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Toku launches Makimoto: open-source conversational AI built for Asia-Pacific data residency

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A composable architecture that keeps customer data in-country from day one and outlasts the components inside it.

SINGAPORE, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Toku, a Singapore Exchange (SGX) Catalist-listed AI-powered customer experience platform, today launched Makimoto, its open-source initiative for conversational AI in Asia-Pacific. The first release, Makimoto Kawa (“Kawa”), will be available from 1 July 2026 as a managed transcription API1 service hosted in Singapore. Additional country-specific APIs and a containerised, self-hostable release will follow, enabling deployment in the customer’s cloud, data centre, or jurisdiction of choice. The waiting list for early access opens today at makimoto.ai. Alongside the waiting list, Toku is opening ten Singapore-based roles on the Makimoto team for recent graduates.

“In an era where AI capabilities evolve on a weekly cycle, the biggest risk of any technology decision is creating tomorrow’s legacy today. Makimoto is our response: a composable architecture where every component can be swapped as the field evolves.” said Thomas Laboulle, Founder and CEO at Toku.  

A response to a fragmenting regulatory landscape

Data-processing regulations across Asia-Pacific are tightening and diverging. Indonesia’s Personal Data Protection Law, Vietnam’s Personal Data Protection Law, and recent updates to Singapore’s PDPA have all raised the weight that enterprises place on where audio, transcripts, and customer conversations are processed. For teams building voice and chat automation across the region, the primary engineering question is no longer which model is most accurate: it is which deployment satisfies each regulator while scaling across markets.  

Makimoto is designed to answer that question on day one, and to keep answering it as requirements evolve. Kawa’s first release runs exclusively in Singapore, keeping customer audio and transcripts within the country and supporting in-country processing for customers subject to Singapore’s PDPA and regulated-sector guidelines, including those issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.  

Makimoto gives teams optionality for markets such as Indonesia and Vietnam, which enforce among the strictest in-country data-processing mandates on real-time communications and transcription services, frequently requiring local servers for critical or personal data.

“With Kawa, customer data is processed in country, not just stored there. Every stage of the pipeline runs within a single jurisdiction, so our customers always know exactly where their data is going.” said Thomas Laboulle.  

Orchestration-first: composable by design  

Makimoto Kawa is an open-source orchestration framework that assembles, configures, and runs multiple open-source components as a production-grade transcription pipeline. What Toku open-sources under the MIT licence2 is the orchestration layer itself: the glue code, configuration, and APIs that allow every component in the pipeline to be swapped without rewriting the surrounding system.  

Kawa will be offered through two APIs at launch: one for real-time transcription, which developers can use to build live voice agent experiences, live captioning, or in-conversation analytics; and one for post-conversation transcription, suited for recorded calls, voicemail, and batch analytics of archived conversations. Under the surface, both APIs run the same five-stage modular pipeline: audio resampling, noise filtering and audio enhancement, voice activity detection with speaker diarisation, speech-to-text inference, and post-processing for normalisation, temporal ordering, speaker labelling, and structured output. Operators can swap or tune any individual stage to optimise for a given language, domain, or deployment environment.

Makimoto is a natural extension of the composable customer engagement approach recognised by Gartner in its Cool Vendor research.  

“We are obsessed with the orchestration layer, because models and components turn over every few months, but the layer that keeps them swappable is what makes the whole stack durable.” said Thomas Laboulle.  

A progressive path to full transparency  

At launch, Makimoto opens the orchestration layer of Kawa as MIT-licensed source code, while its internal components, including voice activity detection, diarisation, noise handling, the speech-to-text model, and post-processing, remain managed by Toku. Over subsequent releases, Toku will progressively open additional layers of the pipeline, working towards full transparency and community modifiability of every component. This phased approach lets the Makimoto community review, contribute to, and eventually replace each part of the stack while Toku maintains production stability for early-access users.  

Makimoto is operated through Makimoto Technology Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Toku Group, established to preserve community trust and transparent governance, and to maintain a clear distinction between the enterprise and community editions of Kawa. Toku believes this separation unlocks innovation in both: the community edition evolves under open governance and external contribution, while the enterprise edition stays focused on the reliability, security, and commercial support that regulated-sector customers require. Toku commits to keeping Makimoto’s open-source components permissively licensed, with no plans to adopt source-available or Business Source License-style terms. Over time, additional components of Toku’s technology stack will migrate into Makimoto, evolving the group’s architecture toward an open-core approach that reinforces the composability thesis at the heart of this initiative.

Developing future-ready talent  

Alongside the early-access programme, Toku is opening ten Singapore-based positions on the Makimoto team, open to recent graduates of Singapore’s universities and polytechnics. The roles span engineering, developer relations, and community work. The hiring programme reflects Toku’s conviction that Asia-Pacific open-source infrastructure benefits from engineers and community builders rooted in the region, and that Makimoto should be a place where early-career talent joins a production-grade open-source initiative from the start. Applications open today at makimoto.ai.  

A complement to the regional AI ecosystem  

Makimoto is designed to complement, not replace, the broader Singapore and APAC AI ecosystem. Kawa is built to interoperate with open regional language models such as SEA-LION from AI Singapore and MERaLiON from A*STAR, which developers can plug in as reasoning or dialogue layers in applications that depend on accurate transcription of regional speech.  

1 API refers to Application Programming Interface – a way for software systems to communicate with each other, allowing developers to access functionality or data without building it from scratch.

2 MIT licence is a widely-used open-source licence that allows anyone to use, modify, and distribute software with minimal restrictions, including for commercial purposes.

About Toku  

Headquartered in Singapore, Toku Ltd. (SGX Catalist: TKU) is a cloud-native, AI-powered customer experience platform purpose-built for enterprises operating in complex, multi-national environments.  

Trusted by leading enterprises and public-sector organisations, Toku helps organisations streamline operations, scale customer engagement and deliver consistent experiences in fragmented markets worldwide.  

For more information about Toku, visit toku.co    

About Makimoto  

Makimoto is Toku’s open-source initiative, operated through Makimoto Technology Pte Ltd, dedicated to building composable conversational AI infrastructure for Asia-Pacific. Its first release, Makimoto Kawa, is an MIT-licensed orchestration framework for production-grade transcription pipelines.  

For more information about Makimoto,  visit makimoto.ai  

Forward-Looking Statements  

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Toku’s expansion plans and business strategy. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Toku undertakes no obligation to update these statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.  

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SOURCE Toku

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IG Wealth Management and Goldman Sachs Asset Management to Deliver Institutional Investment Expertise to Canadian Investors

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WINNIPEG, MB, Sept. 8, 2026 /CNW/ — IG Wealth Management (“IG”) and Goldman Sachs Asset Management today announced a strategic collaboration that will combine IG’s integrated financial planning expertise with the investment capabilities of Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

Together, the firms will help provide IG clients and Canadian retail investors access to globally diversified investment strategies across equities, fixed income and alternatives by providing them with solutions that have long been utilized by sophisticated institutional investors.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s Multi-Asset Solutions team will assume portfolio management responsibilities for the IG Strategic Wealth Portfolios (the “Portfolios”), comprised of five portfolios from the suite formerly known as the IG Core Portfolios. Goldman Sachs Asset Management will deliver a holistic management approach to the portfolios, with an emphasis on risk discipline and dynamism across different market environments, bringing to the Canadian wealth market capabilities that have historically only been available to institutional clients.

Designed to help IG’s clients and retail investors stay invested through market cycles and pursue long-term growth with confidence, the Portfolios will continue to deliver a globally diversified investment approach. Utilizing its open architecture platform and expertise in managing multi-manager strategies, Goldman Sachs Asset Management will introduce complementary flagship Goldman Sachs strategies to the Portfolios alongside existing strategies.  

“This partnership strengthens the investment foundation of the IG Strategic Wealth Portfolios by incorporating the world-class institutional investment capabilities of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, including adaptive active management, the breadth and expertise of their global resources and a disciplined approach to risk management,” said Florence Narine, Head of Investment Solutions, IG Wealth Management. “These capabilities reinforce our commitment to providing our clients with globally diversified, forward-thinking investment solutions.”

The evolution of the Portfolios reflects a shared commitment by both organizations to innovation, client-centricity and long-term value creation. Drawing on more than 250 years of combined experience serving investors, IG and Goldman Sachs bring together their complementary strengths to deliver actively managed, innovative solutions designed for today’s increasingly complex investment landscape.

“The forces shaping the global economy today are evolving more quickly and less predictably than in the past. We believe a modern approach to asset allocation, dynamic investment strategies, robust risk management processes and well-diversified portfolios help clients achieve their objectives across market environments,” said Alexandra Wilson-Elizondo, Global Head and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Multi-Asset Solutions, and Portfolio Manager, Goldman Sachs Asset Management. “We are excited to partner with IG to bring the capabilities of our Multi-Asset Solutions team to IG’s clients across Canada.”

The IG Strategic Wealth Portfolios included in this announcement are: 

IG Strategic Wealth Portfolio – Income FocusIG Strategic Wealth Portfolio – Income BalancedIG Strategic Wealth Portfolio – BalancedIG Strategic Wealth Portfolio – Balanced GrowthIG Strategic Wealth Portfolio – Growth

About IG Wealth Management
Founded in 1926, IG Wealth Management (“IG”) is a Canadian leader in delivering financial planning with approximately $178 billion in assets under advisement as of August 31, 2026. For more than 95 years, IG has been focused on improving the financial well-being of Canadians so they can confidently embrace all of life’s possibilities. Through a network of advisors located across the country, IG provides approximately one million clients with personalized advice, comprehensive financial planning, insurance and mortgage services and professionally managed investment solutions. IG is a member of IGM Financial Inc. (TSX: IGM), part of the Power Corporation group of companies and one of Canada’s leading diversified wealth and asset management organizations with approximately $346 billion in total assets under management and advisement as of August 31, 2026. For more information, visit ig.ca.

About Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Goldman Sachs Asset Management is the primary investing area within Goldman Sachs, delivering investment and advisory services across public and private markets for the world’s leading institutions, financial advisors, and individuals. The business is driven by a focus on partnership and shared success with its clients, seeking to deliver long-term investment performance drawing on its global network and deep expertise across industries and markets. Goldman Sachs Asset Management is a leading investor across fixed income, liquidity, equity, alternatives, and multi-asset solutions. Goldman Sachs oversees approximately $4 trillion in assets under supervision as of June 30, 2026. Follow us on LinkedIn.

SOURCE IG Wealth Management

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V2X to Deliver Tempest Counter-UAS Systems to U.S. Marine Corps

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RESTON, Va., Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — V2X, Inc. (NYSE: VVX) today announced it has been awarded a $19 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract by the U.S. Marine Corps to deliver Tempest counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) vehicles, expanding access to a highly mobile capability designed to protect maneuver forces against rapidly evolving unmanned threats.

Under the contract, V2X will provide Tempest vehicles along with maintenance support, software management, spares, ancillary components, training, and other associated engineering services. Designed for speed, mobility, and adaptability, Tempest provides maneuver forces with a rapidly deployable solution capable of detecting, tracking, and defeating unmanned aerial threats while maintaining the flexibility to reposition as mission requirements evolve.

“Unmanned aerial systems are fundamentally changing the modern battlefield, creating an urgent need for counter-UAS solutions that are mobile, effective, and ready to operate in demanding environments,” said Jeremy C. Wensinger, President and Chief Executive Officer of V2X. “Tempest demonstrates what V2X does exceptionally well: respond to an urgent customer need and rapidly take a capability from concept and integration through fielding and sustainment. By bringing together our engineering, technology integration, logistics, and mission expertise, we can move with speed to deliver mission-ready solutions that directly address emerging threats.”

Tempest was developed by V2X as a highly mobile counter-UAS solution capable of operating alongside maneuver forces in austere and contested environments. Its commercially derived architecture enables rapid deployment, sustainment, and adaptability while providing the mobility required to respond to dynamic threats.

The award further strengthens V2X’s growing counter-UAS portfolio and demonstrates the company’s ability to develop, integrate, field, and sustain solutions in response to evolving operational requirements. V2X combines engineering, technology integration, logistics, training, and mission expertise to accelerate capability from concept to the field.

About V2X
V2X builds innovative solutions that integrate physical and digital environments by aligning people, actions, and technology. V2X is embedded in all elements of a critical mission’s lifecycle to enhance readiness, optimize resource management, and boost security. The company provides innovation spanning national security, defense, civilian, and international markets. With a global team of approximately 16,000 professionals, V2X enables mission success by injecting AI and machine learning capabilities to meet today’s toughest challenges across all operational domains.

Investor Contact
Mike Smith, CFA
Vice President, Treasury, Corporate Development and Investor Relations
IR@goV2X.com 
719-637-5773

Media Contact
Angelica Spanos Deoudes
Senior Director, Marketings and Communications
Angelica.Deoudes@goV2X.com
571-338-5195

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SOURCE V2X, Inc.

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Quantinuum Finalizes $100 Million CHIPS R&D Award with U.S. Department of Commerce to Advance Trapped-Ion Quantum Computer Manufacturing in the US

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The federal funding supports critical R&D and U.S. quantum semiconductor manufacturing capabilities needed to scale fault-tolerant trapped-ion quantum computing.Company partnering with GlobalFoundries to fabricate next-gen ion traps and control electronics, and Monarch Quantum to develop and manufacture reliable lasers and optical components.  

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Quantinuum (Nasdaq: QNT), a leading quantum computing company, today announced it has finalized an agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s CHIPS Research and Development Office for $100 million in federal funding deployed through the CHIPS and Science Act. The award, which follows a letter of intent announced in May, supports R&D and U.S. quantum semiconductor manufacturing capabilities needed to deploy large-scale, fault-tolerant trapped-ion quantum computers.

Quantinuum, which was the only company with a trapped-ion based architecture to be awarded CHIPS R&D funding, develops the world’s most accurate commercial[1] computers with industry-leading error correction fidelity.[2] The company leverages established semiconductor manufacturing processes to help ensure reliability, repeatability, and scalability of the company’s current and future quantum computers.

“This award is a validation of Quantinuum’s leadership in trapped-ion quantum computing,” said Dr. Rajeeb Hazra, President and CEO of Quantinuum. “Together with our domestic partners, we are building the technology and supply-chain foundation needed to scale fault-tolerant systems and strengthen America’s leadership in this strategically important field.”       

The award will support R&D that the company expects to help strengthen and diversify its supply chain, adding onshore partners GlobalFoundries and Monarch Quantum. GlobalFoundries will be one of several of Quantinuum’s foundries enlisted to fabricate its next-generation ion traps and other electronics, specifically focused on using 300mm wafer technology; Monarch Quantum plans to develop and manufacture scalable, reliable lasers and optical components required for Quantinuum’s trapped-ion systems.

“As quantum computing moves closer to commercial scale, manufacturing will be critical to unlocking its full potential,” said Tim Breen, CEO of GlobalFoundries. “GlobalFoundries is proud to partner with Quantinuum to help scale their trapped-ion technology. By bringing our expertise in high-volume, differentiated semiconductor manufacturing, we’re helping create a path to more scalable, reliable quantum hardware and advancing the next generation of American innovation.”

“The road to large-scale, trapped-ion quantum computers relies on moving away from complex, sprawling optical setups to scalable, reliable integrated photonics engines,” said Dr. Timothy Day, CEO of Monarch Quantum. “We are honored to expand our partnership with Quantinuum to advance their hardware roadmap and to help strengthen U.S. leadership in quantum computing manufacturing and supply chain resilience.”

Together, these efforts are intended to reduce system complexity and improve component robustness, reliability, and reproducibility, ultimately supporting the continued scaling of trapped-ion quantum computers, while strengthening domestic capability across critical photonics and semiconductor manufacturing.

About Quantinuum

Quantinuum is a leading quantum computing company offering a full-stack platform designed to make quantum computing deployable in real-world environments. The company has commercially deployed multiple generations of trapped-ion based quantum systems built on the well-established QCCD architecture, which it has implemented with novel designs and capabilities to achieve the industry’s highest accuracy levels based on average two-qubit gate fidelity.[3] Quantinuum has active engagements with market leaders across pharmaceuticals, material science, financial services, and government and industrial markets, as well as academic and research institutions globally. The company has a global workforce of over 800 employees, including top scientists and researchers. Quantinuum’s headquarters is in Broomfield, Colorado, with additional facilities across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Qatar, and Singapore. For more information, please visit www.quantinuum.com.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. The words “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “future,” “will,” “seek,” “foreseeable,” the negative version of these words, or similar terms and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on certain assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. The forward-looking statements included in this release are also subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting our operations, markets, products, services and prices. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Quantinuum to predict all such factors. For additional information on these and other risks that could affect Quantinuum’s forward-looking statements, see Quantinuum’s risk factors discussed in its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2026, as such risk factors may be updated from time to time. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as required by law, Quantinuum does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

[1] Based on physical two-qubit gate fidelity as of December 31, 2025, according to the 2025 Ransford et al. study.
[2] As of February 25, 2026, according to the 2026 Dasu et al. study.
[3] As of December 31, 2025.

press@quantinuum.com 

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