Apple’s September Event 2025: Thinner, Smarter, and a Little Bit Risky

Apple’s annual September event has always been a stage where design, innovation, and bold decisions take the spotlight. This year was no different. The company unveiled a lineup that feels both futuristic and familiar — with the iPhone Air, the iPhone 17 family, new Apple Watches, and the refreshed AirPods Pro 3.

Let’s break down what was announced, and more importantly, what it might mean for us as users.

iPhone Air — The Star of the Show

The iPhone Air stole the spotlight. At just 5.6 mm thin, it’s Apple’s slimmest iPhone ever. Wrapped in spacecraft-grade titanium with the new Ceramic Shield 2, it looks stunningly sleek. The 6.5-inch OLED with 120 Hz ProMotion makes it a joy to look at, and the new 48 MP “Fusion” camera promises crisp photography.

But here’s the catch — thinness comes at a cost. The battery is smaller, which means Apple had to compromise on endurance. If Apple had made the Air a little thicker, it could have packed in more power and more battery. Instead, Apple chose to push design to the extreme.

And maybe that’s the point. The iPhone Air is less about specs and more about emotion. It’s thin, beautiful, sexy — a device that feels almost unreal in the hand. The killer feature isn’t tangible. It’s not measured in gigahertz or milliamp-hours. It’s the feeling of holding something impossibly slim and futuristic, a glimpse of where Apple thinks smartphones are headed.

My take: The iPhone Air is a design statement first, a practical tool second. Whether people embrace that trade-off or see it as a step too far will define its success.

iPhone 17 — The Everyday Upgrade

The standard iPhone 17 is designed to be the phone most people buy. It now comes with a slightly larger 6.3-inch display, 120 Hz ProMotion, and Always-On Display — features once reserved for the Pro models, now making their way to the base edition.

It also benefits from the new A19 chip, improved battery efficiency, and storage options that start higher than before. For everyday users, this is a very solid step up. But make no mistake: this is an incremental upgrade, not a revolution. If you’re holding on to an iPhone 14 or earlier, it’ll feel fresh. If you’re already on a 15 or 16, you may not feel the urge.

Jobs That Will Likely Be Replaced by AI in the Future (and When)

Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing at lightning speed, reshaping industries and transforming how we work. While it creates exciting opportunities, it also poses a challenge to certain jobs — especially those involving repetitive tasks.

Here are some jobs most at risk, along with an estimate of when AI might replace or significantly reduce them:

1. Data Entry Clerks

• Timeline: 3–5 years

  AI is already handling data processing faster and more accurately than humans. Expect these jobs to shrink quickly as businesses adopt automation tools.

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2. Customer Support Agents

• Timeline: 5–7 years

  Chatbots and AI voice assistants are handling basic questions today. Within a few years, most routine customer support will be automated, though complex or emotional cases will still need human touch.

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3. Retail Cashiers

• Timeline: 5–10 years

  Self-checkouts and AI-driven stores are growing. Large-scale cashier replacement will depend on consumer adoption and store investment, but the shift is already visible.

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4. Telemarketers

• Timeline: 3–6 years

  Since telemarketing follows scripts, AI voice systems will replace many roles soon. Human telemarketers will become less common as businesses switch to AI outreach.

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5. Paralegals and Legal Assistants

• Timeline: 8–12 years

  AI can already analyze contracts and documents faster than humans. The legal industry moves slower due to regulation, so adoption will take longer but is inevitable.

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6. Drivers (Taxi, Truck, Delivery)

• Timeline: 10–15 years

  Self-driving vehicles are in testing stages. Widespread adoption depends on regulations, infrastructure, and public trust, but many driving jobs will eventually be automated.

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7. Basic Content Writers

• Timeline: 3–5 years

  AI tools are already writing product descriptions, ads, and even blog posts. Writers who only produce repetitive content are most at risk in the near term.

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8. Bank Tellers and Clerks

• Timeline: 5–8 years

  With mobile banking and AI chatbots, many teller tasks are disappearing. Banks are slowly shifting toward fully digital customer interactions.

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9. Warehouse and Factory Workers

• Timeline: 5–10 years

  Automation and robotics are spreading in logistics and manufacturing. Humans will still be needed for oversight and complex tasks, but repetitive roles will decline.

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10. Travel Agents

Timeline: Already happening (0–3 years)

Most travelers now book flights and hotels online. Only niche or luxury travel consultants are likely to remain relevant in the coming years.

What About Tour Guides?
While travel agents are already being replaced by apps and AI booking platforms, on-ground tour guides are very different.
They physically bring tourists around, often managing transport, logistics, and group safety.
They drive tourists between locations, which combines guiding with transportation.
They provide human interaction, humor, and cultural storytelling that no app or AI avatar can match.
They can adapt on the fly — changing routes, managing unexpected situations, or catering to tourists’ needs.
Timeline for Tour Guides
AI self-guided tours (apps, AR/VR, smart glasses): Already happening now (0–3 years).
Replacement of human tour guides: Very unlikely, even in the next 20+ years. The human element — safety, driving, local knowledge, empathy — makes them essential.

So, unlike travel agents, tour guides are here to stay. Instead of being replaced, they may use AI as a tool (like translation apps, AR maps, or AI-driven itineraries) to enhance their tours.

The Bigger Picture

AI won’t just replace jobs — it will transform them. Some roles will vanish, but many new ones are being created in AI development, ethics, robotics maintenance, and human-AI collaboration.

It’s also important to note that not all jobs are at risk. Some professions require human skills that AI struggles to replicate, such as:

• Tour Guides – Travelers still value human storytelling, cultural insights, and personal interaction.

• Healthcare Workers (Doctors, Nurses, Caregivers) – Human empathy, judgment, and trust are hard to automate.

• Teachers & Educators – AI can support learning, but the role of mentorship, inspiration, and emotional support remains human.

• Creative Artists – While AI can generate art and music, authentic creativity and originality are still uniquely human.

• Skilled Trades (Electricians, Plumbers, Chefs) – Hands-on problem-solving and craftsmanship aren’t easily automated.

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Final Thought: The next 5–15 years will be a turning point. Jobs that rely on repetition will decline, but opportunities in tech, creativity, and human-centered roles will rise. The future belongs to those ready to evolve with AI — and to those who embrace what makes us uniquely human.

Understanding AI Agentic Behavior and the Model-Context-Protocol (MCP) Framework

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, two concepts have become increasingly relevant in understanding how modern AI systems operate and interact with humans and other systems: agentic behavior and the Model-Context-Protocol (MCP) framework. These ideas are shaping the next generation of AI applications, making them more autonomous, context-aware, and collaborative.

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What is Agentic AI?

Agentic AI refers to AI systems that exhibit agent-like behavior. This means they can:

• Set and pursue goals

• Plan and make decisions

• Interact with environments or users over time

• Reflect and adapt based on feedback

In short, an agentic AI behaves more like a "software agent" than a simple tool. Unlike a calculator that passively responds to input, an agentic AI might initiate actions, suggest next steps, or autonomously complete a task over several steps.

Examples of Agentic AI:

• A personal AI assistant that books travel, reschedules meetings, and alerts you about conflicts — without being told each step.

• A customer service bot that not only answers questions but actively follows up on unresolved issues.

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What is MCP (Model-Context-Protocol)?

The Model-Context-Protocol (MCP) framework is a way to organize and standardize how LLM (Large Language Model) agents operate in structured environments. It's especially relevant in agentic AI because it defines the building blocks needed for effective and coherent agent behavior.

1. Model

This refers to the core intelligence — usually a large language model like GPT, Claude, Gemini, or Mistral. The model provides reasoning, language understanding, and generation.

2. Context

The context includes all relevant inputs, such as:

• Conversation history

• User preferences

• Application state

• Real-time data (e.g. weather, calendar, databases)

The richer the context, the more relevant and effective the AI’s response.

3. Protocol

The protocol defines how the agent behaves, including:

• What actions it's allowed to take

• How it communicates (e.g., APIs, tools, plugins)

• What its roles or goals are

Protocols can also define how the agent cooperates with other agents or human users, making multi-agent coordination possible.

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How Agentic AI and MCP Work Together

To build a truly intelligent and useful AI agent, you need all three elements of MCP:

• The model enables smart reasoning.

• The context ensures decisions are relevant.

• The protocol guides structured behavior.

This structure allows developers to build AI agents that can work in complex environments — like managing workflows, operating in simulations, or even helping run companies.

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Why It Matters

These concepts are crucial for building:

• Personal AI agents that understand your goals and work across tools

• Enterprise AI systems that automate processes

• Multi-agent ecosystems, where AIs collaborate to solve complex problems

Agentic behavior and MCP are paving the way for AI that is not just reactive, but goal-directed, persistent, and intelligent over time.

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Final Thoughts

As AI becomes more deeply embedded into our lives, it will increasingly shift from being a tool to being a collaborator. Understanding frameworks like MCP and enabling agentic behavior is how we build AI that can truly assist, automate, and augment our capabilities — responsibly and effectively.

Starting a Startup: The Journey, the Reality, and Pitfalls to Avoid

Starting a startup is often romanticized as a thrilling journey of innovation, independence, and wealth creation. The allure of becoming the next big success story like Airbnb, Grab, or Canva draws many into the world of entrepreneurship. But behind the scenes, startups are grueling, high-risk ventures that test resilience, vision, and adaptability.

If you're thinking about starting a startup, here's a candid look at what it takes—and what pitfalls to avoid to increase your chances of survival and success.

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Step 1: Understand What a Startup Really Is

A startup isn’t just any small business. It’s a temporary organization in search of a repeatable and scalable business model. That means your primary job in the early days is not just to build a product, but to test hypotheses, validate demand, and figure out how to grow efficiently.

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Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Building Before Validating

Mistake: Jumping into product development without validating whether there’s a real market need.

Solution: Talk to potential customers early. Use surveys, interviews, landing pages, or MVPs (Minimum Viable Products) to test the waters. Don’t waste months building something no one wants.

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2. Chasing Funding Too Soon

Mistake: Thinking you need investors before you’ve proven anything.

Solution: Bootstrap if you can. Focus on traction and unit economics first. Investors will come when you show progress. Early-stage funding should amplify something that’s already working—not rescue something that isn’t.

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3. Falling in Love with the Idea

Mistake: Being too emotionally attached to your original idea and refusing to pivot.

Solution: Let customer feedback and data guide your decisions. Be flexible. Some of the biggest companies today started out doing something completely different (e.g., YouTube was once a dating site).

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4. Neglecting the Business Model

Mistake: Focusing only on product and ignoring how you’ll make money.

Solution: Your product is not your business. Identify your revenue streams early and test them. Freemium, subscription, pay-per-use—what works best for your market?

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5. Poor Team Dynamics

Mistake: Partnering with friends without complementary skills or clear roles.

Solution: Choose co-founders wisely. Ensure there is trust, but also clear responsibilities. If you're solo, consider finding advisors or mentors to fill the gaps.

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6. Scaling Prematurely

Mistake: Hiring too fast, spending on ads, or expanding before product-market fit is achieved.

Solution: Focus on retention over growth in the early stages. If people aren’t sticking around, growth will be short-lived.

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7. Ignoring Legal and Financial Basics

Mistake: Skipping company registration, ignoring taxes, or not setting up proper equity splits.

Solution: Handle the basics early—founders’ agreements, cap tables, accounting, and basic legal compliance. It will save you massive headaches later.

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8. Marketing as an Afterthought

Mistake: Believing that if you build it, they will come.

Solution: Start marketing from day one. Build an audience, grow a mailing list, use content, partnerships, or paid ads depending on your niche. Growth is a channel problem as much as a product problem.

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Final Advice for First-Time Founders

• Start small, but think big. Begin with a focused MVP, but keep your eye on where the business can go.

• Listen more than you speak. Your customers often know the answers—you just have to ask the right questions.

• Play the long game. Overnight success is usually years in the making.

• Take care of yourself. Burnout kills startups faster than competition. Pace yourself.

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Conclusion

The startup journey is not for the faint of heart, but it can be one of the most rewarding experiences if approached with the right mindset. Avoiding these common pitfalls won’t guarantee success, but it will dramatically improve your odds.

Start lean. Move fast. Stay humble. And remember: build what matters, for people who care, in a way that scales.

Transformasi360 - May 2025

Alhamdulillah telah selesai sudah sesi 3 hari edisi baru IMKK yand di rebrand kepada Transformasi360 pada 10 - 12 Mei 2025 lepas. 

Rasa nya sebelum ni dah pergi 3 kali ( based on workbook yang disimpan). Dan ini adalah ‘IMKK’ yang latest after 6 years in hiatus. 

Sebelum ini juga pernah attend MMM (Millionaire Marketing Mastery) pada tahun 2015. Since then I started this blog sampai la. 

Ada juga pergi ke kelas mini seperti ZKM (Zero Kos Marketing). Ada post dia juga

https://irekasoft.blogspot.com/2019/02/kelas-zkm.html

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Apa itu Transformasi360 atau T360?

Ia merujuk kepada formula 3 - 6 - 0. 

3: Thought - Emotion - Action.

6: emotion drives - happiness, anger, fear, sadness, disgust and surprise. 

0: empty kan diri kita untuk terima sesuatu yang baharu. 

Apa Kontent dia?

Banyak cerita tentang energy. 

Energy kita mempengaruhi pelbagai aspek dalam hidup kita.

Kita perlu maintain high energy untuk terus fokus dengan matlamat kita. Get into the PEAK state. Switch!

“The Science of Success” : kejayaan ni ada pattern atau corak dia. 

Setiap benda ada tanda-tanda dia. Kalau pattern macam ni chances dia berjaya tu tinggi. Faham ke ?

Kawalan Emotion sangat penting. 

Dia macam hack kita punya brain untuk capai sesuatu tu, kita perlu trigger feeling dan thought kita untuk focus dan cari jalan macam mana nak dapatkan sesuatu. 

Apa MAGNET dia?

1. Magnet minda
2. Magnet hati
3. Magnet Personaliti 
4. Magnet Komunikasi 
5. Magnet tindakan.

Apa Pengalaman Baru??

Untuk kali ini Prof tidak menekakan untuk berjaya perlu berniaga semata-mata, bekerja pun ada opportunity dia (as intrapreneur) dan apatah lagi as peniaga (entrepreneur). ]

Content dan silibus kali ini lebih compact dan padat. Rasanya boleh focus dalam almost of the classes. 

Live band! Sebelum ni music audio sahaja, this time crazy, ada artists, liveband dan juga actor. 

Enjoy lah in short. But untuk bagi komitmen dalam kelas sebegini juga bukan mudah. 

Why We Built Orderla Commerce

 When we first launched Orderla.my, the goal was clear: help micro and small businesses set up online stores that work beautifully with WhatsApp. No complexity. No friction. Just a fast and easy way to start selling online.

That mission connected with thousands of sellers. In the last 5 years, merchants using Orderla.my have sold over RM100 million worth of products.

But as the ecosystem grew, we started seeing something interesting:
a new group of sellers with slightly different needs.

A New Segment Emerged

Orderla.my (Quick Commerce) continues to be great for direct-to-consumer sales — especially for food stalls, home-based sellers, and new entrepreneurs.

But we started seeing merchants who needed more:

• Minimum Order Quantities (MOQ)

• Tiered pricing for wholesale and bulk sales

• The ability to upload multiple product images

• A more polished customer experience with logins and saved addresses

• Tools to support teams and staff roles

• Less reliance on WhatsApp and more focus on evergreen channels like email

• The ability to sell and deliver digital products automatically

They weren’t “outgrowing” Orderla — they just needed more control, structure, and flexibility.

The Why: Serving Sellers Ready to Level Up

Instead of sending these merchants to other platforms, we built Orderla Commerce — a more powerful version of Orderla designed for more operationally complex businesses.

It still keeps what made Orderla great: fast setup, clean UI, and merchant-first simplicity.
But now, it also supports the workflows that serious sellers need.

What Makes Orderla Commerce Different

Here’s what sets Commerce apart:

• More product images to better showcase offerings

• Customer accounts with order history and saved delivery addresses

• MOQ and tiered pricing for B2B or bulk buyers

• Team/staff access with permission control

• Advanced stock and checkout logic

• Affiliate system — so merchants can grow through community promoters

• Digital product support with automatic delivery via email (e.g. ebooks, files)

• Evergreen communication via email to reduce reliance on WhatsApp

• And on the horizon: a dedicated mobile app

Sell Digital Products — Seamlessly

Orderla Commerce isn’t just for physical products. It’s also built to support digital goods, like:

• Ebooks

• PDF resources

Once a customer places an order, the system automatically sends the file to their email — no manual follow-up needed. This makes it easy for creators and educators to monetize their work at scale.

Promote and Earn: Built-in Affiliate System

Another powerful feature is the affiliate system.

Merchants can set up their own program and let influencers, customers, or resellers promote their products — while earning commission on successful sales.

The system:

• Generates unique affiliate links

• Tracks referrals and orders in real-time

• Provides detailed reports for both merchants and affiliates

It’s a win-win way to grow sales organically.

The Response So Far

We rolled out Orderla Commerce to early users like Tradisi Leluhur, Nyenyak Spectacles, Cats Hometown, Anis Ashikali and others. They challenged the product, shaped its direction, and proved that this was a needed evolution.

What we’re seeing:

• Higher order values with MOQ and tiered pricing

• Better customer experience with login + saved addresses

• Sales boosted by affiliates and promoters

• Growing demand for digital product delivery

• Teams running smoother operations with better staff access

What’s Coming Next

Orderla Commerce is just the beginning.

We’re currently building:

• Seamless POS and inventory tools

• Plug-and-play extensions for automation, loyalty, and CRM

• A native mobile app to give merchants and buyers an even better experience

Our vision is simple:
To help sellers grow — with the tools and flexibility they actually need, without making them jump through hoops or start from scratch on another platform.

If you’re ready to take your store to the next level, Orderla Commerce is built for you.

E-Invois di Malaysia: Apa yang Perniagaan Perlu Tahu

Sistem e-Invois (electronic invoice) di Malaysia semakin menjadi keperluan utama bagi perniagaan, terutama bagi perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (SME). Pelaksanaan e-Invois ini adalah sebahagian daripada inisiatif kerajaan untuk mempercepatkan pendigitalan dan meningkatkan kecekapan pematuhan cukai. Dalam artikel ini, kita akan membincangkan siapa yang terlibat, bagaimana e-Invois berfungsi, dan langkah-langkah persediaan bagi SME.

Siapa yang Terlibat dalam e-Invois di Malaysia?

Pelaksanaan e-Invois di Malaysia melibatkan beberapa pihak utama:

1. Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri Malaysia (LHDN) – Bertanggungjawab dalam mengawal selia dan melaksanakan sistem e-Invois bagi memastikan pematuhan cukai yang lebih baik.

2. Perniagaan dan SME – Semua syarikat, termasuk SME, perlu bersedia untuk mengadaptasi sistem ini bagi urusan jual beli.

3. Penyedia Perkhidmatan Teknologi (Software Providers) – Penyedia perisian yang membangunkan sistem e-Invois bagi membantu perniagaan dalam pemprosesan dan penghantaran invois secara digital.

4. Pelanggan dan Pembekal – Pihak yang terlibat dalam transaksi perniagaan perlu menerima dan memproses e-Invois.

Bagaimana e-Invois Berfungsi?

Secara asasnya, e-Invois berfungsi melalui proses digital tanpa perlu menggunakan invois bercetak. Berikut adalah proses umum e-Invois:

1. Penciptaan Invois – Syarikat mencipta invois menggunakan sistem e-Invois yang disambungkan dengan sistem LHDN.

2. Pengesahan LHDN – Invois yang dihasilkan akan dihantar secara automatik ke LHDN untuk pengesahan dan rekod.

3. Penghantaran kepada Penerima – Setelah disahkan, e-Invois dihantar kepada pelanggan dalam format digital.

4. Rekod dan Pemantauan – Semua invois disimpan dalam sistem untuk rujukan dan audit masa hadapan.

Bagaimana SME Perlu Bersedia?

Bagi memastikan peralihan kepada e-Invois berjalan lancar, SME perlu mengambil langkah-langkah berikut:

1. Memahami Keperluan Perundangan – SME harus memahami keperluan dan garis panduan yang ditetapkan oleh LHDN mengenai e-Invois.

2. Menggunakan Perisian yang Sesuai – Pastikan sistem perakaunan atau perisian yang digunakan menyokong integrasi e-Invois.

3. Latihan dan Kesedaran – Latih kakitangan mengenai penggunaan e-Invois dan perubahan dalam proses perniagaan.

4. Integrasi dengan Sistem Sedia Ada – Jika syarikat sudah menggunakan sistem ERP atau perakaunan digital, pastikan ia boleh disambungkan dengan sistem e-Invois.

5. Menguji dan Menyesuaikan Proses – Lakukan ujian untuk memastikan sistem berjalan lancar sebelum peraturan e-Invois dikuatkuasakan sepenuhnya.

Kesimpulan

Pelaksanaan e-Invois di Malaysia adalah satu langkah ke hadapan dalam mendigitalisasikan urusan perniagaan dan memastikan pematuhan cukai yang lebih cekap. SME perlu bersedia dengan memahami keperluan sistem, memilih perisian yang sesuai, dan melatih kakitangan untuk memastikan peralihan yang lancar. Dengan persediaan yang betul, e-Invois boleh membantu perniagaan meningkatkan kecekapan operasi serta mengurangkan risiko ketidakpatuhan cukai.

Jika anda seorang pemilik perniagaan, sekarang adalah masa yang sesuai untuk mula bersedia! Jangan tunggu sehingga saat akhir untuk menyesuaikan diri dengan sistem e-Invois ini.