China’s Next AI Breakthrough – Physical AI
China's $138 billion government investment in Physical AI and claimed 70% global market share in embodied robotics positions it as a formidable force reshaping Southeast Asia's technological landscape. Chinese companies like Unitree are delivering cost-effective humanoid robots and industrial automation systems that could accelerate regional adoption while potentially displacing local manufacturers. For SEA, this presents both opportunities—access to affordable AI robotics for manufacturing and agriculture—and challenges, as regional economies must compete with China's state-backed AI ecosystem while developing their own indigenous capabilities to avoid technological dependence.
