Alphabet Inc.’s Google and the Southeast Asian technology company Sea Ltd. announced a multi-year strategic partnership on Thursday to develop and integrate artificial intelligence technologies across Sea’s e-commerce and digital entertainment platforms. The collaboration will focus on using Google Cloud’s AI tools to enhance user experiences and improve business operations for Sea’s subsidiaries, which include the e-commerce site Shopee and the gaming division Garena.
According to a joint statement released by the companies, the partnership will apply Google Cloud’s AI models to several key areas. For Shopee, the technology will be used to create more personalized shopping experiences, improve the platform’s search and recommendation functions, and strengthen security measures such as fraud detection. In the gaming sector, Garena plans to use the AI tools to enhance gameplay and deliver customized content to its users.
The agreement expands on an existing relationship between the two companies. Sea has utilized Google Cloud services for data storage and analytics since 2018. The new initiative marks a deeper integration focused specifically on the application of generative AI.
“This partnership will bring the best of Google Cloud’s AI capabilities to Sea, helping them create new and more engaging experiences for their users,” said Ruma Balasubramanian, Managing Director of Google Cloud in Southeast Asia, in the official announcement.
Sea Ltd., a Singapore-based conglomerate, is a major entity in Southeast Asia’s digital economy. Its e-commerce platform, Shopee, is a leading online retailer in the region, while Garena is a prominent developer and publisher of online games, including the widely played Free Fire.
Manas Garg, Chief Strategy Officer at Sea, commented on the collaboration in the company’s press release. “By harnessing Google Cloud’s advanced AI technology, we are not only enhancing our service offerings but also upskilling our workforce,” Garg stated. The partnership includes a training component where Google Cloud will provide AI-related skills development for Sea’s technical staff.
The announcement positions both companies to address growing digital markets in Southeast Asia. Google Cloud is one of several major providers competing in the global cloud computing and AI services sector. Financial terms of the multi-year partnership were not disclosed.
