Investment experts point to the potential of AI monetization to boost China tech stocks despite recent market volatility driven by the Iran conflict and AI-related concerns. Agentic AI breakthroughs like OpenClaw have reignited hopes for fresh monetization opportunities in the tech sector. While global markets have been rattled by an oil price shock and fears of AI-induced job losses, Chinese tech stocks have shown relative stability. The MSCI China Tech 100 Index only eased by 1 per cent compared to larger drops in other regional and US tech indices.

Chinese tech companies have managed to weather external shocks better due to their lower valuations and ongoing efforts to revamp their business models. Oliver Cox, a portfolio manager at JPMorgan Asset Management, noted that China's software firms are aggressively pursuing AI strategies, positioning themselves as consumer-focused entities emphasizing growth and market penetration. In contrast, US tech companies tend to cater more to enterprises that may develop their own AI solutions in the future.

Cox also highlighted the advantage of China's favorable starting valuation, which has helped cushion the impact of recent market corrections. The JPMorgan Pacific Technology fund, co-managed by Cox, has allocated over 30% to China and delivered a solid 10.7% gain through January 30. This performance underscores the resilience of Chinese tech stocks in the face of market uncertainties and the growing importance of AI innovation in driving future growth.