Who’s Still in the AI Race? (Spoiler: Not Intel)
- Shivirta C.
- Jul 19
- 2 min read
19 July 2025
👋 Welcome to the A2D Weekly Wrap!
SEA is scaling again. AI giants are digging trenches.
From robotics and climate tech in Southeast Asia to billion-dollar infra plays and brain-drain battles in global AI, this week’s moves tell a bigger story: power is consolidating, and some are tapping out.
Let’s get into it.
HOT NEWS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
🇹🇭 Pokee AI – AI workflow automation startup secured USD 12M oversubscribed seed round backed by SCB 10X, Point72 Ventures, Qualcomm Ventures, Samsung NEXT, and other global investors. Funds will accelerate enterprise AI agent adoption.
🇹🇭 Spacely AI – Bangkok-based AI startup for architectural rendering raised USD 1M seed led by PropTech Farm Fund III, joined by industry figures Wannaporn Phornprapha, Ted Thirapatana, and Mek Srunyu.
🇸🇬 iCapital – Global fintech platform raised USD 820M, pushing valuation past USD 7.5B. New backers include T. Rowe Price, SurgoCap Partners, and State Street, with increased support from Temasek, UBS, and BNY.
🇸🇬 Augmentus – Singapore-based robotics startup raised USD 11M Series A+ to simplify industrial automation. Woori Venture Partners led, joined by EDBI, Sierra Ventures, and Cocoon Capital.
🇸🇬 Geniebook – Edtech platform acquired AfterSkool and Best Physics Tuition to expand into AI-powered hybrid learning across online and offline channels.
GLOBAL PULSE: WHO'S BUILDING & WHO'S TAPPING OUT
Meta is on a hiring spree. Oracle’s pouring billions into AI infra. Microsoft just gave Copilot eyes. Even Claude is pulling its ex-leaders back in.
Meanwhile, Intel’s tapping out. Researchers want access to AI’s “thoughts.” And humans? We’re starting to talk like ChatGPT.
The lines between builders, users, and the models themselves are blurring — and the stack is locking in fast.
Meta poaches more OpenAI talent for its superintelligence lab
Anthropic rehired ex-leaders and launched a new dashboard for Claude Code
Oracle invests $3B in AI infra across Germany and the Netherlands.
Microsoft Copilot adds vision AI, now it can "see" and interact with your screen.
Researchers call for transparency into AI's inner reasoning to improve safety.
Google expands AI-powered cybersecurity with Gemini tools.
Study finds humans are starting to mimic ChatGPT in everyday language.
Intel’s CEO admits: it's no longer in the AI top 10 and it's too late to catch up.
If AI’s voice is shaping ours and the power to build is held by fewer hands... are we still training the machines, or are they already training us?
FOUNDER'S CORNER
Here are 3 Human Resource Management Tools that every founder needs for smooth team management.
Quick hits of knowledge—because learning should never stop.
 |  |
💬 That’s a wrap for this week!
Did something stand out? Want more of a certain section or theme? Let us know here— this newsletter is built for you, and we want to make it better each time.
Thanks for reading!
Comments