Singapore Singapore Looking forward, personalized storytelling powered by generative Al is likely to regain strong Interview with Yi Yuan, at Hiverlab and persistent location anchoring are gradually moving from experimentation toward real-world implementation. Together, these developments point to a future in which convergent content becomes more adaptive, continuous, and deeply integrated into everyday environments across Southeast Asia. What do you consider most important for improving the quality and user experience of convergent content driven by emerging technologies going forward? Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, Hiverlab metrics such as dwell time, interaction density, and share rates or social virality, all of which indicate how strongly users resonate with the content and how long they remain engaged. In Southeast Asia, the market for next-generation convergent content has entered a phase of practical adoption following the peak of the metaverse boom. Companies are now prioritizing ROI-driven technology deployment, while government support schemes and talentdevelopment programs continue to underpin industry growth. Accessible technologies such as WebXR and generative AI are gaining traction by aligning seamlessly with mobile-first consumption environments, accelerating the spread of immersive, experience-led content. Audiences, meanwhile, respond less to technology itself than to content that delivers cultural relevance and emotional engagement.

and generative AI are gaining traction by aligning seamlessly with mobile-first consumption environments, accelerating the spread of immersive, experience-led content. Audiences, meanwhile, respond less to technology itself than to content that delivers cultural relevance and emotional engagement. As a result, localization and creative direction have emerged as decisive competitive factors. For this interview, we spoke with Yi Yuan, Co -Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Hiverlab, a Singapore-based XR specialist. Since 2015, Hiverlab has developed immersive solutions built on XR, AR, and VR technologies, leading a wide range of collaborative projects with government bodies and industry partners. The company also brings extensive experience in developing B2B solutions that integrate AI, CloudXR, and 5G, with applications spanning education, tourism, and public services. In this conversation, we explore the policy and technological landscape shaping Southeast Asia’s convergent content market, user response patterns, the expansion potential of Kcontent, and insights into how immersive storytelling is likely to evolve as the industry moves forward.

public services. In this conversation, we explore the policy and technological landscape shaping Southeast Asia’s convergent content market, user response patterns, the expansion potential of Kcontent, and insights into how immersive storytelling is likely to evolve as the industry moves forward. Unauthorized reproduction, modification, or third-party distribution of this content for commercial or other purposes without prior consent is strictly prohibited. When citing or using this content, users must comply with usage guidelines such as *proper source attribution and *no alterationof the original text. Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the official position ofthe Korea Creative Content Agency.

Singapore Singapore How has Southeast Asia’s convergent content market evolved over the past two to three years? and persistent location anchoring are gradually moving from experimentation toward real-world Over the past two to three years, Southeast Asia’s convergent content market has clearly entered a phase of practical consolidation following the initial surge of interest in the metaverse. As consumer-driven hype subsided, investment and project activity shifted toward Southeast Asia. concrete enterprise use cases. In particular, the use of AI to accelerate digital content production and to enable more interactive interfaces has emerged as a defining trend. What do you consider most important for improving the quality and user experience of In response to this shift, our company has repositioned itself around B2B enterprise solutions. convergent content driven by emerging technologies going forward? A representative example is our work on AI-driven spatial digital twin projects, which reflect growing demand for scalable, real-world applications rather than experimental showcases. In some markets, limitations in network coverage still remain, making it important to manage user At the same time, AR has seen the most active adoption in marketing and communication over the past few years. Large-scale AR initiatives such as Jewel-rassic Quest in Singapore, as well as mobile-based AR product exhibitions across multiple industries, illustrate how AR has become a practical engagement tool.

time, AR has seen the most active adoption in marketing and communication over the past few years. Large-scale AR initiatives such as Jewel-rassic Quest in Singapore, as well as mobile-based AR product exhibitions across multiple industries, illustrate how AR has become a practical engagement tool. VR, by contrast, is primarily deployed in corporate training environments—particularly for industrial use cases such as machinery operation and on-site technical training. Beyond this, AI is increasingly being integrated across the entire content production pipeline in the entertainment, tourism, and education sectors. Examples include the virtual host “Allie” at the Asian Civilisations Museum and the TATAI project led by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, both of which demonstrate how AI-powered content is moving from experimentation to sustained operational use. What do you see as the key drivers behind the growth of Southeast Asia’s convergent content market, and what practical factors are most influential in motivating companies to adopt these technologies? The growth of Southeast Asia’s convergent content industry is being driven by a clear shift toward measurable outcomes and tangible impact. Companies are adopting new technologies with a strong focus on ROI, particularly where productivity gains and safety improvements can be clearly demonstrated

Singapore Singapore For example, when deploying AI-based spatial digital twin solutions, it is essential to present concrete metrics—such as cost reduction ratios or productivity improvement rates—to justify investment. This performance-oriented approach is now spreading across the broader convergent content sector. In many projects, success is increasingly assessed through indicators such as increases in physical footfall or growth in online visibility following content deployment, rather Southeast Asia. than through technological novelty alone. In parallel, government funding schemes and talent-development programs play a critical What do you consider most important for improving the quality and user experience of enabling role. By lowering the financial burden of early pilot projects, cultivating local expertise, convergent content driven by emerging technologies going forward? and helping generate initial market demand, public-sector support has become a key catalyst in accelerating industry adoption and scaling. In some markets, limitations in network coverage still remain, making it important to manage user