The Velvet-Glove Disruptor
In a stunning display of high-tech innovation, a cutting-edge AI-powered robotic arm has revolutionized the rubber processing industry in Malaysia. Developed by a Chinese AI company, the robotic arm has enabled Seng Fong Holdings Berhad to automate more of the handling process, slashing labor costs by 20 to 30 percent while improving management efficiency.
But this is not just a local success story. The rise of AI-powered robotics is creating new pathways for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to go digital across the Asia-Pacific region. According to Yang Qian, co-founder and chief operating officer of X Square Robot, a Shenzhen-based embodied AI startup, AI-powered robotics are opening up new opportunities for SMEs to participate in technological innovation.
"What once required six months, costly computing power, and a professional team can now be done in three days with a workstation and an idea," Yang said. "This gives SMEs, for the first time, a more level playing field with industry giants in innovation."
The trend was reflected at the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting, held recently in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province. Officials from APEC economies gathered to explore how technological innovation can empower SMEs and drive their further development.
SMEs are a major pillar of the regional economy. As technological and industrial transformation accelerates and global supply chains undergo profound changes, AI and other emerging technologies are creating both new opportunities and new challenges for SMEs across the Asia-Pacific region.
Open-source technologies are further lowering the barriers to technology access and application, enabling more businesses to participate in technological innovation. This is particularly evident in China, where the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has released an action plan to support AI entrepreneurship among SMEs for 2026-28.
The plan aims to foster more than 10,000 technology-based and innovative SMEs, more than 2,000 "little giant" firms, as well as a number of gazelle companies and unicorns. It is also advancing the establishment of AI application cooperation centers with member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
These centers promote cross-border cooperation in large models, the data industry, and smart agriculture, bringing Chinese solutions together with local partners. China stands ready to work with all parties to help more SMEs thrive and grow, Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing said in a speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the meeting.
The rise of AI-powered robotics is just one example of the broader shift taking place across the Asia-Pacific region. As the trend continues to unfold, it is likely to have far-reaching implications for SMEs, industries, and economies across the region.
In the midst of this transformation, regional cooperation is crucial. Kwon Jong-hyun, vice-chairman of the Beijing Chapter of the World-OKTA, cited embodied intelligence as an example, saying China's strengths lie in scale and speed, while those of the Republic of Korea lie in precision and reliability.
Such cooperation is not simply about adding strengths together, but about multiplying their impact by combining complementary capabilities.
As the Asia-Pacific region continues to navigate the complexities of technological and industrial transformation, one thing is clear: AI-powered robotics are opening up new pathways for SMEs to go digital, and regional cooperation is crucial to unlocking their full potential.
Written by: Jony Spark | The Citizen Edition
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