A growing number of Chinese businesses are accelerating their adoption of AI after realizing the technology’s transformative potential, driven by competitive pressure rather than gradual innovation. One entrepreneur in the education sector credits a recent shift in mindset—sparked by clients already turning to AI-powered tools for insights—with forcing his company to integrate AI or risk falling behind. Beijing’s push for AI adoption reflects a broader strategy balancing speed and security, contrasting with Western concerns over unchecked acceleration. The trend underscores how AI is reshaping industries by altering how companies and consumers interact, even in traditionally cautious markets.
Beijing believes slowdown calls aim to lock in US advantage, and is pursuing a different balance between safety and paceAbout two years ago, education entrepreneur Boris But had what he calls a “penny-drop moment” – that, like countless others in China, his company needed to embrace AI before it was made obsolete by it.His clients, well-off parents looking to send their children to study overseas, had begun arriving in his office reeling off information and opinions gleaned not from rival firms, but from chatbots. Continue reading...
