How Asia Is Rising as an AI Superpower
The So What from BCG · Boston Consulting Group BCG
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Show Notes
AI innovation no longer flows in one direction. Jeff Walters, who leads the AI topic in Asia Pacific, explains why companies across China, India, and Southeast Asia are moving at speed—and in some cases pulling ahead. For CEOs, the real differentiator isn’t geography. It’s leadership ambition, organizational change, and the willingness to rethink knowledge work from the ground up.
Learn more: Jeff Walters, Managing Director & Senior Partner, https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/jeff-walters
AI at Work: Is Asia Pacific Leading the Way? https://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/ai-at-work-is-asia-pacific-leading-the-way
The Widening AI Value Gap, https://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/are-you-generating-value-from-ai-the-widening-gap
Latest Thinking on AI, https://www.bcg.com/capabilities/artificial-intelligence/insights
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:59 AI Evolution Across Asia
03:15 Factors Driving AI Adoption in Asia
04:20 How Do AI Attitudes Differ Globally?
06:00 CEOs’ Priorities to Unlock Value from AI
08:45 Asia’s AI Role vs. Silicon Valley
10:03 Information Asymmetry in AI: East vs. West
10:58 What to Learn from Asia’s AI Ecosystems
11:49 Which Asian Sectors Are Deploying AI Fastest?
13:36 What Are Dark Factories–and Why Do They Matter?
14:04 Who Will Lead AI Transformation over the Next Decade?
15:35 Why Is AI Adoption Slower in Some Asia Pacific Markets?
16:26 Asia Pacific Innovation by Region
17:30 Which Sectors Lead AI Transformation?
19:52 What Steps Should Leaders Take to Accelerate AI Impact?
21:47 The "Now What"
22:35 Outro (edited)
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