{
  "id": 169485,
  "title": "AI moves beyond productivity to drive business growth, says expert",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/ai-moves-beyond-productivity-to-drive-business-growth-says-expert",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-05T10:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "VnExpress Business",
    "slug": "vnexpress-business",
    "url": "https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/ai-moves-beyond-productivity-to-drive-business-growth-says-expert-5105604.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a recent session focused on AI Infrastructure & Growth in APAC, leading experts Edmund Leong and John Kain discussed how AI is evolving beyond mere productivity to become a catalyst for business growth across ASEAN. Leong emphasized the importance of viewing AI not just as a technological advancement but as an economic growth opportunity. While many companies have focused on AI's productivity benefits, Leong highlighted its potential for driving revenue through innovation, personalization, and enhanced customer engagement.\n\nThe experts agreed that the primary challenge for organizations is not merely accessing AI technology but scaling it effectively to translate investments into measurable outcomes. This requires clear use cases, robust data foundations, workforce capabilities, and seamless integration into existing workflows and business models. As AI adoption accelerates, financial institutions are playing an increasingly crucial role as investors across the entire AI value chain, from semiconductors and memory chips to renewable energy and data centers.\n\nLeong noted that AI financing demand is emerging across a wide range of sectors, and financial institutions are increasingly serving as \"super-connectors of capital\" rather than just lenders. UOB, for example, supports clients at various stages of the AI value chain, from trade financing for equipment manufacturers to debt and equity capital raising for data center operators and infrastructure developers.\n\nKain echoed Leong's view, describing AI as a generational technology shift rather than just another software upgrade. AWS has committed $33 billion to expand cloud infrastructure across ASEAN through 2039, with the investment expected to contribute $65 billion to regional GDP and support approximately 53,000 jobs. Energy availability remains a critical challenge, with initiatives like the ASEAN Power Grid aimed at strengthening regional energy resilience and supporting future AI infrastructure growth.\n\nBoth experts stressed the importance of trust and governance as AI becomes increasingly data-driven. Responsible AI deployment requires strong safeguards around data integrity, cybersecurity, privacy, and regulatory compliance. As organizations become more data-driven, trust is expected to become a key competitive differentiator.\n\nWhile AI is not expected to replace workers, the speakers argued that it will augment human capabilities and create new opportunities across industries. Leong highlighted investments in energy, construction, semiconductors, and financial services as already generating demand across various sectors. Looking ahead, both Kain and Leong agreed that organizations will need to invest in both technology and people to fully capture AI's potential, moving beyond pilots to identify ways AI can enhance products, strengthen customer engagement, accelerate innovation, create new revenue streams, and open new markets.",
  "summary": "Artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving from a tool for improving efficiency into a broader driver of economic growth, creating opportunities across industries while reshaping investment and financing demand throughout ASEAN, speakers said at the ASEAN Conference 2026 on July 31 in Singapore.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}