Sarawak Advances AI, Digital Tech to Strengthen Economy Amid Global Uncertainty

Global AI development and adoption reveal significant regional disparities and strategic divergences that impact economic growth and technological leadership. Sarawak aims to strengthen its economy by embracing AI and digital technologies as part of its vision to become the 'Battery of Asia' by 2035, with substantial investments from global tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and others expected to boost local growth and job creation. Meanwhile, the U.S. and China pursue contrasting AI strategies, with the U.S. focusing on highly advanced, compute-intensive AI models and China prioritizing scalable, resource-efficient AI systems to rapidly expand influence, especially in emerging markets. Europe's tech industry, particularly in countries like Italy, faces challenges including underinvestment, digital skill gaps, and an inferiority complex that limits risk-taking and innovation, contributing to its slower AI adoption compared to the U.S. and China. Italy, for example, shows only 8% enterprise AI usage, with significant regional digital divides and economic headwinds exacerbated by youth emigration. These dynamics underscore how AI and digital transformation are reshaping economic and geopolitical power structures globally.