Who do you trust in tech?

Our top pick looks at why AI may be eroding trust in SaaS in Europe, what that could mean for Asia. Plus, a chat with the human behind Glitch in Asia.

Read from your browser Sunday Newsletter Welcome to Tech in Asia's Sunday newsletter, your weekend brief on the biggest moves in Asia's tech and startup world. Subscribe to this newsletter or send story tips to editors@techinasia.com. Ensure our articles appear in your Google searches: IN FOCUS Peter Cowan on how much trust tech actually deserves How AI is breaking SaaS in Europe and why Asia may be next A Q&A with the man behind Glitch in Asia Hello Betamax, Most systems in our world only work when we trust them. We trust that the water we drink is clean, that the traffic lights work properly, and that our passwords actually keep our data secure. We implicitly trust these things and only notice trust when it starts to break down. Two of our stories from this week tackle this in some way or another and discuss what's left behind once trust disappears. Lucas Blochberger, the writer of this piece, outlines how AI agents are pushing companies away from the software-as-a-service (SaaS) model they've trusted for years. With tech now able to make decisions, generate content, and trigger actions across systems, enterprises are finding it harder to justify trusting outside SaaS vendors with business outcomes as well as data. Enterprises in Europe want to move in-house as much as possible, and Blochberger bets that the same change will come to Asia. Closer to home, we have a piece from Wavemaker Partners managing director Paul Santos that looks at the state of startup funding and exits in Southeast Asia. It's a tale of an investor ecosystem that now does not trust that the region can produce returns. However, Santos makes the case that what we see now is a reset, one where more disciplined, capital-efficient companies rebuild confidence over time. Finally, read through to the weekend deep dive on The New Yorker's bombshell profile of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and the question of whether he can be trusted at the helm of the world's most important AI company. Trust me, it gets existential. Peter Cowan, engagement editor EDITOR'S PICKS 1️⃣ How AI is breaking SaaS where trust matters most Blochberger argues that tough data security requirements, an increasing need for data sovereignty, and cost savings are all driving firms in Europe away from SaaS and toward building their own enterprise software using AI. He makes a compelling case, but it is fair to ask how scalable this shift really is. Do enough enterprises have the talent and long-term appetite to build and maintain their own systems? 2️⃣ Southeast Asia's startup slump is a reset, not a crisis If one were to look at the data alone in this story, it would make for a sobering read. Funding is down, exits are scarce, and even regional champions that made it to IPO are now trading well below their debut valuations. But look a bit closer and signs of a healthier ecosystem start to emerge, one defined less by hype and more by discipline. SHORT CUTS 1️⃣ Grab's AI push Grab has launched a raft of new AI features for consumers, drivers, and merchants. Most notably, Grab AI Assistant allows consumers to ask about things like food and drink recommendations and planning a trip, while Grab Shopping Agent turns photos, voice notes, and lists into a checkout-ready cart. Consumer uptake is one thing to watch, but if these features take off, how Grab ranks merchants in its AI recommendations will matter even more. That's what I'd be wondering about if I owned a bubble tea shop in Hanoi, anyway. 2️⃣ Key ingredients missing Quick commerce and home services firms in India are facing a shortage of gig workers. Riders and helpers are returning to their hometowns during the harvest season and elections, leaving daily active workers 10% to 12% below early 2026 levels. It's a reminder that tech firms can't innovate away the need for labor, much as they might like to pretend they can. It's hard to deliver something in less than an hour without a driver, no matter how advanced your algorithm. 3️⃣ Trouble in AI paradise? The Information has reported that OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar raised concerns internally about CEO Sam Altman's plan to go public as early as Q4 2026. More on Altman shortly, but perhaps the most troubling part of this report for OpenAI boosters is the suggestion that Friar has been excluded from key financial meetings. Doesn't seem like keeping a CFO in the dark ahead of an IPO would be a smart move. MEET THE HUMAN BEHIND GLITCH IN ASIA Content producer Satya Pramesi is behind some of Tech in Asia's most viral, and occasionally eyebrow-raising, social posts through Glitch in Asia. We caught him for a quick chat before he disappeared back into making more content. Satya, what exactly is Glitch in Asia (GIA)? Satire, commentary, or just therapy for tech and normal folks alike? It is so much more than satirical commentary. It is the culmination of my insatiable desire for attention combined with my subconscious need to complain to strangers. It is a black hole in which I throw my frustrations of the tech industry, as I scream to the sky in futile pursuit of creating a meaningful impact in a meaningless world. It also pays the bills, so that's nice. What's the fastest way to get on Glitch in Asia? Be the Indonesian government. Tell the world you've created "the next big thing" only for it to blow up in your face. Get embroiled in a scandal which risks the reputation of your company/organization. If someone wants to avoid being roasted by you, what should they stop doing immediately? Working in tech. Or politics. Or finance. Actually, if you could live in a cave, that would probably help you. Be honest, is it just too easy to make fun of the tech industry these days? It was never hard to make fun of the tech industry. The difference was back then, we'd be laughing while our bank accounts were flying. Nowadays? We're laughing to keep ourselves from crying. What's one tech trend that already feels like satire, even without you touching it? Putting chatbots in everything. Seriously, I don't need your pop-up customer service "agent" to help me. I want to scream at real human beings like the good old days. Why does something so unserious like GIA resonate with Tech in Asia's very serious, operator audience? I didn't realize our audience was so serious. Will I get in trouble with Terence? If Glitch in Asia accidentally became a funded startup, what would break first - the humor or your soul? Accidentally? I'll have you know I'm actively looking for investors. Who's your favorite satire creator right now? Seriously though? Jon Stewart. The man's a legend. Either him or Steve Carell when he worked on The Daily Show. WEEKEND DEEP DIVE Sam Altman may control our future - can he be trusted? "Ronan Farrow wants an interview" might be the scariest thing for any PR staffer to hear these days. Yet OpenAI CEO Sam Altman spoke to the investigative journalist and his co-author Andrew Marantz for this New Yorker piece that aims to find out just how much integrity Altman has. In the company's early days, when the idea that AI could pose an existential threat to society was more prevalent, the thinking was that the leader of the company at the forefront of such a technology needed "uncommon integrity." Altman pitched himself as the man for the job, and bar a brief five-day period in November 2023, he has held it ever since. That period is the crux of the piece, though. Altman was ousted by his own board for being "not consistently candid in his communications" - a polite way of saying deceitful. And through extensive reporting, this article aims to find out if the charge sticks. Much like Karen Hao's book Empire of AI, the profile ends with no smoking gun as to Altman's conduct, just with an unsettling feeling that he may be a man who'll say anything to get what he wants. EVENTS HAPPENING You can also check out our curated list of trending tech events and Tech in Asia's signature events. Partner with Tech in Asia Conference 2026 AI's landscape is shifting from experimentation to full-scale deployment. This is reflected in Singapore's move toward coordinated national execution, particularly its establishment of the National AI Council and industry-wide AI missions. Learn how your brand can keep pace with the trends at Tech in Asia Conference 2026. Explore partnership opportunities today. Asia Economic Summit 2026 The cracks in Southeast Asia's economic playbook aren't just a glitch - they represent the need for a fundamental shift in the region's growth trajectory. As old frameworks give way to new digital realities, leadership requires a seat at the table where rules are being rewritten. To stabilize this shift and create a resilient blueprint, the Asia Economic Summit will convene an exclusive group of 250 policymakers and C-suite business executives in Jakarta on June 17. Secure your pass now. ADVERTISE | SUBSCRIBE | HIRE | FIND JOBS P.S. Don't miss out on the biggest tech news and analysis. Add newsletter@techinasia.com to your address book, contacts, or safe sender list. Or simply move us into your inbox. Tech in Asia thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Too many emails? Switch to a different frequency or get new content through our preference center, or unsubscribe. You can also remove yourself from all Tech in Asia emails over here. Copyright © 2026 Tech in Asia, All rights reserved. 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