Held on 24 September 2026, Beyond the hype: What comes next for AI was organised in partnership with Brunei Innovation Lab and Brunei4AI. The event brought together professionals, investors, academics and technology enthusiasts to explore the future of artificial intelligence and its growing influence across business, innovation and investment.
AI Is Only the Beginning
The panel agreed that we are still in the early stages of the AI revolution.
As Rebecca noted:
“This is only the beginning of it. We are only scratching the surface.”
Key Takeaway: The companies that ultimately create the greatest value from AI may not necessarily be today’s market leaders.
As Rebecca noted:
“This is only the beginning of it. We are only scratching the surface.”
Key Takeaway: The companies that ultimately create the greatest value from AI may not necessarily be today’s market leaders.
The Biggest Winners May Be the AI Users
While hardware providers are benefiting today, William believes the longer-term value will be created by companies that successfully adopt AI:
“Over the longer term, there’s more economic value that can be derived from the users because you find more and more productive use cases.”
Key Takeaway: This suggests future opportunities may extend well beyond technology providers to businesses that effectively integrate AI into their operations.
“Over the longer term, there’s more economic value that can be derived from the users because you find more and more productive use cases.”
Key Takeaway: This suggests future opportunities may extend well beyond technology providers to businesses that effectively integrate AI into their operations.
AI Is a Tool and How We Use It Matters
Dr. Daphne encouraged attendees to embrace AI while remaining thoughtful about its application:
“AI will be more integrated into our lives, and we should be excited by it. It’s always about how we use it.”
Key Takeaway: AI adoption should be embraced with optimism while remaining focused on practical, responsible and meaningful use cases.
“AI will be more integrated into our lives, and we should be excited by it. It’s always about how we use it.”
Key Takeaway: AI adoption should be embraced with optimism while remaining focused on practical, responsible and meaningful use cases.
There Is No One-Size-Fits-All AI Model
Rebecca highlighted that different AI models excel in different areas:
“What is best is not necessarily what is most relevant.”
Key Takeaway: Different AI models may be better suited to different industries, use cases and operational requirements.
“What is best is not necessarily what is most relevant.”
Key Takeaway: Different AI models may be better suited to different industries, use cases and operational requirements.
The Story Is Shifting from AI Adoption to AI Value Creation
William highlighted that the next phase of AI will be defined not by the technology itself, but by how organisations apply it in practice. As AI adoption matures, the focus is shifting beyond efficiency and automation towards enhancing human expertise, improving decision-making, and embedding AI more deeply into business processes.
Key Takeaway: The greatest opportunities may arise from practical AI applications as organisations move from experimentation towards deeper operational integration and value creation.
Key Takeaway: The greatest opportunities may arise from practical AI applications as organisations move from experimentation towards deeper operational integration and value creation.
AI Is Becoming Part of Everyday Life
Rebecca shared a personal example of how AI is already being embraced beyond the workplace:
“The person who uses AI the most in my family is actually my mum.”
Key Takeaway: AI is increasingly becoming part of everyday life, particularly as tools become more accessible and affordable.
“The person who uses AI the most in my family is actually my mum.”
Key Takeaway: AI is increasingly becoming part of everyday life, particularly as tools become more accessible and affordable.
Investors Want Results, Not Just AI Stories
Rebecca emphasized that market enthusiasm alone is not enough:
“Investors want to not only hear about stories and narratives, but they want to see the real earnings.”
Key Takeaway: The discussion highlighted that investors are increasingly focused on whether AI-related companies can translate substantial investments into sustainable revenue and profitability.
“Investors want to not only hear about stories and narratives, but they want to see the real earnings.”
Key Takeaway: The discussion highlighted that investors are increasingly focused on whether AI-related companies can translate substantial investments into sustainable revenue and profitability.
The Market May Be Underestimating the Speed of AI
William noted that AI’s development is progressing much faster than many people realise:
“People are underestimating the speed at which this is happening. Most people think we’re travelling on a straight line when this thing is bending upwards at a much quicker rate.”
Key Takeaway: The panel discussed how AI has rapidly expanded from productivity-focused applications into coding, analysis, research and content generation.
“People are underestimating the speed at which this is happening. Most people think we’re travelling on a straight line when this thing is bending upwards at a much quicker rate.”
Key Takeaway: The panel discussed how AI has rapidly expanded from productivity-focused applications into coding, analysis, research and content generation.
AI Infrastructure Remains a Key Growth Driver
The panel noted that, in the near term, companies building AI infrastructure are expected to remain key beneficiaries.
As William explained:
“The makers of AI are going to be near-term beneficiaries.”
Key Takeaway: The panel discussed how demand for chips, computing power and data centre capacity is supporting growth across the AI ecosystem.
As William explained:
“The makers of AI are going to be near-term beneficiaries.”
Key Takeaway: The panel discussed how demand for chips, computing power and data centre capacity is supporting growth across the AI ecosystem.
AI Investing Is Influenced by Broader Market Forces
Rebecca also noted that AI-related investment does not operate in isolation from the wider economy.
“A lot of people are worried about concentration risk.”
Key Takeaway: Diversification remains important, particularly where concentration risk and broader market factors may influence AI-related investment performance.
“A lot of people are worried about concentration risk.”
Key Takeaway: Diversification remains important, particularly where concentration risk and broader market factors may influence AI-related investment performance.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this document is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal or tax advice. Any views expressed are those of the speaker at the time of the event and may change without notice. Investments involve risks, including the possible loss of capital. Recipients should seek independent professional advice before making any investment decision.
