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Avnet Brings Ecosystem Together to Scale Edge AI in Singapore

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Industry leaders from AI Singapore and Nanyang Polytechnic join global partners to accelerate real-world edge AI deployment

SINGAPORE, June 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As AI adoption accelerates across Singapore and Southeast Asia, where 81% of companies have moved beyond experimentation[1] and 56% of Singapore companies report progress toward scaled adoption[2], the challenge is now execution at scale. In Singapore, where the digital economy contributes approximately 18.6% of GDP, enterprises are rapidly operationalising AI[3], driving demand for integrated solutions and deep technical expertise.

Against this backdrop, Avnet plays a critical role in powering industry growth, bringing together engineering expertise, ecosystem partnerships and supply chain capabilities to turn AI innovation into deployable solutions. This will be showcased at its upcoming Edge & Beyond Tech Day in Singapore, where Avnet is convening industry leaders to accelerate AI and edge adoption across the region.

“As AI moves from early experimentation to widespread commercial deployment across Southeast Asia, the conversation is shifting,” said Tan Aik Hoon, Regional President, Avnet South Asia and Korea. “Access to technology is no longer the primary hurdle for enterprises. Instead, the focus has turned to the practicalities of architecture and integration—specifically how to take complex AI models and run them efficiently and reliably at the edge.”

The Avnet Edge & Beyond Tech Days, taking place in July 2026 across Singapore and Vietnam—including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City—are now open to engineers, product leaders, and decision-makers navigating the next phase of AI. Space is limited. Request an invitation to attend here: http://avnet.me/028841

Scaling AI from Innovation to Execution

While AI adoption continues to advance, organisations face increasing challenges in translating innovation into scalable, real-world applications—particularly at the edge, where performance, latency and reliability are critical.

Findings from Avnet Insights 2026 highlight that 56% of engineers are already shipping AI-enabled products[4], as companies embed AI into product design and industrial environments while navigating challenges such as data quality, system integration and secure deployment.

These challenges are increasingly consistent across Asia, reinforcing the need for partners that can deliver end-to-end integration, engineering support and scalable deployment capabilities.

Advancing Edge AI for Real-World Impact

A key focus of Edge & Beyond Tech Day is the growing importance of edge AI, where intelligence is embedded closer to devices to enable real-time decision-making across sectors such as manufacturing, robotics and smart infrastructure.

Taking place on July 10 at Sheraton Towers Singapore, the event will showcase:

AI-driven enterprise and industrial applications aligned with national prioritiesReal-time edge intelligence and deployment strategiesRobotics and physical AI innovationEmbedded AI platforms and scalable system solutions

These focus areas align with Singapore’s continued push to deepen AI adoption under its National AI Strategy 2.0, which aims to embed AI across industries and drive long-term economic growth.

Industry Leaders Address Key AI Challenges

Leading voices from government, academia and industry will also address critical challenges shaping the next phase of AI adoption.

AI Singapore will share insights from its national AIxTech initiative, highlighting how organisations are building AI-ready talent and accelerating real-world AI development.Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) will explore the importance of deploying intelligence at the point of action, where real-time decision-making is becoming essential across industries.Weston Robot will examine the critical gap between research and commercialisation in robotics, sharing perspectives on how innovative technologies can transition more effectively from the lab to real-world deployment.

Together, these perspectives reflect a broader industry shift—from isolated AI initiatives to integrated, scalable deployment at the edge.

Showcasing Innovation Across a Strong Ecosystem

Another highlight of the event is the strong ecosystem of global technology partners coming together to showcase the latest innovations across semiconductors, connectivity, power management and embedded systems.

Participating partners include AMD, Amphenol, DEEPX, element14, Micron, Molex, MPS (Monolithic Power Systems), NXP, onsemi, Phoenix Contact, Power Integrations, Renesas, Quectel, Samtec, SiTime, STMicroelectronics, Taoglas, Transcend and YAGEO, among others.

These partners will demonstrate solutions spanning the full AI value chain—from intelligent sensing and connectivity to compute, power and system integration—enabling organisations to accelerate deployment of real-world AI and edge applications.

Supporting a Growing Regional Ecosystem

As Southeast Asia continues to emerge as a high-growth region for AI, sustained progress will depend on strong collaboration across the technology ecosystem.

“Sustained digital competitiveness in Southeast Asia relies on a well-integrated ecosystem,” Tan added. “Through the Edge & Beyond Tech Day, we are actively tearing down the silos between component innovators, software developers, and system engineers. By connecting these capabilities, Avnet is helping enterprises move past the proof-of-concept phase and deploy secure, scalable edge AI at commercial speed.”

By bridging innovation with execution, Avnet is helping organisations design, deploy and scale AI and edge solutions more effectively—contributing to the region’s long-term digital transformation and competitiveness.

Get Involved:

The Avnet Edge & Beyond Tech Days, taking place in July 2026 across Singapore and Vietnam—including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City—are now open to engineers, product leaders, and decision-makers navigating the next phase of AI. Space is limited. Request an invitation to attend here: http://avnet.me/028841

About Avnet

As a leading global technology distributor and solutions provider, Avnet has served customers’ evolving needs for more than a century. Through regional and specialized businesses around the world, we support customers and suppliers at every stage of the product lifecycle. We help companies adapt to change and accelerate the design and supply stages of product development. With a unique viewpoint from the center of the technology supply chain, Avnet is a trusted partner that solves complex design and supply chain issues so customers can realize revenue faster. Learn more about Avnet at www.avnet.com.

Sources:

[1] McKinsey, EDB & Tech in Asia (2026) – Southeast Asia AI adoption statistic indicating 81% of companies have moved beyond experimentation
[2] Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), AI in Southeast Asia: An Era of Opportunity (2026) – Singapore adoption statistic indicating 56% of companies report progress toward scaled adoption.
[3] IMDA Singapore Digital Economy Report 2025 – Digital economy contributes 18.6% of GDP. 
[4] Avnet Insights 2026 Whitepaper – 56% of engineers are shipping AI-enabled products globally

 

Appendix: Partner & Sponsor Showcase Highlights

Key product and technology exhibits by valued ecosystem partners at the Avnet Edge & Beyond Tech Day include, among others:

Amphenol Industrial

Amphenol Industrial will showcase its latest full-spectrum industrial power & signal interconnects designed to ensure stable operation under harsh Industrial conditions. The exhibit will feature rugged high-performance interconnect systems and a wide range of connector products, delivering field-proven reliability and iterative innovation essential for next-gen Factory Automation, Robotics, Renewable Energy and Commercial Vehicle deployments.

Amphenol Communications Solutions

Amphenol Communications Solutions will be exhibiting its latest interconnect solutions designed to enable high-bandwidth, low-latency Edge AI infrastructure. The exhibit will feature advanced high-speed I/O and card-edge connector technologies and power interconnect solutions, delivering the signal integrity, power efficiency, and scalable performance essential for next-generation AI/ML, cloud, telecom, and edge computing deployments.

element14

element14 will showcase its electronic and industrial system design solutions. The exhibit will feature edge AI vision systems using the Raspberry Pi AI Camera, single-board computing platforms, and embedded development solutions with STM Discovery kits and connectivity accessories. These support edge processing for industrial automation and edge AI applications.

Molex

Molex will showcase its latest cutting-edge interconnect innovations designed to power the AI revolution. The exhibit will feature the EXTreme Ten60 Mezzanine Connectors and EXTreme PowerEdge Plus Card Edge Connectors, both delivering the high-density, robust power distribution essential for next-generation AI servers and data center architectures. Additionally, Molex will highlight the Micro-Fit+ OCP M-PIC 12V Connectors, providing the standardized, high-performance efficiency required by Open Compute Project (OCP) standards for AI hardware demanding space-saving yet powerful connectivity.

MPS

MPS will showcase its latest high-performance, energy-efficient power solutions designed to enable next generation Edge AI applications. The exhibit will feature advanced power management ICs for AI computing platforms and intelligent power systems for robotics and industrial automation, delivering exceptional power efficiency, reliability and performance essential for real-time edge deployment.

Nanyang Polytechnic

Nanyang Polytechnic will showcase its latest Edge AI technologies and real-time intelligent vision innovations designed to enable AI processing directly at the edge, delivering faster insights, reduced latency, and enhanced data privacy. The exhibit will feature AI-Powered Smart Surveillance Solutions and Intelligent Edge Vision Systems for Industrial and Autonomous Applications, delivering the high-performance, low-latency inference capabilities essential for next-generation edge AI deployment across healthcare, transport, security, logistics, manufacturing, and construction sectors.

onsemi

onsemi will showcase its latest innovations at Avnet Edge & Beyond Tech Days 2026, featuring advanced solutions including Autonomous Mobile Robots, Power Discretes, TREO platform, and cutting‑edge Image Sensors. The showcase highlights onsemi’s commitment to enabling smarter, more efficient system designs and accelerating intelligent edge applications across industries.

Phoenix Contact

Phoenix Contact will showcase its latest advanced connectivity and intelligent power reliability solutions designed to support seamless and resilient data center operations. The exhibit will feature efficient power, signal, and data transmission solutions and real-time monitoring and protection systems, delivering the high availability and operational reliability essential for mission-critical data center environments.

Quectel

Quectel will showcase its latest end-to-end intelligent IoT solutions designed to accelerate Edge AI innovation. The exhibit will feature AI-powered Smart SBC platforms alongside Quectel’s comprehensive IoT ecosystem, including wireless modules, antennas, and connectivity services, delivering high-performance, scalable solutions for robotics, industrial automation, machine vision, and intelligent edge applications.

Renesas

Renesas will showcase its edge intelligence solutions for smart city sensors, asset tracking, and crowd counting. These solutions, developed in collaboration with partners, demonstrate the key features of its MPU, MCU, and connectivity portfolio. They highlight capabilities such as real-time NPU (neural processing) performance and low power consumption, which are essential for edge AI deployment. In addition, they illustrate how Renesas products are applied in real-world implementations. 

Samtec

Samtec will showcase its latest high-performance interconnect solutions designed to optimize the entire signal channel of high performance systems. The exhibit will feature Samtec’s High Speed, High-Power-Density connectors and cables, meeting the demand for increased speeds, bandwidths, frequencies, and densities essential for supporting next-generation AI/ML applications such as SoM/CoM; computing platform chipsets; and ultra-low latency products.

STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics will showcase its latest 60Ghz RF technology designed to support applications such as Radar, LiDAR, humanoid and robotics joints that require rotation and connectivity. The exhibit will feature ST60, delivering high data rate with low latency and utilizing low power wireless link even under harsh environment uses cases.

Taoglas

Taoglas will showcase its latest advanced antenna and RF innovations, designed to enable seamless connectivity for Edge AI applications. The exhibit will feature high-performance antenna solutions and cutting-edge antenna design tools, delivering the reliable, low-latency connectivity essential for next-generation edge deployments.

Transcend

Transcend Information will showcase its latest top component solutions designed for computing storage. The exhibit will feature industrial SSD solutions and DRAM modules, delivering the diverse, extended-longevity choices and fixed-BOM stability essential for next-generation AI/edge deployments.

Yageo

YAGEO Group will highlight its comprehensive passive portfolio and new NTC thermistor line, enabling high reliability and power efficiency for Edge AI. The exhibit delivers the precise thermal sensing, monitoring, and circuit protection essential for demanding automotive, networking, and industrial power systems.

CONTACT: Seraphina Wee, Seraphina.wee@avnet.com

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SOURCE Avnet

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China’s Long March: The Journey Goes On

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MACAO, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This is a report from Xinhua News Agency:

There is a chapter of history every Chinese child learns in school.

There is a poem that generations of Chinese people have learned by heart.

There is a song millions can sing from its very first notes.

In stories, in verses, in melodies, they all point to the same chapter of history: the Long March.

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SOURCE Xinhua News Agency

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Target Makes it Easier for Guests to Discover Stylish Holiday Gifts They Can’t Wait to Give

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Target is offering more than 8,000 new gifts, with more than half exclusive to the retailerMost new holiday items at Target are $20 or less, including thousands $5 and underNew AI-powered shopping experiences, daily deals and early Black Friday savings simplify gifting

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) is putting gifting at the heart of the holidays, bringing guests more than 8,000 new stylish gifts they can’t wait to give. More than half of the new assortment is available only at Target, with thousands of gifts priced at $5 and under. New AI-powered shopping experiences, fresh ways to discover gifts and deals throughout the season will make it easier for guests to find something special for everyone on the list.

“This holiday season, guests will see and feel the changes we’ve been making across Target, bringing together the style, design and value they expect from us with an experience that makes shopping easier and more inspiring,” said Michael Fiddelke, chief executive officer, Target. “We know guests turn to Target for gifting, gathering and everything in between, and our team is ready to help busy families discover more joy in those moments throughout the season.”

Stylish gifts at an incredible value
As consumers continue to look for affordable ways to give gifts that feel special, Target is leaning into one of the season’s biggest trends: luxe-for-less gifting. This year’s assortment includes 100% cashmere (excluding functional trim) starting at $25, pajamas for all from $10, festive decor from $5, faux fur throws at $30, top toys from LEGO, Barbie and Nintendo, new and exclusive gifts from prestige, emerging and global beauty brands at Target Beauty Studio, nostalgic sweet treats and host gifts from Favorite Day and exclusive finds for sports and wellness fans, making it easy for guests to find gifts that feel elevated at every price point.

“Guests tell us they want to give gifts that are thoughtful and personal, while feeling good about what they’re spending,” said Cara Sylvester, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, Target. “That’s why we’ve brought together the brands they love, exciting trends and unexpected finds they won’t see anywhere else — all at prices that make it easier to get that ‘I can’t wait to give this’ gift.”

More ways to discover the perfect gift
New this season, Ask Target, an AI-powered shopping assistant available in beta on Target.com and the Target app, helps guests find inspiration, narrow their choices and shop with confidence and ease. Additional AI-powered features and a digital holiday kids catalog offer more ways to discover gifts for everyone on the list.

Target’s new Academy of Giftology holiday marketing campaign, launching in November, will tackle familiar gifting dilemmas with playful inspiration to help guests gift it their all and find gifts they’ll be excited to give.

More ways to save, from the first gift to the last
Beginning Nov. 1, guests can shop a new Deal of the Day every day through Dec. 24, with a first-ever one-day preview of upcoming offers to help them plan ahead. Early Black Friday deals run Nov. 5–7, followed by new limited-time offers every weekend throughout the holiday season.

The joy of gift giving
Through Target’s partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, guests can give a gift that helps give back with the Gigglescape St. Jude bear, with a donation tied to each purchase while supplies last.

About Target
Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) brings together style, design and value to offer a distinct assortment and elevated shopping experience across more than 2,000 U.S. stores and online. Powered by more than 400,000 team members, Target serves millions of families each week and invests in the communities where they live and work to support growth and opportunity for all.

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SOURCE Target Corporation

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illumend CEO: Building a COI Tracker with AI Is Easy. Verifying Insurance Compliance Is Not.

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Kristen Nunery warns that homegrown Certificate of Insurance tracking tools can create a false sense of security when businesses mistake collecting insurance documents for verifying coverage and compliance

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As general-purpose artificial intelligence (AI) makes it easier for businesses to build their own software, Kristen Nunery, founder and CEO of illumend, is warning construction and property management companies against a costly misconception: that building a Certificate of Insurance (COI) tracking system is the same as verifying that contractors and other third parties have the insurance coverage their contracts require.

In her new article, “You Can Build a COI Tracker with AI. That Doesn’t Mean You Should,” Nunery explains that general-purpose AI tools such as ChatGPT can help businesses create applications that collect certificates, track expiration dates, and automate reminders. But those capabilities address only part of the insurance compliance process. Determining whether coverage satisfies contractual requirements involves interpreting insurance documents, reviewing endorsements, identifying exclusions and resolving discrepancies that basic tracking software may overlook.

“AI has democratized the ability to build software. It hasn’t democratized the expertise to make the right insurance decision,” said Nunery, who has spent 16 years in insurance compliance. “If you don’t have a compliance process today, you’re not automating a process. You’re automating your best guess.”

Why a COI Tracker Is Not an Insurance Compliance Verification System

According to Nunery, the critical distinction is between tracking the existence and expiration of insurance documents and verifying whether the underlying coverage meets contractual obligations.

A homegrown COI tracker may confirm that a certificate is current, record policy limits, and flag missing documents. But a current certificate does not necessarily mean a contractor is adequately insured or compliant with an agreement’s terms.

For example, a subcontractor may submit a certificate showing sufficient general liability limits and additional insured status. Yet the underlying endorsement may be a CG 20 10 covering ongoing operations only, while the contract also requires completed-operations coverage under a CG 20 37 or equivalent endorsement. A basic tracker could mark the subcontractor as compliant despite the missing coverage.

“The tracker didn’t misread anything,” Nunery said. “It never had the contract requirement, the endorsement language, or the connection between the two.”

Other potential gaps include incorrectly named insured entities, missing endorsements, inadequate completed-operations coverage, and policy provisions that fail to satisfy contractual insurance requirements. Identifying these issues requires evaluating insurance evidence in context, not simply extracting data from a certificate.

Why Insurance Compliance Verification Requires Specialized Technology

Nunery argues that businesses seeking to move beyond basic COI tracking need technology designed specifically for insurance compliance verification, with insurance expertise embedded in how the system evaluates coverage.

Unlike homegrown tracking tools, specialized compliance platforms such as illumend compare insurance documents against established contractual requirements, examine supporting endorsements, identify coverage gaps, and explain findings that require attention.

This approach powers Lumie, illumend’s specialized AI-powered insurance compliance expert. Lumie reviews certificates and endorsements against established requirements, flags potential deficiencies and provides supporting evidence for its determinations, while allowing compliance professionals to review and resolve exceptions.

“AI should do more than flag a problem. It should show you what it found, which requirement it evaluated, and the evidence behind its assessment,” Nunery said. “Lumie applies insurance expertise at scale and creates a clear record of its findings, so teams can act on routine determinations efficiently and focus their attention on exceptions that need a closer look.”

Nunery’s perspective draws on her experience building myCOI, whose technology has reviewed more than 45 million insurance documents and identified more than 2 million coverage gaps before they became claims, according to company figures.

Build a COI Tracker or Buy a Compliance Platform? The Questions Businesses Should Ask

For organizations considering building their own COI software, Nunery recommends first determining whether they need a document-tracking application or a comprehensive insurance compliance verification system.

Basic tracking needs may be addressed with spreadsheets, conventional software, or applications built with general-purpose AI. But verifying compliance requires substantially more: translating contractual insurance requirements into rules, reviewing endorsements and policy evidence, identifying exceptions, documenting decisions, and maintaining an auditable compliance process.

Businesses must also consider who will keep insurance requirements current, validate the system’s determinations, investigate discrepancies, and maintain the records needed to support compliance decisions during claims or audits.

“Building the software happens once,” Nunery said. “Running a compliance system means keeping requirements, evidence, follow-ups, decisions and the audit trail current, every day it’s in use.”

To read Nunery’s full article, visit https://www.illumend.ai/evaluation-buying/build-vs-buy-coi-tracking-software-ai

About illumend
Founded in 2025, illumend™ is the AI-powered platform redefining how businesses manage third-party insurance compliance and risk. Backed by myCOI, the leader in third-party insurance compliance management with more than 16 years of expertise, illumend reimagines compliance by guiding every step of the process—from document review and expiration tracking to risk flagging, communication, and resolution—within one intuitive system. Built on myCOI’s institutional foundation—having processed more than 45 million documents, managed over 1.2 million agreements, cleared more than 750,000 third-party partners, and identified more than two million coverage gaps before claims—illumend brings this depth of compliance intelligence into an AI-native platform. At its core is Lumie, illumend’s conversational AI guide that reads complex insurance documents, flags issues in real time, and explains them in language anyone can act on. To learn more, visit https://www.illumend.ai.

Media contact:
Michael Tebo
Gabriel Marketing Group (for illumend)
Phone: 571-835-8775
Email: michaelt@gabrielmarketing.com

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