AI will rapidly restructure the landscape and models of all industries. This was the key takeaway from the webinar, “Digital Resilience: AI and China’s Digitalization in a Fractured World”, held on July 1, 2025, and organised by Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) in partnership with Asia House. Marking the launch of CKGSB’s new white paper, China and the Global AI Race, the event brought together global experts to explore how businesses can lead in an AI-driven and geopolitically complex world.
In his keynote speech, Professor Sun Tianshu, Dean’s Distinguished Chair Professor of Information Systems and Director of the Center for Digital Transformation at CKGSB, shared how businesses have entered the “second half” of the AI era – where the challenge is no longer access to technology, but how to integrate it strategically. CEOs, he said, must become “AI Architects” – leaders who can rebuild their businesses around AI. With tools like DeepSeek and AI-integrated platforms such as WeChat already transforming how over a billion users work and shop, Professor Sun stressed the need for businesses to move fast – or risk falling behind.
Professor Teng Bingsheng, Professor of Strategic Management and Associate Dean for Strategic Research at CKGSB shared insights on how China’s open-source large language models like DeepSeek, have enabled rapid AI development despite chip constraints. However, he cautioned that firms must shift from model-building to execution. Professor Teng also noted that there has been a rapid dissemination of AI globally and more Chinese companies are reaping these opportunities.
During the panel discussion moderated by Ji Bo, Chief Representative of CKGSB Europe, panellists shared insights on how AI is reshaping industries and legal landscapes across regions. Alex Roberts from Linklaters highlighted regulatory divergence across the US, EU, and China, stressing the need to tackle these environments by forming strategic partnerships. Miguel Martins da Silva, Chief Supply Offer at Dr. Max and alumnus of CKGSB’s Asia Start program, shared insights on cross-border M&A in Asia’s tech sector, emphasising the importance of conducting due diligence beyond financial metrics. Speaking on the panel, Professor Teng added that Western tech firms must carefully evaluate the suitability of their technologies when forming partnerships in China.
Anita Huang, Co-founder of AI start-up 01.AI, then explored how Chinese firms are scaling AI from proof-of-concept to enterprise-wide deployment. She shared how legal teams are using AI to draft documents, freeing up teams to be more productive and efficient. Huang praised China’s engineering-driven model for translating advanced technology into practical solutions, accelerated by tech giants like Alibaba.
Ira Zaka, Associate Director of Global Marketing Communications at CKGSB, closed the event by officially launching CKGSB’s white paper.
Moderated by Charlie Humphreys, Director of Corporate Affairs at Asia House, the webinar was attended by over 200 business leaders, academics and policy experts from Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Read the full CKGSB’s white paper HERE:
