As the artificial intelligence race progresses beyond language models, Granite Asia's senior managing partner, Jixun Foo, believes Asia's manufacturing and supply chain strengths could provide a competitive advantage over the US.

Foo is is quoted by Hong Kong"s South China Morning Post, and he highlighted Asia's prowess in physical AI applications such as robotics and industrial automation, leveraging the region's longstanding manufacturing capabilities. With breakthroughs in foundation models driving AI development, Asia's integrated industrial base across mainland China, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia enables rapid iteration and large-scale deployment of AI-enabled hardware, positioning the region favorably as the focus shifts to real-world applications.

Venture capitalist Jixun Foo emphasized that AI encompasses more than just software models, citing Asia's advantage in supply chains, hardware, and engineering capabilities. This advantage, rooted in Asia's deeply integrated industrial ecosystem, is seen as pivotal in accelerating the adoption of AI-driven hardware solutions. Reflecting the evolving landscape, investors are increasingly directing their attention towards application-layer companies capable of delivering tangible use cases and revenue, departing from a model-centric approach. By evaluating the transformative potential of AI across industries and its value creation, Foo underlined the importance of examining the entire AI ecosystem to unlock its full potential.

Stressing the strategic importance of Asia's AI advantage in supply chains and engineering capabilities, venture capitalist Jixun Foo emphasized the significance of real-world applications over theoretical models. By harnessing the region's strengths in hardware development and supply chain efficiency, Asia is poised to lead the AI race by spearheading innovations that translate AI technologies into practical solutions. With a focus on practical implementation and value creation, Asia's AI landscape is witnessing a shift towards application-driven investments, signaling a broader industry trend towards deploying AI in tangible, impactful ways.