DAVOS – At the 2025 Summer Davos forum, artificial intelligence emerged as the defining theme, with Frontiers CEO Frederick Fenter delivering a stark yet pragmatic message: "People who use AI effectively are going to replace people who do not." The declaration came during a high-stakes discussion about Asia’s accelerating role in global technological transformation.
Fenter highlighted AI’s capacity to unlock scientific insights at unprecedented speeds, particularly in fields like biotechnology and green energy – sectors critical to Asia’s economic ambitions. "We’re witnessing knowledge become scalable solutions," he noted, pointing to AI-driven breakthroughs in Chinese mainland semiconductor research and India’s renewable energy sector.
For business leaders and investors, Fenter’s warning carries urgent implications. As Southeast Asian startups leverage AI for supply chain optimization and Japanese firms automate advanced manufacturing, adaptation becomes non-negotiable. Academics emphasized the need for workforce upskilling programs across Asia’s major economies to maintain competitive advantage.
