Core Viewpoint - Southeast Asia is emerging as an investment hotspot for AI, yet local startups are failing to capitalize on this opportunity, leading to skepticism about the region's ability to compete with global leaders like the US and China [2][5][12]. Investment Landscape - Southeast Asia's AI startups have attracted only 20 billion [3][4]. - In 2024, the region recorded only 122 AI financing deals compared to 1,845 in the Asia-Pacific [3]. - The overall venture capital landscape in Southeast Asia is affected by a lack of exit opportunities, exacerbated by a weak IPO market, leading to a predicted drop in private financing to historical lows [8][15]. Market Potential - The region has over 2,000 AI startups, surpassing South Korea and nearly matching Japan and Germany, with Singapore ranking third in the global AI index [6]. - Despite the slow development of the AI sector, the overall digital economy in Southeast Asia is experiencing double-digit growth, supported by a growing middle class and increasing internet users [16]. Challenges - The diversity in language, culture, and infrastructure complicates the creation of large unified datasets, which are essential for AI solutions [7]. - Investors are cautious about betting on unproven entities, as the region has yet to demonstrate the ability to produce scalable innovative companies [12][14]. Collaborative Efforts - Local governments are actively developing national AI frameworks, with Singapore providing funding for industry startups [15]. - There is a call for greater collaboration among stakeholders, including regulators, governments, buyers, suppliers, and consumers, to foster a supportive ecosystem for AI development [10]. Successful Examples - Successful AI startups, such as Patsnap Pte, are leveraging large datasets to train industry-specific large language models, indicating potential pathways for growth in the sector [17].
深度｜东南亚有600亿美元AI市场，但其已错失良机
Z Potentials·2024-12-21 11:29