A broadcast interview on artificial intelligence, big data and the Internet of Things, and the adoption sequence he recommends.
Primary source: Bernama TV interview. Read the original report at youtube.com
In a special interview on Bernama TV, Ivan Teh discussed artificial intelligence, big data and the Internet of Things, and how organisations can approach adopting them. The framing he used, starting small, thinking big and scaling fast, has since become the phrase most associated with his public commentary.
Connected devices need an analytical layer
A central point of the interview was that the Internet of Things delivers value only when combined with big data infrastructure and artificial intelligence. Sensors on their own generate telemetry. Without a model behind them, that telemetry is a storage cost.
He used smart manufacturing as the illustration. A factory instrumented with sensors feeds readings into an artificial intelligence system, which identifies the signatures that precede equipment failure. Maintenance then becomes a scheduled activity rather than an emergency response, which changes both the cost profile and the production schedule.
The three barriers
Asked why adoption stalls, Ivan Teh identified three obstacles: the capital cost of deployment, a shortage of skilled staff to operate the resulting systems, and internal resistance to changing established processes.
His response to each was specific. On cost, reduce the scope of the first deployment so the downside is contained. On skills, invest in internal training rather than relying indefinitely on external contractors, so the operating capability stays inside the organisation. On resistance, identify internal advocates early, on the reasoning that a system opposed by the people expected to use it will be worked around rather than adopted.
The regional argument
On Southeast Asia, he argued that the region is well positioned rather than trailing. Organisations across ASEAN carry less legacy infrastructure than counterparts in longer established markets, which lowers the cost of adopting current architecture. Combined with high mobile and digital penetration, he framed this as a chance for the region to move directly to current practice.
The conclusion he drew was about timing. Businesses in ASEAN that begin digital transformation now, he said, secure both local and global competitiveness, while those that wait will find the cost of catching up higher than the cost of starting.
Frequently asked questions
What did Ivan Teh discuss on Bernama TV?
He discussed artificial intelligence, big data and the Internet of Things, and how businesses can approach adopting these technologies, summarised in the phrase starting small, thinking big and scaling fast.
What does starting small, thinking big, scaling fast mean?
It describes a sequence: begin with a narrow deployment against a defined problem, keep the long term objective in view while doing so, and expand quickly once the initial result is proven.
What barriers to adoption did he identify?
Three: the capital cost of a first deployment, a shortage of skilled staff to operate the systems, and internal resistance from teams whose established processes would change.