AI is Booming in APAC. But Who’s Being Left Behind?
Optimism is high, but access still defines the future.
From Seoul to Singapore, the AI buzz is loud. Governments are drafting national strategies. Tech giants are scaling AI across industries. And consumers? They’re largely on board. In Asia-Pacific, the mood isn’t just curious. It’s confident. But beneath the surface of all that optimism is a widening divide. Because while the region races ahead on AI, not everyone is coming along for the ride.
by Yasin İlter
The East Leans In. The West Holds Back.
Public perception draws a clear line. In China, 83 percent of consumers say AI is more helpful than harmful. In Indonesia and Thailand, that number stays above 75 percent. Compare that to the West, where only 40 percent of Canadians and Americans feel the same. In the Netherlands, the number drops to 36 percent. Optimism runs high across APAC, but it’s not equal—and it’s not enough.
Two Speeds, One Region
APAC isn’t moving at a single pace. While countries like Singapore and South Korea are building full-stack AI ecosystems with infrastructure, policy, and education, others are still catching up. In India, Vietnam, and the Philippines, adoption is slower. Digital literacy gaps, limited public investment, and patchy infrastructure remain real barriers. Without focused attention, the divide within the region could grow as wide as the one between continents.
Big Tech Wins. Small Players Struggle.
Corporate AI is thriving—for those who already have a head start. Major APAC brands are using AI to streamline logistics, personalize customer experiences, and predict trends in real time. But for smaller businesses, the barriers are steep. High costs, lack of expertise, and unclear regulations are keeping AI out of reach. And without access, the promise of transformation falls flat. The question is no longer whether AI will change the game. It’s who gets to play.
The Cost of Entry Is Falling Fast
There’s a silver lining. The tech itself is becoming more accessible. Inference costs for GPT-3.5-level models have dropped 280 times in just two years. Hardware is getting cheaper by around 30 percent annually. Energy efficiency is improving year over year. And open-source models are quickly closing the performance gap with proprietary systems. This creates real opportunity—but it still needs the right systems to support it.
Inclusion Is the Innovation
Investment is pouring in. China has committed $47.5 billion to semiconductors. France has pledged €109 billion to its national AI strategy. India, Saudi Arabia, and the US are all ramping up regulation and funding. But the real challenge for APAC isn’t just building faster—it’s building better. AI’s future depends not only on infrastructure, but on inclusion.
Who gets access? Who gets left out? Who shapes the outcomes?
Because innovation without reach isn’t progress. It’s just repetition. The future won’t be defined by who leads the race. It will belong to those who make room for more people to run.
