud-native’ approach to supporting various industries, including fintech, and offers insights into how these innovations can be extended to broader markets, especially in Southeast Asia.

 

Key Discussion Points:

1. Cloud Technology and Its Evolution

  • The term "cloud" is often misunderstood; Dawson refers to it as the infrastructure supporting applications and services worldwide, including private clouds, public clouds, and edge resources.
  • Tencent’s progression from a messaging company to a leader in cloud infrastructure illustrates the pivotal role of the cloud in enabling consumer internet, gaming, and other applications.
2. Cost-Efficiency and Cloud-Native Technology
  • Tencent’s success in reducing transaction costs for partners like WeBank comes from building cloud-native technology from the ground up, avoiding expensive legacy systems.
  • Cloud-native architecture enables businesses to scale efficiently while reducing operational costs.
3. Opportunities in Southeast Asia
  • Dowson shares insights into the growing cloud adoption in Southeast Asia, highlighting the potential for achieving cost-efficiency similar to that seen in China.
  • The region’s use of standardised open-source software and cloud-native infrastructure is set to drive affordable cloud solutions for small businesses.
4. The Role of Cloud in AI and Quantum
  • The cloud is essential for AI, providing scalable computing power that supports innovations like data-driven insights, blockchain technology, and tokenization.
  • Despite concerns about quantum computing’s impact on encryption, Tencent is preparing for potential vulnerabilities and adopting post-quantum encryption standards.
5. Operational Risk and Cloud Resilience
  • Ensuring the resilience of cloud infrastructure is crucial, particularly for financial services. Tencent advocates for a multi-cloud strategy to mitigate risks and maintain uninterrupted service during disruptions.
6. The Future of Cloud and Financial Systems
  • Tencent’s strategy for the future involves expanding cloud services to support a more unified and secure financial ecosystem, especially as AI and blockchain technologies evolve.
  • The company’s investments in resilient infrastructure, such as self-driving cars and electric vehicles, reflect a broader vision of technology integration.

 

Key Takeaways:

  1. Cloud-native infrastructure is vital for reducing operational costs and achieving efficient scalability.
  2. Southeast Asia presents a significant opportunity for cloud adoption, given the right technology and cost-effective strategies.
  3. AI and quantum technologies are reshaping cloud computing, necessitating adaptive strategies for data security and resilience.
  4. Operational resilience in cloud-based financial services is essential, with a multi-cloud approach advised.
  5. Tencent is dedicated to expanding its technological footprint in Asia and beyond, with a focus on AI, fintech, and the automotive industry.

 

This conversation demonstrates how Tencent leverages its cloud infrastructure to provide efficient, scalable solutions for businesses in Asia and worldwide while addressing the challenges of emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing.

 

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Speaker:

  • Dowson Tong, Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Executive Officer, Cloud and Smart Industries Group, Tencent

Moderator:

  • Sopnendu Mohanty, Chief FinTech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore & Group Chief Executive Officer - Designate, Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN)
 
 

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