Technology
iRobot Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results
Published
1 year agoon
By
Global New Product Rollout Continues with High-Impact Launch Events
Company Continues to Execute “iRobot Elevate” Turnaround Strategy
BEDFORD, Mass., May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — iRobot Corp. (NASDAQ: IRBT), a leader in consumer robots, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 29, 2025.
“We continued to make meaningful progress on our iRobot Elevate turnaround strategy in the first quarter and initiated the largest new product launch in iRobot’s history,” said Gary Cohen, iRobot CEO. “We are encouraged by the positive reactions from distributors, retailers and consumers, and expect to see an uptick in sales later in the year as availability of our suite of new, technologically innovative Roomba® vacuums and 2-in-1 vacuums and mops expands. As our Board of Directors continues its review of strategic alternatives for our business, we remain focused on executing our proven strategy and delivering the products our customers have come to know and love.”
The Company has achieved a significant reduction in operating expenses and production costs by transforming its R&D and supply chain model to better leverage the Company’s design capabilities and contract manufacturing partnerships. This reinvention of the way iRobot operates has allowed for a greater focus on innovation and improvements to product features, quality, and software. With respect to the current tariff conditions, the majority of the Company’s U.S. imports come from Vietnam and are currently subject to a 10% tariff rate.
“Our first quarter performance reflects what has been a major transitional period for iRobot as we worked to clear our sales channels of legacy product inventory. As we continue to navigate a dynamic macro environment, we expect our new products and lower overall cost structure to drive improved profitability over the long term. We expect to see solid sales traction later this year to support year-over-year revenue growth in 2025, and we remain on track to deliver gross-margin expansion and improved cash flow from operations this year,” concluded Cohen.
Marketing Highlights
In late March and early April 2025, iRobot announced the availability in North America and select European markets its suite of technologically innovative Roomba® vacuums and 2-in-1 vacuums and mops. Media coverage in North America and Europe was impressive with more than 200 pieces of media coverage in some of the world’s most influential tech/consumer outlets, reaching a potential audience (total UVPM/Circulation/Reach) of more than 2.5 billion.On April 16, 2025, iRobot introduced its new product lineup in Japan, engaging with more than 100 media outlets and influencers, resulting in more than 600 pieces of media coverage in one week.On April 23, 2025, iRobot announced the availability of the Roomba® Max 705 Vac Robot + AutoEmpty™ Dock in North America and select European markets.iRobot has continued to receive positive media coverage and product reviews around the world, including in Tom’s Guide US, Engadget US, Vacuum Wars US, The Independent UK, La Voz de Galicia Spain, Les Numeriques France, Fuji News Network and All the Things.
First Quarter 2025 Financial Results (in millions, except per share amounts and percentages)
Q1 2025
Q1 2024
Revenue
$101.6
$150.0
GAAP Gross Margin
20.0 %
24.1 %
Non-GAAP Gross Margin
22.0 %
24.6 %
GAAP Operating Expenses
$66.1
$24.2
Non-GAAP Operating Expenses
$53.8
$76.9
GAAP Operating (Loss) Income*
($45.8)
$11.9
Non-GAAP Operating Loss
($31.5)
($40.0)
GAAP Net (Loss) Income*
($87.3)
$8.6
Non-GAAP Net Loss
($60.0)
($43.0)
GAAP Net (Loss) Income Per Share*
($2.84)
$0.30
Non-GAAP Net Loss Per Share
($1.95)
($1.53)
*Q1 2024 GAAP operating income, GAAP net income and GAAP net income per share included the one-time net termination fee of $75 million received as a result of the termination of the Amazon Merger Agreement.
Additional Financial Highlights
As of March 29, 2025, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents including restricted cash totaled $112.3 million, compared with $138.0 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024. During the third quarter of 2024, the Company elected to draw down $40 million from the restricted cash that is set aside for future repayment of its term loan, subject to limited ability of the Company to utilize such amount at the discretion of the lenders for the purchase of inventory. The Company repaid that amount to restricted cash during the first quarter of 2025.As of March 29, 2025, the Company reduced inventory to $69.0 million, compared with $76.0 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024.In the first quarter of 2025, revenue decreased 39.9% in the U.S., 26.9% in EMEA, and 20.8% in Japan, respectively, over the prior-year period. Excluding the unfavorable foreign currency impact, Japan revenue decreased 10% and EMEA revenue decreased 24% over the prior-year period. Q1 2025 revenue was impacted by additional promotional spending to stimulate sell-through of legacy products ahead of the Company’s 2025 new product launch, along with ongoing competitive challenges that the Company is addressing with its new product launches.Revenue from mid-tier robots (with an MSRP between $300 and $499) and premium robots (with an MSRP of $500 or more) represented 76% of total robot sales in the first quarter of 2025, compared with 81% in the same period last year.
Ongoing Strategic Review
As previously announced, the Company’s Board of Directors is conducting a review of strategic alternatives, including, but not limited to, exploring a potential sale or strategic transaction, and refinancing the Company’s debt. This review process is ongoing.
The Board has not set a timetable for the conclusion of this review, and there can be no assurance that the exploration of strategic alternatives will result in any transactions or outcomes. The Company does not intend to disclose developments relating to this process until it determines that further disclosure is appropriate or necessary.
The Company remains actively engaged in ongoing collaborative and constructive discussions with its primary lender while the Board continues its strategic review process. On April 30, 2025, the Company further amended its existing term loan to extend the covenant waiver under the term loan to June 6, 2025.
In light of the ongoing strategic review, the Company will not be hosting a first quarter 2025 results earnings conference call and webcast, and will not be providing a 2025 outlook at this time.
About iRobot Corp.
iRobot is a global consumer robot company that designs and builds thoughtful robots and intelligent home innovations that make life better. iRobot introduced the first Roomba robot vacuum in 2002. Today, iRobot is a global enterprise that has sold more than 50 million robots worldwide. iRobot’s product portfolio features technologies and advanced concepts in cleaning, mapping and navigation. Working from this portfolio, iRobot engineers are building robots and smart home devices to help consumers make their homes easier to maintain and healthier places to live. For more information about iRobot, please visit www.irobot.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which relate to, among other things: the Company’s expectations regarding the financial profile and impact of newly launched products in 2025; expectations regarding improved profitability; expectations regarding 2025 product sales and related revenue growth, achievement of gross margin expansion and improved cash flow from operations; the Board’s review of strategic alternatives for the business; and the Company’s business plans and strategies and the anticipated impact thereof. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations, estimates and projections about its business and industry, all of which are subject to change. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “could,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “may,” “would,” “might,” “potentially,” “estimate,” “continue,” “expect,” “target,” similar expressions or the negatives of these words or other comparable terminology that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes. All forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and are not guarantees of future results. These and other forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements and, therefore, you should not place undue reliance on any such statements and caution must be exercised in relying on forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that may cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: (i) the Company’s ability to obtain capital when desired on favorable terms, if at all; (ii) the Company’s ability to realize the benefits of its operational restructuring; (iii) the impact of various global conflicts on the Company’s business and general economic conditions; (iv) the Company’s ability to implement its business strategy; (v) the risk that disruptions from the operational restructuring will harm the Company’s business, including current plans and operations; (vi) the ability of the Company to retain and hire key personnel; (vii) legislative, regulatory and economic developments affecting the Company’s business; (viii) general economic and market developments and conditions; (ix) the evolving legal, regulatory and tax regimes under which the Company operates; (x) potential business uncertainty, including changes to existing business relationships that could affect the Company’s financial performance; (xi) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism or outbreak of war or hostilities; (xii) current supply chain challenges; (xiii) the financial strength of our customers and retailers; (xiv) the impact of any applicable tariffs on goods imported into the United States; (xv) competition; and (xvi) the results and impact of the Board’s strategic review of alternatives for the business, as well as the Company’s response to any of the aforementioned factors. Additional risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements are included under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent annual and quarterly reports filed with the SEC and any subsequent reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K filed from time to time and available at www.sec.gov. While the list of factors presented here is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. Consequences of material differences in results as compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability and similar risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity. The forward-looking statements included herein are made only as of the date hereof. The Company does not assume any obligation to publicly provide revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.
iRobot Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
For the three months ended
March 29, 2025
March 30, 2024
Revenue
$ 101,569
$ 150,014
Cost of revenue:
Cost of product revenue
79,598
113,913
Restructuring and other
1,658
–
Total cost of revenue
81,256
113,913
Gross profit
20,313
36,101
Operating expenses:
Research and development
14,686
33,878
Selling and marketing
26,051
29,716
General and administrative
19,016
(53,711)
Restructuring and other
6,174
14,146
Amortization of acquired intangible assets
136
172
Total operating expenses
66,063
24,201
Operating (loss) income
(45,750)
11,900
Other expense, net
(41,066)
(3,185)
(Loss) income before income taxes
(86,816)
8,715
Income tax expense
457
108
Net (loss) income
$ (87,273)
$ 8,607
Net (loss) income per share:
Basic
$ (2.84)
$ 0.31
Diluted
$ (2.84)
$ 0.30
Number of shares used in per share calculations:
Basic
30,725
28,171
Diluted
30,725
28,266
Stock-based compensation included in above figures:
Cost of revenue
346
828
Research and development
910
2,897
Selling and marketing
965
1,338
General and administrative
3,093
2,885
Total
$ 5,314
$ 7,948
iRobot Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited, in thousands)
March 29, 2025
December 28, 2024
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 69,922
$ 134,303
Restricted cash
40,003
1,259
Accounts receivable, net
30,804
49,865
Inventory
68,968
76,029
Other current assets
24,588
27,046
Total current assets
234,285
288,502
Property and equipment, net
12,106
15,835
Operating lease right-of-use assets
13,675
14,322
Deferred tax assets
9,980
9,817
Goodwill
171,548
167,288
Intangible assets, net
3,225
3,212
Other assets
16,690
17,161
Total assets
$ 461,509
$ 516,137
Liabilities and stockholders’ (deficit) equity
Accounts payable
$ 97,298
$ 106,367
Accrued expenses
96,761
100,597
Deferred revenue and customer advances
9,794
11,280
Term loan
224,084
–
Total current liabilities
427,937
218,244
Term loan
–
200,604
Operating lease liabilities
20,348
21,598
Other long-term liabilities
14,017
14,452
Total long-term liabilities
34,365
236,654
Total liabilities
462,302
454,898
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity
(793)
61,239
Total liabilities and stockholders’ (deficit)
equity
$ 461,509
$ 516,137
iRobot Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited, in thousands)
For the three months ended
March 29, 2025
March 30, 2024
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income
$ (87,273)
$ 8,607
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
2,623
5,812
Loss on equity investment
–
375
Stock-based compensation
5,314
7,948
Provision for inventory excess and obsolescence
384
200
Change in fair value of term loan
25,965
(1,008)
Debt issuance costs expensed under fair value option
11,614
239
Deferred income taxes, net
292
(127)
Other
1,638
(3,452)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities — (use) source
Accounts receivable
20,156
38,565
Inventory
7,434
16,066
Other assets
3,135
6,045
Accounts payable
(9,642)
(74,601)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
(8,100)
(3,232)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
(26,460)
1,437
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions of property and equipment
–
(118)
Purchase of investments
(8)
–
Net cash used in investing activities
(8)
(118)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Income tax withholding payment associated with restricted stock vesting
(84)
(390)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs
–
5,632
Repayment of term loan
–
(34,947)
Payment of debt issuance costs
–
(239)
Net cash used in financing activities
(84)
(29,944)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
922
882
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(25,630)
(27,743)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, at beginning of period
137,951
187,887
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, at end of period
$ 112,321
$ 160,144
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, at end of period:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 69,922
$ 118,356
Restricted cash
40,003
40,012
Restricted cash, non-current (included in other assets)
2,396
1,776
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, at end of period
$ 112,321
$ 160,144
iRobot Corporation
Supplemental Information
(unaudited)
For the three months ended
March 29, 2025
March 30, 2024
Revenue by Geographical Region *
United States
$ 41,440
$ 68,896
EMEA
32,947
45,088
Japan
21,949
27,718
Other
5,233
8,312
Total
$ 101,569
$ 150,014
Robot Units Shipped *
Solo and other
98
267
2-in-1
312
189
Total
410
456
Revenue by Product Category **
Solo and other
$ 36
$ 94
2-in-1
66
56
Total
$ 102
$ 150
Average gross selling prices for robot units
$ 296
$ 346
Headcount
530
1,058
* in thousands
** in millions
Certain numbers may not total due to rounding
iRobot Corporation
Explanation of Non-GAAP Measures
In addition to disclosing financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP, this earnings release contains references to the non-GAAP financial measures described below. We use non-GAAP measures to internally evaluate and analyze financial results. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with useful supplemental information about the financial performance of our business, enable comparison of financial results between periods where certain items may vary independent of business performance, and enable comparison of our financial results with other public companies, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures.
Our non-GAAP financial measures reflect adjustments based on the following items. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, and the financial results calculated in accordance with GAAP and reconciliations from these results should be carefully evaluated.
Amortization of Acquired Intangible Assets: Amortization of acquired intangible assets consists of amortization of intangible assets including completed technology, customer relationships, and reacquired distribution rights acquired in connection with business combinations as well as any non-cash impairment charges associated with intangible assets in connection with our past acquisitions. Amortization charges for our acquisition-related intangible assets are inconsistent in size and are significantly impacted by the timing and valuation of our acquisitions. We exclude these charges from our non-GAAP measures to facilitate an evaluation of our current operating performance and comparisons to our past operating performance.
Net Merger, Acquisition and Divestiture (Income) Expense: Net merger, acquisition and divestiture (income) expense primarily consists of transaction fees, professional fees, and transition and integration costs directly associated with mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, including with respect to the iRobot-Amazon Merger. It also includes business combination adjustments including adjustments after the measurement period has ended. During the first quarter of fiscal 2024, the adjustment included the one-time net termination fee received as a result of the termination of the iRobot-Amazon Merger. The occurrence and amount of these costs will vary depending on the timing and size of these transactions. We exclude these charges from our non-GAAP measures to facilitate an evaluation of our current operating performance and comparisons to our past operating performance.
Stock-Based Compensation: Stock-based compensation is a non-cash charge relating to stock-based awards. We exclude this expense as it is a non-cash expense, and we assess our internal operations excluding this expense and believe it facilitates comparisons to the performance of other companies.
Restructuring and Other: Restructuring charges are related to one-time actions associated with realigning resources, enhancing operational productivity and efficiency, or improving our cost structure in support of our strategy. Such actions are not reflective of ongoing operations and include costs primarily associated with severance and related costs, charges related to paused work unrelated to our core business, costs associated with the Chief Executive Officer transition and other non-recurring costs directly associated with resource realignments tied to strategic initiatives or changes in business conditions. We exclude these items from our non-GAAP measures when evaluating our recent and prospective business performance as such items vary significantly based on the magnitude of the action and do not reflect anticipated future operating costs. In addition, these charges do not necessarily provide meaningful insight into the fundamentals of current or past operations of our business.
Gain/Loss on Strategic Investments: Gain/loss on strategic investments includes fair value adjustments, realized gains and losses on the sales of these investments and losses on the impairment of these investments. We exclude these items from our non-GAAP measures because we do not believe they correlate to the performance of our core business and may vary in size based on market conditions and events. We believe that the exclusion of these gains or losses provides investors with a supplemental view of our operational performance.
Debt Issuance Costs: Debt issuance costs include various incremental fees paid to third parties and warrants issued in connection with the issuance or amendment of debt. We exclude these charges from our non-GAAP measures to facilitate an evaluation of our current operating performance and comparisons to our past operating performance.
Income Tax Adjustments: Income tax adjustments include the tax effect of the non-GAAP adjustments, calculated using the appropriate statutory tax rate for each adjustment. We regularly assess the need to record valuation allowances based on the non-GAAP profitability and other factors. We also exclude certain tax items, including the impact from stock-based compensation windfalls/shortfalls, which are not reflective of income tax expense incurred as a result of current period earnings. We believe disclosure of the income tax provision before the effect of such tax items is important to permit investors’ consistent earnings comparison between periods.
iRobot Corporation
Supplemental Reconciliation of GAAP Actuals to Non-GAAP Actuals
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
For the three months ended
March 29, 2025
March 30, 2024
GAAP Revenue
$ 101,569
$ 150,014
GAAP Gross Profit
$ 20,313
$ 36,101
Stock-based compensation
346
828
Restructuring and other
1,658
–
Non-GAAP Gross Profit
$ 22,317
$ 36,929
GAAP Gross Margin
20.0 %
24.1 %
Non-GAAP Gross Margin
22.0 %
24.6 %
GAAP Operating Expenses
$ 66,063
$ 24,201
Amortization of acquired intangible assets
(136)
(172)
Stock-based compensation
(4,968)
(7,120)
Net merger, acquisition and divestiture (expense) income
(949)
74,117
Restructuring and other
(6,174)
(14,146)
Non-GAAP Operating Expenses
$ 53,836
$ 76,880
GAAP Operating Expenses as a % of GAAP Revenue
65.0 %
16.1 %
Non-GAAP Operating Expenses as a % of Non-GAAP Revenue
53.0 %
51.2 %
GAAP Operating (Loss) Income
$ (45,750)
$ 11,900
Amortization of acquired intangible assets
136
172
Stock-based compensation
5,314
7,948
Net merger, acquisition and divestiture expense (income)
949
(74,117)
Restructuring and other
7,832
14,146
Non-GAAP Operating Loss
$ (31,519)
$ (39,951)
GAAP Operating Margin
(45.0) %
7.9 %
Non-GAAP Operating Margin
(31.0) %
(26.6) %
iRobot Corporation
Supplemental Reconciliation of GAAP Actuals to Non-GAAP Actuals continued
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
For the three months ended
March 29, 2025
March 30, 2024
GAAP Income Tax Expense
$ 457
$ 108
Tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments
48
601
Other tax adjustments
(131)
(192)
Non-GAAP Income Tax Expense
$ 374
$ 517
GAAP Net (Loss) Income
$ (87,273)
$ 8,607
Amortization of acquired intangible assets
136
172
Stock-based compensation
5,314
7,948
Net merger, acquisition and divestiture expense (income)
949
(74,117)
Restructuring and other
7,832
14,146
Loss on strategic investments
–
375
Debt issuance costs
13,009
239
Income tax effect
83
(409)
Non-GAAP Net Loss
$ (59,950)
$ (43,039)
GAAP Net (Loss) Income Per Diluted Share
$ (2.84)
$ 0.30
Amortization of acquired intangible assets
0.01
0.01
Stock-based compensation
0.17
0.28
Net merger, acquisition and divestiture expense (income)
0.03
(2.63)
Restructuring and other
0.26
0.50
Loss on strategic investments
–
0.01
Debt issuance costs
0.42
0.01
Income tax effect
–
(0.01)
Non-GAAP Net Loss Per Diluted Share
$ (1.95)
$ (1.53)
Number of shares used in diluted per share calculation
30,725
28,171
Supplemental Information
Days sales outstanding
28
24
GAAP Days in inventory
77
107
Non-GAAP Days in inventory(1)
79
108
(1) Non-GAAP Days in inventory is calculated as inventory divided by (Revenue minus Non-GAAP Gross Profit), multiplied by 91 days.
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SOURCE iRobot Corporation
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New GASA Research: 71% of Adults Surveyed Across 13 Asian Markets Encountered Scams, with Estimated Losses of US$136.5 Billion
Published
10 minutes agoon
October 22, 2026By
Research highlights a gap between confidence in recognizing scams and actual outcomes ahead of the Global Anti-Scam Summit Asia 2026
BANGKOK, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — New research from the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), developed in collaboration with Gogolook, the developer of Whoscall, reveals the scale and impact of scams across Asia. Among adults surveyed in 13 Asian markets, 71% encountered a scam in the past year. The study estimates that consumers across those markets lost a combined US$136.5 billion to scams over the same period.
The State of Scams in Asia 2026 report, based on a survey of 17,460 adults, also identifies a gap between confidence and outcomes. While 66% of respondents said they were confident in their ability to recognize scams, 62% of those who encountered one interacted with it. Among respondents who interacted with a scam, 26% lost money.
The findings are being released ahead of the Global Anti-Scam Summit Asia 2026, taking place in Bangkok on 10–11 November. Following previous editions in Taiwan and Singapore, the summit will be held in Thailand for the first time, bringing together leaders from across sectors to strengthen the region’s response to evolving scams.
Phone calls and messages remain major points of exposure
Phone calls were the most common channel through which respondents encountered scams (56%), followed by text messages (50%) and instant messaging apps (40%). Shopping, investment and employment scams were the scam types respondents most commonly interacted with.
“Phone and text message scams remain a major challenge across Asia. In Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia, more than six in ten respondents encountered scam calls. As scammers use AI-generated voices and increasingly convincing scripts, identifying suspicious numbers and warning users before they engage becomes even more important,” said Jeff Kuo, CEO of Gogolook. “Whoscall’s observations also suggest that scammers are adapting to tighter SIM registration and identity checks by using international and satellite numbers. That makes continued information sharing across markets essential.”
The harm extends beyond financial losses
The research estimates that consumers across the 13 markets lost US$136.5 billion to scams over the past 12 months. Among respondents who lost money, 51% said they had been scammed more than once.
The effects reached beyond the immediate financial loss. Among those who lost money, 72% reported an impact on their mental wellbeing, 77% experienced at least one emotional impact, and 58% experienced at least one financial impact affecting their everyday lives.
“One of the most striking findings is the gap between confidence and behavior. While 66% of respondents feel confident they can recognize scams, 62% of those who encountered one went on to interact with it. This shows why education is important but cannot be our only line of defense. We also need stronger safeguards that protect people throughout the scam journey.” said Brian D. Hanley, Director, Asia-Pacific Chapter, Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA).
Turning regional evidence into action
The findings will inform discussions at the Global Anti-Scam Summit Asia 2026, where representatives from government, law enforcement, financial services, technology, telecommunications, consumer protection and other sectors will explore ways to prevent and disrupt scams.
The research also points to public support for more proactive intervention. Across the markets surveyed, 71% supported allowing banks to block high-value transactions without a customer’s prior permission when they suspect a scam. Another 69% supported allowing telecom operators or messaging apps to block calls and messages they believe are malicious.
Reporting, however, does not always lead to recovery. While 85% of victims reported their scam experience, outcomes varied depending on where they reported it, and recovery and reimbursement remained limited.
Download the full State of Scams in Asia 2026 report here: https://gasa.org/knowledge-base/reports/state-of-scams-in-asia-2026
Registration for the Global Anti-Scam Summit Asia 2026 is open. For the programme and registration details, visit the summit website: https://gasa.org/global-anti-scam-summit-asia-2026
About the research
The State of Scams in Asia 2026 surveyed 17,460 adults across 13 Asian markets: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Fieldwork was conducted between March 16 and April 13, 2026. The research was conducted by Opinium for the Global Anti-Scam Alliance and developed in collaboration with Gogolook, the developer of Whoscall.
About the Global Anti-Scam Alliance
The Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) is a nonprofit organization bringing together policymakers, law enforcement, consumer authorities, NGOs, the financial sector, telecommunications operators, internet platforms, cybersecurity organizations and other stakeholders to share knowledge and develop solutions to protect consumers from scams.
GASA Website: https://gasa.org/
About Gogolook
Gogolook is a leading TrustTech company established in 2012. With “Build for Trust” as its core value, Gogolook has expanded its business from Asia to Europe and the Americas. As a foundation member of the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), Gogolook collaborates with law enforcement agencies and public-sector organizations, including the Taiwan National Police Agency, the Royal Thai Police, the Philippines Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, and the Royal Malaysia Police. These partnerships support its commitment to building a scam-free environment.
Gogolook Website: https://www.gogolook.com/
About Whoscall
Whoscall, developed by Gogolook, is a caller ID and digital anti-scam app designed to protect users from scams across various channels, including phone calls, text messages, social media, and links. With over 100 million downloads globally, it features the most comprehensive database in East and Southeast Asia, covering more than 2.6 billion phone numbers.
Whoscall Website: https://web.whoscall.com/en
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SOURCE Gogolook
Technology
Voqalize Says Voice Is Becoming the Default Way People Use Software
Published
10 minutes agoon
October 22, 2026By
Voqalize is infrastructure for making software conversational. Existing applications, websites and AI agents can add a voice interface that listens, sees context, responds and acts, without being rebuilt.
BENGALURU, India, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Voqalize today said it gives existing applications, websites and AI agents a voice interface that can listen, see context, respond and act, without rebuilding the application. The company says teams can have it running in about an hour, either through Plug & Play, where Voqalize manages the AI agent and the voice experience, or through a developer integration into their own backend.
Imagine telling a clothing app: “I’ve got an outdoor wedding in Napa on the 20th. I need something under two hundred that goes with the shoes I bought in the spring.” The app pulls those shoes from your order history and lays out six options beside them. “Not the floral. Show me the second one in the navy.” It swaps the color and puts the shoes next to it. Then it adds: “You sent back a medium from this brand last time, so I picked the large. It arrives on the 17th.” You look it over and tap buy. That is the shift Voqalize is building for: voice not as input, but as an interface to software.
Fast facts
Apple’s iOS 27, released in September, lets Siri read what’s on a user’s screen and take actions inside appsGoogle reports that roughly one in five Gemini Live conversations now add a camera or screen share, with voice used in 63% of interactions across Gemini’s 1 billion-plus monthly usersA Censuswide survey of 700 business leaders and consumers for Voices, published Jan. 28, 2026, found that 55% of consumers say voice is their primary AI interface, while only 29% of companies have deployed customer-facing voice AI
Dictation Proved People Will Talk to Their Software
Dictation and notetaking apps are among the fastest-growing categories in consumer AI. Wispr, valued at $2 billion, and Granola, valued at $1.5 billion, have both built large user bases on a simple premise: people would rather talk than type, once the transcription is good enough. Wispr says the habit sticks. After six months, its average user writes 72% of their characters by voice.
The category is already moving past that original pitch. Wispr raised its most recent round on a case for going “beyond dictation.” Granola is expanding from a meeting notetaker into what it describes as a context layer for company AI. Superhuman acquired the notetaker Fathom in September. Talking to software stopped being the hard part. What people do with that voice next, and how directly it’s built into the products they already use, is where the category is headed.
“The next billion people coming online won’t type their way onto the internet. They’ll talk their way on, in whatever mix of languages they speak at home.” Sripathi Krishnan, Co-founder, Voqalize
Voice Is Moving From Typing Substitute to Default Interface
Voqalize’s argument is that voice is moving from a typing substitute into the default way people use an app: a running conversation, not a single dictated sentence, where the app listens, responds and can act on what’s on screen, with the interruptions and mid-task changes of direction that come with a real conversation. That mirrors a broader shift already underway on the phone line, where most current “voice AI” is still built around short, scripted calls that book an appointment or qualify a lead and then hang up. Apple’s iOS 27 and Google’s Gemini Live both point at the same shift: voice agents that can see a screen and act on it rather than just transcribe speech.
How Do You Add a Voice Interface to an Existing App?
An existing application or device connects through Voqalize rather than being rebuilt inside a new platform: Voqalize supplies the two-way voice channel and the ability to read and act on whatever is on screen. Businesses choose how much to hand over. With Plug & Play, Voqalize manages the AI agent and the voice experience. With a developer integration, businesses add Voqalize’s voice capabilities to their own backend while keeping control of their AI agent and workflows.
In some deployments, that voice is paired with a face on screen as well, so the person on the other end has something to talk to, not just a voice in the room. Sripathi Krishnan, the company’s co-founder, has argued that the harder part of that conversation may not be how fluently the agent talks, but how well it listens and knows when to stay quiet. Voqalize also works across Indic languages, because conversations in India often move between languages mid-sentence. A majority of Indian internet users already engage with content in Indic languages. Voice also makes software accessible across languages and across literacy and input constraints.
Building Toward Plug-and-Play Voice, Across Apps and Devices
Today, adding Voqalize to a product means connecting an existing application or device through a single interface, without rebuilding it inside a new platform. Voqalize says its near-term work is on extending that same one-connection model further, so that adding two-way voice to a new app, or to a device beyond the phone and the browser, becomes a plug-and-play step rather than a custom integration. That direction follows a broader move already visible in the industry: voice infrastructure is consolidating around shared frameworks instead of one-off builds, and AI tools are increasingly connecting to each other through standard connectors rather than custom code written for each pairing. Voqalize says it intends to be the layer that makes that same simplicity available for voice specifically, across whatever app or device a company is already building for.
“Soon people will judge an app by how well it understands them, the way you judge a shop by whether the person behind the counter gets what you mean.” Samkeet Jain, Co-founder, Voqalize
Voqalize is available today for teams adding a two-way voice interface to an existing product or AI agent. Early deployments include in-app assistants for mortgage servicing workflows, legal clause review, and authenticated banking support. Voqalize was also named one of the 30 products in YourStory’s Vibecode30 2026, a showcase of emerging AI-native builders in India.
About Voqalize Voqalize is a voice AI platform that makes it easy for businesses to add two-way voice conversations to their applications and AI agents across 60+ Global and Indic languages. With Plug & Play, Voqalize manages the AI agent and voice experience for you. With our developer integration, businesses can add Voqalize’s voice capabilities to their own backend while keeping control of their AI agent and workflows. Go ahead and build your next voice-enabled applications with us on voqalize.com.
Media Contact: Samkeet Jain / +91 8147514179 / Samkeet@voqalize.com
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/voqalize-says-voice-is-becoming-the-default-way-people-use-software-302915851.html
Technology
Sungrow Advances Integrated C&I Microgrid Solution to Southeast Asia
Published
10 minutes agoon
October 22, 2026By
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As Southeast Asia’s manufacturing sector expands, businesses face growing pressure from rising electricity costs, power supply disruptions and increasingly complex energy demands. Sungrow, a globally leading PV inverter and energy storage system provider, has launched the Integrated C&I Microgrid Solution for Southeast Asia, bringing together PV inverters, energy storage systems, EV chargers, microgrid controllers and cloud platforms. The solution helps businesses access more economical, reliable, and cleaner power.
End-to-End Cost Optimization, Improving Overall Benefits by 12%
For businesses seeking to reduce energy costs without compromising power reliability, system sizing and energy dispatch are critical. Sungrow’s Integrated C&I Microgrid Solution is engineered to make clean energy a more cost-competitive choice for businesses.
Optimized System Sizing: 8,760-hour simulations and intelligent algorithms evaluate tens of thousands of system configurations to optimize the capacity of PV, storage and diesel generation, helping avoid overinvestment and undersized systems.Intelligent Energy Dispatch: PV generation and load forecasts are updated every five minutes. Based on these forecasts and real-time electricity prices, AI dynamically optimizes the dispatch of multiple energy sources, including PV, energy storage and diesel generation, helping businesses meet their energy needs at a lower cost. This boosts overall economic benefits by 12% and shortens project payback periods by 1–2 years.Flexible Market Participation: Open interfaces and support for major electricity market protocols enable participation in diverse market mechanisms and unlock additional revenue streams.
Industry-First Five-Layer Protection for Reliable Power
For factories and commercial facilities, power outages can halt equipment, disrupt production and prolong recovery. Reliable power for critical loads is essential to keeping operations running.
Sungrow’s Integrated C&I Microgrid Solution features an industry-first five-layer protection framework, with tailored control strategies for different levels of grid disturbance. It can withstand three times overload for 10 seconds and severe voltage disturbances, helping protect critical loads from supply disruptions. With seamless grid-to-off-grid switching with no interruption to loads and whole-site black-start capability in just 3 minutes, the solution helps ensure a reliable power supply and rapid recovery during grid disruptions.
Support Throughout the Project Lifecycle
From system design and deployment to long-term operation, Sungrow simplifies the entire project lifecycle with full-stack in-house technologies and global service support.
Simplified Design and Deployment: One-stop system design, plug-and-play installation and one-click cloud connection streamline the journey from planning to commissioning.Smarter Operations: Coordinated PV, storage, EV charging, microgrid control and cloud management enable flexible energy dispatch, unified cloud-based management and automatic fault alerts.Global Service Support: With more than 520 service locations, 24/7 technical support and global spare parts centers, Sungrow helps keep projects running reliably over the long term.
Real-World Applications: Powering Energy Independence
“Sungrow’s Integrated C&I Microgrid Solution has been deployed across multiple locations in Southeast Asia, addressing diverse energy challenges for businesses,” said Huang Wanfeng, director of the Smart Energy Products Department at Sungrow.
In the Solomon Islands, the Solomon Resort Hotel Microgrid enables reliable off-grid hotel operations while helping reduce annual CO₂ emissions by around 1,000 tonnes and fuel costs by an estimated USD 600,000–700,000. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, Sungrow’s microgrid solution helps address power supply challenges in industrial parks, reducing reliance on diesel generation.
With proven experience across diverse applications, Sungrow is committed to helping businesses across Southeast Asia build more reliable, cost-efficient and resilient energy systems.
Contact:
Luly Wang
luly.wang@sungrow-hq.com
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/sungrow-advances-integrated-ci-microgrid-solution-to-southeast-asia-302916312.html
SOURCE Sungrow Power
New GASA Research: 71% of Adults Surveyed Across 13 Asian Markets Encountered Scams, with Estimated Losses of US$136.5 Billion
Voqalize Says Voice Is Becoming the Default Way People Use Software
Sungrow Advances Integrated C&I Microgrid Solution to Southeast Asia
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