From a Singapore airport soundtrack to new AI-powered PCs, HP is looking for a new rhythm in Asia

A real-time AI-generated soundtrack is playing through Singapore's Changi Airport, adapting to various conditions like rain, busy times, and nighttime. This innovative approach is the brainchild of a Singapore-based startup, Wubble AI, which HP backed through its "Garage 2.0" accelerator program. Michael Boyle, HP's senior vice president and managing director for Greater Asia, is impressed by the speed and potential of these young founders, noting how Garage 2.0 provides a refreshing alternative to the complexity of working within a large organization.

However, HP's overall presence in Asia has been declining, with the tech giant now ranked No. 276 on the Fortune Global 500, a drop from No. 194 in 2017. HP has shifted its focus to AI PCs as a new growth category, believing consumers will prefer running AI on their own devices instead of relying on cloud services. The company expects AI PCs to account for half of its total shipments by the end of the year.

Despite optimism, printing remains a shrinking part of HP's business, with total print revenue falling by 2.2% in the most recent quarter, attributed to demand softness, especially in China, and changing consumer behaviors.