BEYOND Expo 2025, heralded as one of Asia's largest innovation and sustainability events, officially commenced on Wednesday in the Macao Special Administrative Region of China. This year's expo attracted over 800 global enterprises, reflecting the growing significance of technological advancements and sustainability in the global marketplace.

The expo prominently showcased groundbreaking developments in key technological domains such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), extended reality (XR), robotics, smart mobility, and sports technology. A highlight of the event was the AI Summit, which took place on Friday, bringing together experts and industry leaders to delve into AI's evolving role and China's expanding influence in the global tech arena.

During his keynote address, Zack Kass, former head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI, emphasized that human accuracy in various real-world scenarios often falls short when compared to AI capabilities. He pointed out that future success in the tech landscape will hinge not merely on research and development but significantly on the practical adoption of AI across industries, particularly by small and medium enterprises. Kass stated that the true measure of success resides in how seamlessly AI integrates into everyday business operations.

Mike Cai, former chairman of Meitu, urged entrepreneurs to reassess their existing operational models in light of AI's rapid evolution. Cai suggested that much of the conventional wisdom currently held by businesses might be based on flawed premises, advocating for a bold reevaluation and reset of outdated frameworks to embrace the potential of AI.

Chen Yu, a partner at Yunqi Capital, contributed to the conversation by discussing the typical hype cycle prevalent in the tech industry. He drew parallels between current interests in embodied AI and earlier trends like autonomous vehicles and large language models. Yu argued that while each wave of innovation may give rise to speculative bubbles, these cycles are vital for funding the experimentation that in turn catalyzes the creation of future industry leaders.

Beyond insightful discussions, the expo effectively highlighted China's robust technological capabilities. Innovations showcased included AI-powered healthcare solutions and smart city platforms, underscoring Beijing's ambition to position itself at the forefront of global technological advancement. The event also served as a platform for fostering cross-border collaboration among key players from Silicon Valley, Europe, and Asia, thus elevating Macao's status as an emerging global tech hub.