Real-time data isn’t just faster research - it’s a fundamental shift in how brands make decisions. In today’s hyper-accelerated markets, yesterday’s insight is already a liability, consumer preferences shift overnight and competitive landscapes transform in real-time. Yet too many brands still rely on quarterly research studies that take weeks to analyze and months to implement – by which time the market has completely moved on.

Discover how real-time intelligence transforms reactive organizations into predictive powerhouses – and why in today's Southeast Asia, clarity beats volume and decisiveness beats delay.

In this Op-Ed, David Black critiques the "quantum fallacy"—the overreliance on behavioural nudges to solve systemic crises. While effective for micro-decisions, nudges cannot replace structural reform. This piece calls for a synthesis of behavioural science, AI, and systems thinking to address the underlying drivers of Southeast Asia’s complex economic and social challenges.

The final SensingSG wave of 2025 reveals a significant "Trump Slump" in Singaporean sentiment, driven by economic friction and tariff concerns. Conversely, domestic stability remains high, with Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy of meritocracy and foresight continuing to anchor public confidence ten years after his passing.

Asia’s e-commerce market is racing toward US$2 trillion, but the old playbook is dead. Is your brand ready for the revolution? Drawing on exclusive insights from 46 regional leaders, our latest report, “The Next Leap for E-Commerce in Southeast Asia,” uncovers the three tectonic shifts defining the future: the explosion of video commerce, AI-driven personalisation, and the borderless shelf. Discover the strategies you need to thrive in the experience economy.

Algorithms and Ambitions
This unique study examines how young Singapore investors (aged 25–39) are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) tools into their financial lives. It confirms that this digitally-native cohort has already executed a universal shift in behaviour, with 100% adoption of AI for investment decisions. This rapid, total integration of the 'AI co-pilot' presents an existential challenge to traditional financial advice models, demanding a new strategic response from financial institutions and technology providers.

Brands are speaking — but their customers are not always listening. In today’s attention economy, people are exposed to more messages across more channels than ever before, while at the same time filtering harder, trusting less, and gravitating toward interactions that feel authentic.

On 4 Sep 2025, Blackbox hosted the Brand Leaders Brunch: The Insight Disconnect, where 50 senior decision-makers came together to ask: In the attention economy, how do we keep research meaningful? Leading the discussion were Mansi Trivedi, who heads strategy and insights across APJ at Transmission; Jessalynn Chen, Managing Director of Labbrand Singapore with expertise in brand innovation and cultural fit; and David Black, founder and CEO of Blackbox Research. Together, they unpacked why attention isn’t really shrinking, why “trust” is too vague to act on, and why senior executives will never fill your survey — surfacing 7 key shifts every leader should know to turn feedback into genuine dialogue.

Singapore’s GE2025 may have handed the PAP a stronger mandate, but voter sentiment reveals a more complex story. Drawing on final-week polling from Blackbox Research, this analysis unpacks how ground strategy, issue salience, and digital engagement shaped the outcome — and why the Workers’ Party isn’t going away.

Tune into our Blackbox Unpacked podcast for a deep dive into the China Chic report.

We unpack how Chinese lifestyle brands are winning over young Singaporean consumers — and why quality, cultural relevance, and localisation are reshaping perceptions of “Made in China” across Southeast Asia. Listen now and download the full report.