(Yicai) Dec. 5 — The value of artificial intelligence in Asia has evolved from a technical test to a need for strategic precision, organizational adaptability and depth of industry integration, according to industry and technology experts across the Asia-Pacific region.
Experts at the 2nd Annual AI Innovation Asia Conference held in Singapore on December 2 said that Asia’s practices highlight that realizing the value of AI cannot be separated from specific industry contexts. They said future winners will be those that can accurately understand the core of their business, leverage AI as a fulcrum for systemic innovation, and integrate deeply into regional and global innovation ecosystems, a transition that will ultimately test not just a single technology capability but the evolutionary wisdom and courage of an entire enterprise.
Experts point out that many companies are stuck in the dilemma of investing heavily in AI and launching numerous pilot projects, but struggling to produce significant business results, adding that behind this so-called “pilot trap” lies strategic confusion.
Companies often view AI as a solution to improve efficiency, rather than as a strategic tool that can transform core business processes, experts noted. True value creation requires a shift in mindset, starting with the fundamental business challenges and working backwards to define the mission of AI, they said, adding that this requires the courage to choose one or two core value streams for end-to-end restructuring.
AI is evolving from an add-on feature to the core of products, driving the transformation of hardware manufacturers into solution providers.
Smart display equipment maker Feifantai Technology is experiencing a qualitative change in market demand, Feifantai Technology, the Shenzhen-based company’s Asia-Pacific sales director, told Yi Cai. “There is a growing demand for AI integration in products such as self-ordering kiosks,” Fay said, which moves the basic iteration of product logic from a direct command mode, where users need to touch and select, to an intelligent interaction mode that enables natural conversations.
Future self-ordering devices will understand colloquial instructions such as “double espresso and milk foam” and actively interact with them to confirm details, Fay said. “This is more than just adding voice capabilities, it’s a complete product and experience re-engineering from touch to interaction.”
The transformation of AI in financial services is equally profound. It is being used not only to automate back-office operations but also to reimagine customer experience and risk management paradigms.
Planned organizational restructuring
A clear strategy requires new organizational capabilities for support. These transformations will place systemic demands on companies’ talent structures, management roles, and even the boundaries of human-machine collaboration.
Chris Pekoe, a director at Olofson Consulting, which focuses on AI recruitment, told Ekai that AI has completely changed his job. “Keeping pace with the development of AI and integrating it into business processes is a full-time job in itself,” he said.
When looking for top AI engineers, you need to track the latest models and technology developments on a weekly basis, Pecaut said, adding that his platform uses AI to efficiently match talent around the world.
After AI automates many tasks, Pekoe said, core human values will increasingly focus on unique creativity, strategic acumen, and a collaborative spirit. “Connecting the right talent with the opportunities that need them most has never been more important.”
The roles of mid- and senior-level managers are also being redefined, especially as AI takes over more fundamental tasks, requiring mid-level managers to move from day-to-day oversight to strategic decision-making and employee coaching. Executives are facing deeper functional integration, with unprecedented collaboration between chief human resources officers, chief information officers, and chief technology officers to jointly manage “hybrid human-machine” teams.
The path of AI in Asia
Asia is the world’s most dynamic economic region and offers a rich testing ground for AI integration, with pathways that emphasize deep integration with the region’s industrial ecosystem and policy environment. Moreover, Southeast Asia’s young demographic, rapidly increasing levels of digitalization, and vast domestic market are transforming the region from an adopter of technology to an incubator of innovation.
Global tech giants’ continued investment in Southeast Asia’s AI infrastructure reflects their recognition of its strategic potential as an emerging frontier.
The Chinese market presents a more complex picture. Complete industrial systems and diverse scenarios provide fertile ground for rapid technology iteration, but the AI development path exhibits distinct characteristics of ecosystem building and self-reliance.
At a fundamental level, a new intelligent computing ecosystem centered on open source is rapidly forming to meet the needs of long-term industrial development. At the application level, whether it’s smart manufacturing or fintech, success depends on a deep understanding of the Chinese market’s unique regulatory framework, customer habits, and cultural context.
Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief of The Economist, said the age of AI is a new chapter in world history, changing processes, replacing old jobs and creating new opportunities. This observation is evident in Asia, Bedoes said.
Editor: Martin Kadyev
