Geopolitics and AI demand a new industrial strategy
By Wei Yao, Global Chief Economist and Head of APAC Research at Societe Generale
Global tensions and artificial intelligence are the forces of our age. Reindustrialisation must be the response.
The future of the global economy is becoming ever more dependent on two powerful forces: geopolitics and artificial intelligence (AI).
Geopolitical frictions – most recently the conflict in the Gulf, but before that the rewiring of the global trade and tariff landscape – are challenging the model of supply chains built for high efficiency, low latency and low redundancy.
AI, meanwhile, promises a productivity upside, but the timeline and magnitude of that promise remain uncertain. The build-out is well under way: chips, data centres, power grids, cooling systems, talent and capital are being mobilised on an unprecedented scale.
These two forces each have distinct implications for the global economy.... click here to read full article.
This article is based on insights shared during Wei Yao's panel discussion at our 2026 Global Markets Conference Singapore.
For videos and additional perspectives from the 2026 Global Markets Conference, Singapore, visit our Content Hub.
By Wei Yao, Global Chief Economist and Head of APAC Research at Societe Generale
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