09-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Chinese AI stocks to extend DeepSeek-driven run as Beijing counts on growth boost
Chinese
artificial intelligence (AI) stocks are expected to defy a slowdown across industries, as the mainland relies on the technology to boost business efficiency and revive economic growth, according to investors and analysts.
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Companies including
Meituan and
Xiaomi were set to benefit from a wave of AI integration that would transform business models, according to Morgan Stanley, as investors look for new winners after
DeepSeek's breakthrough in generative AI technology. China Asset Management, one of the mainland's biggest mutual-fund firms, said last month that the country's AI adoption – estimated at 5 per cent penetration at present – was on the cusp of explosive growth, similar to personal computers in the 1980s.
'AI will probably become a key driver for China's modernisation,' said Yao Pei, an analyst at Huachuang Securities, in a report this month. 'There are lots of catalysts for AI, and AI is expected to penetrate into every industry,' notably electronics, computing and media, Yao said.
DeepSeek's surprising ascent earlier this year put China's technology stocks back into the spotlight, spurring optimism that the country would be able to lead the world in AI in spite of US export curbs. Investors are identifying new prospects in the industry after making bets on platform-based developers of large language models such as
Alibaba Group Holding and
Tencent Holdings . Alibaba owns the Post.
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Unlike the US, which had an edge in AI computing, China was focused on efficiency – emphasising revenue generated by AI-enabled offerings and cost savings achieved through high productivity, the US investment bank said.