Global Alliance Partners (GAP)

06/02/2026

27/09/2025

The latest ranking reflects Hong Kong’s efforts to burnish its credentials as a major international financial hub.

02/09/2025

Good morning New York, while you were sleeping this was one of our most read stories. https://on.ft.com/45TOsp2

02/09/2025

The rally comes after years of weakening and is seen as a signal that Beijing will allow a gradual appreciation, which strategists view as potentially significant for China-US negotiations over a trade agreement https://on.ft.com/4lZkBBE

05/04/2025

🚨Elon Musk Just Pulled Off His Most Strategic Move Yet—And No One Saw It Coming.

His AI company, xAI, just acquired X (formerly Twitter) in a massive $33 billion deal.

On the surface, it looks like just another corporate shuffle. But in reality, Musk may have just outmaneuvered the entire AI industry.

Here’s why this changes everything:
• X is valued at $33 billion
• xAI is now worth a staggering $80 billion
• The deal is an all-stock transaction, excluding $12 billion in X’s debt

At first glance, it seems like Musk took a loss—after all, he originally paid $44 billion for Twitter. But this move isn’t about social media.

It’s about something far more valuable: data.

The Real Reason Musk Bought Twitter
Back in 2022, people were confused. Why would the world’s richest man, known for building rockets and electric cars, want a struggling social media platform?

Now, the answer is clear: Twitter (now X) was never just a social media company—it was a massive, real-time data engine.

With 600 million active users generating a constant stream of conversations, opinions, and real-world events, X is a goldmine for training AI models.

And that’s exactly what xAI needs to take on OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google.

The Timing Is No Coincidence
- Just a few months ago, xAI secured a $6 billion funding round at a $24 billion valuation. Now, after this acquisition, its valuation has skyrocketed to $80 billion—outpacing even OpenAI’s growth.

Why does this matter? Most AI companies struggle to get high-quality, real-world data. Their models rely on stale, pre-existing datasets that don’t reflect real-time human behavior.
But xAI now has something its competitors don’t: a live firehose of human interaction.

This means:
✅ More human-like AI models
✅ A competitive edge in real-time applications
✅ The ability to train AI on the most up-to-date information available anywhere

What Happens Next?
This merger isn’t just about an AI assistant inside X. It’s the foundation for something much bigger.

1️⃣ AI-Driven Content & Conversations
Expect smarter content recommendations that understand not just what you like, but why you like it. AI-generated insights, real-time fact-checking, and even automated dispute resolution could change how people engage online.
2️⃣ X Becomes More Than Social Media
This could push X toward becoming a full-fledged “everything app”—integrating AI-powered tools for content creation, virtual assistants, and even education.
3️⃣ Regulatory Strategy at Play
By structuring the deal as xAI acquiring X (instead of the other way around), Musk positions this as an AI-driven initiative rather than a social media consolidation—potentially avoiding regulatory roadblocks.

The Bottom Line
This isn’t just another tech merger. It’s a calculated move that positions xAI as a major player in AI, while using X’s data to supercharge its models.

Musk isn’t just competing with OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. He’s changing the game entirely.

28/03/2025

The Challenge Facing Hutchison is a Microcosm of the Tension between Finance and National Security that is About to Play out Around the World.

Dispatch From Hong Kong: A business friend sent some Hong Kong pictures and tells the...

07/02/2025

After decades of free trade between the US and Canada, the American president’s tariff threat to a relationship worth $91bn has prompted a reckoning among policymakers. Here’s why: https://on.ft.com/42I3ZIw

31/01/2025

Feng shui master Tong Pik-ha gives her predictions, from the lucky colours to wear to which sign will have a bad year when it comes to love.

19/01/2025

Analysts express serious doubts about the success of BRICS payment system

15/01/2025

Chinese officials are hoping that the billionaire owner of X could help broker a deal that might prevent the platform from being forced to shut down in the US, according to the people familiar with official discussions. https://on.ft.com/4jczjoH

15/01/2025

Our trusty chilli-red passbook continues its winning streak – yes, the Singapore passport is officially the world's most powerful passport this 2025.

This means Singaporeans have visa-free access to 195 out of 227 destinations worldwide – that’s about 85 percent of the globe 🤭 Not too fair behind is Japan in second place, with visa-free access to 193 destinations.

Find out who else made the list, as well as the biggest risers and fallers in the past decade here: https://bit.ly/TOSG_MostPowerfulPassport

📸: Ivan Marc/Shutterstock