Tech
Enterprise agentic AI requires a process layer most companies haven’t built
Presented by Celonis
85% of enterprises want to become agentic within three years — yet 76% admit their operations can’t support it. According to the Celonis 2026 Process Optimization Report, based on a survey of more than 1,600 global business leaders, organizations are aggressively pursuing AI-driven transformation. Yet most acknowledge that the foundational work — modernizing workflows, reducing process friction, and building operational resilience — remains unfinished. The ambition is clear. The infrastructure to execute on it is not.
To act autonomously and effectively, AI agents need optimized, AI-ready processes and the process data and operational context that only comes from process intelligence. Without that, they’re guessing. And 82% of decision-makers believe AI will fail to deliver return on investment (ROI) if it doesn’t understand how the business runs.
“The scale of the opportunity is truly remarkable: 89% of leaders see AI as their biggest competitive opportunity,” says Patrick Thompson, global SVP of customer transformation. “That’s not a marginal finding. What’s interesting is the shift in the framing. Leaders are confident that AI will transform operations. The question now is how to fuel their ambitions with the right AI enablers.”
Explaining the gap between ambition and reality
Right now, 85% of teams are using gen AI tools for everyday tasks, so the “will this work?” question is largely settled. The real question has shifted to: “Why isn’t it working the way we need it to?” And that’s a much harder problem, because it’s structural. It’s siloed teams. Systems that don’t talk to each other. AI that looks impressive in a demo but falters once it’s dropped into a real enterprise environment. That’s the wall companies are hitting.
So, despite the overwhelming ambition, only 19% of organizations use multi-agent systems today. It all comes down to an operational readiness problem, Thompson says.
“Nine in ten leaders are already using or exploring multi-agent systems, so the will is absolutely there, but ambition without infrastructure doesn’t get you very far,” he explains.
Until now, process has largely been a “good enough” problem, because processes that are messy and disconnected can still produce results, just inefficient and opaque. As long as the business is growing, there hasn’t been a burning urge to fix them. AI changed the calculus. If 82% of leaders believe AI can only deliver ROI with proper business context, then sub-optimal processes aren’t just an operational inconvenience, they’re actively blocking an AI strategy. Suddenly, process optimization isn’t a background IT project, but a prerequisite for competing.
“This is where structural modernization becomes critical,” he says. “Organizations that have invested in modernizing their data, systems, and processes are in a far stronger position to enable AI at scale.”
The other AI stopper: Lack of business context
AI will not be able to provide the strongest ROI possible until it understands the operational context of the business. That includes how KPIs are defined and calculated, any unique internal policies and procedures, how the organization is structured, and where the real decision authority sits.
This knowledge is usually trapped in different departments that have developed their own languages and systems over time. They don’t naturally share a common understanding. Bringing AI into that environment is something like dropping someone into a conversation that’s been going on for years, without any of the backstory.
Process intelligence becomes the connective layer — a shared operational language that grounds AI decisions in how the business actually runs.
Why AI adoption is also a change management problem
The AI adoption challenge is less a technology problem and more of a change-management and operating-model problem than many more leaders want to admit, because technology problems feel easier to solve. The data shows that only 6% of leaders cite resistance to change as a hurdle. The real blockers are siloed teams (54%) and a lack of coordination between departments (44%). And 93% of process and operations leaders explicitly state that process optimization is as much about people and culture as it is about tools and technology.
“When companies come to us looking for a technology fix, part of our job is helping them see that the operating model has to evolve alongside the tooling,” Thompson says. “You can’t bolt AI onto a broken process and expect it to work. True enterprise modernization means redesigning how teams, systems, and decisions connect, and AI only works when that modernization happens first.”
Making process optimization a strategic advantage
How do you make process optimization a strategic advantage, rather than another operational project? Connect it directly to outcomes that executives care about. When processes work, they go beyond IT metrics, directly affecting board-level concerns. A full 63% of leaders use process optimization to proactively manage risks, while 58% see faster decision-making.
Plus, the economic and geopolitical environment right now makes agility a survival skill. Look at the supply chain industry, where 66% already view process optimization as a critical business-wide initiative.
“That’s the mindset shift we’re trying to catalyze across the rest of the organization,” Thompson says. “It’s not maintenance work. It’s what lets you move fast when the world changes, and right now the world is moving constantly.”
Closing the readiness gap in enterprise agentic AI
To succeed, and even triumph, organizations must be ready to close the readiness gap, and they need to be honest about where they’re starting from, Thompson says.
“The biggest risk I see is companies continuing to layer AI on top of fragmented, opaque processes and then wondering why they’re not getting results,” he says. “Moving from static, traditional tools to real process intelligence, where you have live visibility into how your operations actually run, that’s the foundational shift that makes agentic AI viable.”
Without it, agents get deployed in the wrong places, can’t be integrated with existing systems, and organizations end up with expensive pilots that don’t scale. The call to action is clear: stop starting with tools and start with operational visibility.
“The leaders who will win in the agentic era aren’t necessarily the ones with the most sophisticated AI,” he says. “They’re the ones who’ve done the hard work of building a shared, accurate picture of their operations. Process intelligence is the starting point. It’s what enables enterprise modernization in practice, creating the operational clarity AI needs to deliver real ROI. Master your processes, give AI the context it needs, and then you can actually deploy it somewhere it will deliver.”
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When to watch Newcastle vs. Barcelona
- Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT).
Where to watch
- Newcastle vs. Barcelona will air in the US on Paramount Plus.
It’s a huge test of Newcastle’s “big club” credentials on Tuesday as Eddie Howe’s men welcome La Liga leaders Barcelona to northeast England for this UEFA Champions League round-of-16 clash.
The Magpies’ hopes of becoming genuine Champions League title contenders have yet to fully materialize since the $410 million Saudi-led consortium’s takeover of the club back in 2021, but Eddie Howe’s team has a chance here to prove it has finally emerged as a major force in European football’s premier club competition.
They face a Barcelona team which saw their hopes of an historic quadruple this season disappear following last week’s Copa del Rey semifinal loss to Atlético Madrid. Hansi Flick’s men nevertheless remain among the favorites to lift the Champions League trophy for a sixth time, with the Blaugrana coming into the match off the back of a gritty 1-0 away win over Athletic Club on Saturday to stay four points clear at the top of La Liga.
Newcastle United takes on F.C. Barcelona at St. James’ Park, on Tuesday, March 10. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. GMT local time in the UK, making it a 4 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. PT start in the US, a 9 p.m. CET kickoff in Europe and a 7 a.m. AEDT kickoff in Australia on Wednesday.
Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal scored his 14th La Liga goal of the season on Saturday to give Barcelona a 0-1 away win over Athletic Club.
Livestream Newcastle vs. Barcelona in the US without cable
American soccer fans can stream this game along with every game of this season’s tournament via Paramount Plus, which has exclusive live English-language broadcast rights in the US for the UEFA Champions League.
This season introduces a multiview option that lets you watch up to four matches simultaneously and choose your preferred in-game audio.
Paramount Plus has two main subscription plans in the US: Essential for $8 a month and Premium for $13 a month. Both offer coverage of the Champions League.
The cheaper Essential option has ads for on-demand streaming and lacks live CBS feeds as well as the ability to download shows to watch offline later. Newcomers to the service can take advantage of a 30-day free trial, while students may qualify for a 25% discount.
Read our Paramount Plus review.
How to watch every UEFA Champions League 2025-26 game online from anywhere using a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view the game locally due to incorrectly applied blackout restrictions, you may need a different way to watch the game, and that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s a great idea when you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, or when you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. So, if your internet provider or mobile carrier has assigned you an IP address that incorrectly indicates your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can resolve this issue by providing you with an IP address in your correct, non-blackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US and Canada, as long as you’ve got a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should ensure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks. Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.
Price $13 per month, $75 for the first year or $98 total for the first two years (one- and two-year plans renew at $100 per year)Latest Tests No DNS leaks detected, 18% speed loss in 2025 testsJurisdiction British Virgin IslandsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countries
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. Prices start at $3.49 a month on a two-year plan for the service’s Basic tier.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Livestream Newcastle vs. Barcelona in the UK
While TNT Sports will once again broadcast the lion’s share of Champions League games, Prime Video has first pick of Tuesday games and will show one match per week live exclusively on the platform.
Livestream Newcastle vs. Barcelona in Canada
If you want to stream Champions League games live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to DAZN Canada. The service has exclusive broadcast rights to every match this season, including this one.
A DAZN subscription currently costs CA$35 a month or CA$250 a year and will also give you access to Europa League and EFL Championship soccer, Six Nations rugby and WTA tennis.
As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, there’s a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.
Livestream Newcastle vs. Barcelona in Australia
Soccer fans Down Under can watch UCL games on streaming service Stan Sport, which once again has exclusive rights to show all Champions League matches live in Australia this season.
Stan Sport will set you back AU$20 a month (on top of a Stan subscription, which starts at AU$12). It’s also worth noting that the streaming service is currently offering a seven-day free trial.
A subscription will also give you access to Premier League and Europa League action, as well as international rugby and Formula E.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Register: AI can reverse engineer machine code and find vulnerabilities in ancient legacy architectures, says Microsoft Azure CTO Mark Russinovich, who used his own Apple II code from 40 years ago as an example. Russinovich wrote: “We are entering an era of automated, AI-accelerated vulnerability discovery that will be leveraged by both defenders and attackers.”
In May 1986, Russinovich wrote a utility called Enhancer for the Apple II personal computer. The utility, written in 6502 machine language, added the ability to use a variable or BASIC expression for the destination of a GOTO, GOSUB, or RESTORE command, whereas without modification Applesoft BASIC would only accept a line number. Russinovich had Claude Opus 4.6, released early last month, look over the code. It decompiled the machine language and found several security issues, including a case of “silent incorrect behavior” where, if the destination line was not found, the program would set the pointer to the following line or past the end of the program, instead of reporting an error. The fix would be to check the carry flag, which is set if the line is not found, and branch to an error.
The existence of the vulnerability in Apple II type-in code has only amusement value, but the ability of AI to decompile embedded code and find vulnerabilities is a concern. “Billions of legacy microcontrollers exist globally, many likely running fragile or poorly audited firmware like this,” said one comment to Russinovich’s post.
Less than six months after raising the price of its Core plan, live TV streaming service Philo is expanding its subscription options. On Tuesday, the company announced a new Essential tier with live TV channels but without access to HBO Max and Discovery Plus, which it added to Core alongside the recent price hike.
Philo’s plans now include Essential, which costs $25 per month, and Bundle Plus — a rebranded $33 per month Core plan. The Essential tier comes with more than 70 channels, a week-long free trial, 80,000 on-demand titles and an unlimited DVR with content kept for one year.
With Bundle Plus, you get all of that in addition to ad-supported AMC Plus, HBO Max and Discovery Plus. Philo said the option to upgrade to ad-free tiers is available now for AMC Plus and will be available for Discovery Plus and HBO Max in the future. Unlike Essential, you can’t try Bundle Plus for free.
The company said it aims to provide more flexibility with the addition of Essential. At $8 less than Bundle Plus, it’s a cheaper option for live TV viewers who may not want Bundle Plus’ extra entertainment offerings. Philo’s lineup continues to include free, ad-supported channels. Here’s more on how Philo compares to live TV streaming services such as YouTube TV and Sling.
OpenAI is rolling out new interactive responses in ChatGPT it says are designed to make the chatbot more useful for learners. Starting today, ChatGPT will generate dynamic visuals when you ask it to explain select scientific and mathematical concepts, including the Pythagorean theorem, Coulomb’s law and lens equations. When ChatGPT responds with an interactive visual, you’ll be able to tweak any variables and the equation itself, allowing you to see how those changes affect the solution.
With today’s release, OpenAI says ChatGPT will respond with interactive visuals when asked about more than 70 concepts, with support for additional topics to come down the line. The visuals are available to all ChatGPT users, regardless of subscription status. However, OpenAI notes high school- and college-aged students are likely to get the most out of the new feature.
ChatGPT explains Ohm’s law. (OpenAI)
The more interactive responses from ChatGPT follow the release of Study Mode last summer. Released in response to the sheer amount of students using chatbots to complete their coursework, that feature guides the user toward finding an answer themselves, rather than provide an outright solution. “This is just the beginning,” OpenAI says of its latest feature. “Over time, we plan to expand interactive learning with additional subjects and continue building tools that strengthen learning with ChatGPT.”
According to X user Dark Web Informer, a cybercriminal known as Kamirmassabi recently posted an ad on an underground hacking forum, offering to sell a zero-day exploit for a critical elevation of privilege vulnerability in Windows 10 and 11. The steep $220,000 asking price suggests the exploit is aimed primarily…
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Axios reports that Meta has acquired Moltbook, the viral, Reddit-like social network designed for AI agents. Humans are welcome, but only to observe. Axios reports: The deal brings Moltbook’s creators — Matt Schlicht and Ben Parr — into Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL), the unit run by former Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang. Meta did not disclose Moltbook’s purchase price. The deal is expected to close mid-March, Meta says, with the pair starting at MSL on March 16. When it launched in late January, Moltbook was labeled the “most interesting place on the internet” by open-source developer and writer Simon Willison. “Browsing around Moltbook is so much fun. A lot of it is the expected science fiction slop, with agents pondering consciousness and identity. There’s also a ton of genuinely useful information, especially on m/todayilearned.”
In an internal post seen by Axios, Meta’s Vishal Shah said existing Moltbook customers can temporarily continue using the platform. “The Moltbook team has given agents a way to verify their identity and connect with one another on their human’s behalf,” Shah says. “This establishes a registry where agents are verified and tethered to human owners.” He added: “Their team has unlocked new ways for agents to interact, share content, and coordinate complex tasks.”
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Many DIY projects at home involve a lot of physical effort. Although this might not be an issue if you’re younger, you might start having some second thoughts about working on more complicated projects as you get older. Because we’re often not as spry and nimble when we get older, it’s wise to adjust our tools and workflow to take our age into consideration.
In fact, I found out about this the hard way when I had to carry a heavy load in an emergency. Since I’m much closer to 40 now than 30, that incident resulted in lower back pain that saw me getting a doctor’s appointment. This resulted in several tests and eight weeks of therapy, which, thankfully, my insurance covered fully. And while I no longer have pain in my lower back, I still feel pressure at the affected area at times, especially when I’m sitting or standing for long periods.
That’s why it’s important that you protect your back, especially when doing some heavy DIY work. To help you do that, we’re listing some back-saving tools and accessories to keep your back in good condition. Whether you’re an older DIYer or a young adult just getting into the hobby, you should consider these items to help prevent life-altering injuries.
Platform hand truck
A cart is often quite convenient if you need to move heavy articles around your property, especially if you’re moving them across paved surfaces. But if you want something flexible with a good, solid base that can carry a ton of different items, consider getting a platform hand truck.
The large, solid base on this equipment makes it quite versatile, as you can put a lot of different items on it without worrying that they will fall through the gaps, like on this convertible hand truck from Harbor Freight that’s useful for moving. Aside from that, it usually has a high carrying capacity for transporting heavy items one at a time, or you can pile in several smaller items, allowing you to take several items simultaneously instead of making multiple trips.
For example, this MaxWorks foldable platform truck push dolly has a maximum weight capacity of 660 pounds and features a textured platform to prevent your cargo from sliding around unnecessarily. It comes with a padded handle for easy handling and padded edges to avoid damage when you bump into walls. You’ll also get four heavy-duty wheels, with the rear two capable of rotating 360 degrees for better maneuverability. Most importantly, it costs less than $68 on Amazon, meaning it’s a small but durable investment that will make it easy to move heavy items around without risking your back.
Furniture moving straps
If you need to move a heavy piece of furniture or appliance, you should consider using furniture moving straps, such as this one from Shoulder Dolly. Note that using this tool is a two-person job, as two people must wear the harness across their shoulders. They slip the strap under the item that they want to carry, adjust it accordingly, and lift with their legs simultaneously.
What it does is carry most of the weight of the item on the strap, which is then spread across the torsos and legs of the users. That does not mean that you can use the device hands-free, though — you still need to support it by pushing against the object you’re lifting as you both stand up to give it stability. You also need to know your limitations, as you still have to exert effort to lift and move the objects. The Shoulder Dolly doesn’t carry the weight for you; it just safely distributes the load across your bodies. But with proper use, this gadget helps two people safely carry up to 800 pounds.
This item was first developed for professional movers, but is now widely available to just about anyone who needs to do heavy lifting. It’s also quite affordable, as you can get the Shoulder Dolly for under $50 on Amazon. So, if you like to frequently do DIY renovations and rearrange your furniture and appliances, this is the perfect solution to help you avoid back injuries.
Height-adjustable work bench
You’ve probably heard of standing desks and the benefits that they deliver to remote workers, but did you know that DIYers could also take advantage of the same adjustable-height technology when it comes to their workbenches? Since you’re most probably exerting effort when you’re using your workbench, it’s good to have it placed at the ideal waist-level height. That way, you’ll find yourself in a comfortable posture as you work on your project, reducing the chances that you’ll get a repetitive strain injury, back pain, or joint issues.
If you’re buying a workbench for yourself, you may think that you don’t need a height-adjustable model as you won’t share it with others. But it’s still nice to have the option to adjust its height, as the height you’re comfortable with may vary depending on the task at hand. For example, you might want to lower your workbench and use it as a table when you’re planning your next woodworking project, but raise it to waist level when you’re screwing together the pieces that you’re working on while you’re standing up.
However, you shouldn’t just get any height-adjustable workbench when you’re out shopping. Look for something that’s sturdy enough to withstand the projects that you intend to do and has useful features like tool holders and wheels for easy movement. These extra features can cost you, though, with one example, the Vevor Work Bench for Garage demanding more than $360 on Amazon. You can also pick one from Lowe’s workbench and table offerings at around the same price range. But considering you can use this for several years and avoid health issues, it could be well worth the investment.
Impact driver
A power drill is a quite versatile tool to have in your DIY kit, as you can use it for both drilling holes and driving screws. However, if you encounter a particularly stubborn screw or bolt that has been torqued down way too much, you’d need to put a lot of pressure on it by physically pushing your drill into the screw head while holding it steady to counteract the reactionary torque.
This means you’re probably exerting a lot of effort using your entire body, and if you make one wrong move, you could end up with a bad back. To prevent this, consider adding an impact driver to your power drill collection. While you’d still use the latter for making holes on surfaces, the former is far more useful for driving screws and bolts.
What makes an impact driver different from a power drill is its driving mechanism. Instead of just using a powerful motor, this tool uses a hammer-and-anvil mechanism, wherein the hammer is pulled by a spring around an axis. This allows the tool to build up potential energy, which is then released in one go. The hammer then hits the anvil, which drives the collet and bit with much greater force than if driven directly by a motor. Because of this, you do not need to exert as much effort when you’re using it, saving muscle strain and reducing the potential for injury.
Ergonomic tool belt
Tool belts are quite handy accessories that help keep all your tools within reach. Tools tend to be quite heavy items, and the usual belt design concentrates all that weight on your hips and lower back. This can lead to body aches, pains, and fatigue, especially with prolonged use and uneven tool distribution.
Because of this, we suggest getting an ergonomic tool belt to help save your back. This accessory still puts a belt around you, where you hang all your tools. However, it also comes with thick, padded shoulder suspenders to distribute the weight across your shoulders and reduce the pressure on your hips and lower back.
One example of an ergonomic tool belt is the Milwaukee Contractor Work Belt with Suspension Rig, just one of Milwaukee’s products that will save your back. Some DIYers might balk at its $139.99 price at Ace Hardware, but having this may prove priceless as it can ease your workload and contribute to preventing injury.
A federal judge in San Francisco granted Amazon a preliminary injunction Monday blocking Perplexity from using its Comet browser’s AI agent to access password-protected sections of the Amazon website to shop on behalf of customers.
It’s an early legal milestone in the fast-moving field of agentic commerce, in which AI assistants browse, compare and buy products on behalf of consumers. The case highlights a fundamental question: who controls access when an AI agent shows up at a retailer’s digital front door?
In the ruling granting the preliminary injunction, Senior U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney found that Amazon is likely to succeed on its claims that Perplexity violated the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and a California computer fraud statute.
The judge drew a key distinction, finding that Comet accesses Amazon accounts “with the Amazon user’s permission, but without authorization by Amazon.”
In its own legal filings, Perplexity had argued that Amazon was less concerned about cybersecurity than about eliminating a competitor to its own AI shopping tools. The San Francisco-based startup contended that AI agents bypass the advertising Amazon shows to human shoppers, and that protecting ad revenue was the real motivation for the lawsuit.
In its suit, Amazon argued that Perplexity deliberately disguised Comet’s AI agent as a regular Google Chrome browser session, evading detection rather than transparently identifying itself.
The company said it warned Perplexity at least five times starting in November 2024 to stop the practice, implemented a technical barrier to block Comet’s access in August 2025, and watched Perplexity release a software update within 24 hours to circumvent it.
“The preliminary injunction will prevent Perplexity’s unauthorized access to the Amazon store and is an important step in maintaining a trusted shopping experience for Amazon customers. We look forward to continuing to make our case in court,” an Amazon spokesperson said Tuesday.
Perplexity has not yet issued a public comment on the preliminary injunction.
In previous statements, the company called the lawsuit “a bully tactic” and argued that consumers should be free to use any AI assistant they choose to shop online. In a November blog post, the company said Amazon should welcome agentic shopping because it means more transactions and happier customers.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has acknowledged that agentic commerce “has a chance to be really good for e-commerce” but said agents aren’t good enough yet at personalization and pricing accuracy. Amazon has its own AI shopping tools, including Rufus and Buy For Me.
Under the ruling Monday, the injunction is stayed for seven days to give Perplexity time to ask the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to put it on hold while the company appeals the ruling.
The judge denied Perplexity’s request for a $1 billion bond, which it had sought based on its market valuation and investment in Comet. The judge found the injunction doesn’t threaten the entirety of Perplexity’s business since Comet can still be used on every other website.
S’porean resellers are cashing in on old laptops, thanks to AI
Most people think the hottest trades today are obvious ones: gold, Nvidia stocks, or anything related to artificial intelligence (AI).
But inside Singapore’s electronics markets, another unlikely asset is quietly surging in value: used laptops.
Yes—old, second-hand laptops that many people would normally sell for a few hundred dollars or throw into a drawer are now becoming unexpectedly valuable.
And in places like Sim Lim Square, some businesses are already turning that demand into profit.
Why used laptops suddenly matter
In the tech world, we’re seeing a new kind of price distortion—and it’s being driven by the AI boom.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the global semiconductor industry. Training and running AI models requires enormous computing power, which in turn depends on vast amounts of high-performance memory and storage inside data centres.
To meet this demand, major memory manufacturers such as Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron have increasingly shifted production capacity toward high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and other specialised chips used in AI servers.
As manufacturers focus on AI servers, fewer chips are being made for everyday devices.
That means older, lower-end components, such as the random access memory (RAM) chips found in consumer laptops, are suddenly in short supply, triggering what some industry observers call the “RAMpocalypse.”
Prices have surged dramatically.
In some cases, RAM chips have jumped 300-400% in recent months, creating a supply squeeze that is rippling across the electronics ecosystem. For consumers, this means many devices are becoming harder to access, putting purchases of laptops and desktops out of reach for some.
In an interview with The Straits Times, T. K. Lee, a technical manager at Bizgram Asia, which sells new PCs and electronic devices, shared that prices for new laptops and desktops have risen 50-100% on average. Even Apple has recently increased the prices of its MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models by about S$100 to S$450 in light of the global memory chip shortage.
Lim expects prices to climb further as PC manufacturers deplete existing stocks and negotiate new supply contracts.
A “very profitable” business
Amid the global memory shortage, used-laptop resellers in Singapore are cashing in.
At shops in Sim Lim Square, some of them have pivoted their business model, focusing on dismantling laptops to extract RAM chips and other components in high demand.
“This business is better than gold or the stock market. Gold prices and the stock market have dipped, but the prices of computer chips have not,” a seller told The Straits Times. He added that the business has been “very profitable,” though he declined to reveal margins.
Extracted components are often shipped overseas, where buyers pay premiums for high-demand parts. Even the remaining parts of the laptops rarely go to waste. Motherboards, cases, and other hardware are typically sold to repair shops or business customers—these components are often used to refurbish other laptops, replace broken parts, or extend the lifespan of older devices.
Alex Capri, a senior lecturer at NUS Business School, said that the practice of sending used technology products abroad to salvage parts highlights the “fluid secondary market for consumer electronics.”
“It’s not cheap to break down a laptop and extract a chip, so this suggests these items are in high demand and fetching good prices,” he said. “It pays to do these strip-down operations at scale.”
Some sellers have even found that selling these components can be more lucrative than dealing in new devices.
Another laptop dealer, who spoke to The Straits Times but requested anonymity, said profit margins on new devices have shrunk as prices rise due to the tight supply of essential components like RAM chips.
“There’s more volume now to turn a profit in the market for used devices,” he added, noting that his main clients are in Indonesia and India.
The rise in used-laptop trading and component exports in Singapore is also reflected in electronic non-oil re-exports (NORX). NORX measures the nominal value of goods which were manufactured overseas, imported into Singapore, and exported in the same form without transformation. PCs and PC parts were among the top drivers in 2025.
With AI-related demand expected to grow, particularly for high-performance PCs and servers, this secondary market for used electronics is likely to remain strong.
- Read other articles we’ve written on Singaporean businesses here.
Featured Image Credit: Stenko Vlad via Shutterstock.com
Tech
They Helped Plan the January 6 Rally. Now Their Events Company Is Raking in Millions in Government Contracts
An events company whose associates helped stage the January 6, 2021 rally has signed contracts worth over $26 million with the United States government, according to documents reviewed by WIRED. Since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Event Strategies, a Virginia-based firm with deep ties to Trumpworld, has negotiated a contract with the General Services Administration that could be worth up to $100 million over the next 15 years.
It’s a remarkable rise for the 26-year-old firm, which until the recent windfall had received what appeared to be around $50,000 dollars in government contracts over the past decade. It also appears that Event Strategies won these new contracts with very little competition. According to HigherGov, a tool used by contractors to track federal and state contracts, Event Strategies was the only company to bid on eight of the 11 contracts tracked by the site.
Many of the recent contracts are related to America 250, an 18-month-long commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
In early 2025, the US Semiquincentennial Commission, a bipartisan group established in 2016 to coordinate the celebrations, cut ties with Precision Strategies, an event planning group founded by Obama-era staffers. Soon after, the commission hired Event Strategies to replace them.
Contracts reviewed by WIRED in the System for Award Management database show that by September 2025, the company had signed its first contract related to the celebrations: a $5 million contract for work related to Titans of the Sea, an event designed to celebrate the Navy’s 250th anniversary. Weeks later, the company signed another contract for a $2.1 million deal for “AMERICA 250 – EVENTS.”
More recently, Event Strategies signed a contract valued at $333,084 with the General Services Administration at the beginning of February for “FREEDOM 250 DESIGN AND CONTENT SUPPORT SERVICES.” Freedom 250 is, according to the White House, a “public-private partnership” related to America 250.
The tenor of the America 250 celebrations have already proven controversial. Over the last few months, large banners ostensibly tied to the project were seen hanging from federal buildings all over Washington, DC. One banner, which was hung outside the Department of Justice, features the tagline: “Make America Safe Again” alongside a massive image of Trump’s face. The DOJ said the banner was hung to “celebrate 250 years of our great country.” To many, the tagline was an indication that the Justice Department has failed to maintain its independence during Trump’s second term. California Governor Gavin Newsom said the banner was “beyond parody,” writing on Facebook: “How many dictatorship-style monuments, building name changes, and fake awards do Americans have to endure?”
In early March, banners featuring Charlie Kirk, Booker T. Washington, and Catharine Beecher were hung outside the Department of Education near Capitol Hill, alongside two large banners featuring the America 250 logo. Critics were alarmed to see Kirk’s likeness on the banner, as the deceased Turning Point USA cofounder and conservative commentator had previously called to “abolish” the Department of Education and was known for numerous racist and homophobic comments.
WIRED could not confirm whether these specific banners, or the banners hanging at the DOJ, were designed and implemented by Event Strategies. The DOJ and the Education Department did not respond to a request for comment about the company responsible for the banners.
“There is a proper federal competitive bidding process, and the White House expects all agencies to comply with it,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle tells WIRED. When asked for further comment about Event Strategies, Ingle referred WIRED to the General Service Administration. GSA did not respond to a request for comment.
The Contracts
When Trump lost the 2020 election, Event Strategies was on hand: Cofounder Tim Unes was listed as a stage manager for the January 6 rally at the Ellipse in 2021, according to the paperwork submitted to secure a permit. Megan Powers Small, who is now the chief of staff at Event Strategies, was tagged on rally permit paperwork as the event’s “Operations Manager for Scheduling and Guidance.” Justin Caporale was listed as a project manager of the event. Though Caporale was later described as the Event Strategies CEO and the company’s managing partner, he had previously worked as director of operations for Melania Trump in 2018 and on the Trump campaign in 2020.
While out of office, Trump continued working with Event Strategies. The company produced many of Trump’s campaign rallies during the 2024 presidential campaign; filings from that year show Event Strategies received $31 million from the Trump 47 Committee PAC over a seven-month period. Caporale’s Instagram account also shows him associating with Trump and administration officials, including at some of those same rallies.
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