In seconds, AI decides loans for street vendors in Ho Chi Minh City and Manila. Invisible algorithms unlock opportunity but shift power to distant servers. In Southeast Asia, financial inclusion flows with both promise and risk.
For years, global markets were dominated by narratives of American exceptionalism and the AI-driven rally on Wall Street. In 2025, however, the story changed. Asian markets broadly outperformed their Western counterparts, signaling a historic turning point. From sustained gains across equities to strategic shifts in investor sentiment, the region emerged as a central engine of global financial growth. For Altair Media Asia, understanding the forces behind this shift is crucial as we look toward 2026.
