On August 13, 2026, Chinese media outlet Reference News, based on an article titled "Why Asia is More Enthusiastic About AI Than the West" from the English-language web media "The Diplomat," introduced the differences in thinking between Asians and Westerners regarding artificial intelligence (AI).

The article stated, "According to a survey conducted by market research firm Ipsos in '25, over 80% of respondents in Southeast Asian countries said that AI would significantly change their lives in the future. Additionally, 84% of Chinese respondents said they were very interested in services and products using AI. In India, 65% of respondents, and in South Korea, 69% of respondents held a similar view to China, whereas in the United States, Canada, the UK, and France, this figure was less than 40%. This data indicates that people in non-Western regions are more enthusiastic about AI than those in Western countries."

Furthermore, it mentioned, "The same survey also revealed Japan's unique situation." It introduced, "While 46% of Japanese respondents said they were very interested in services and products using AI, a survey by the U.S. Pew Research Center showed that 28% of Japanese respondents were concerned about AI. Similar responses were 19% in India and 16% in South Korea, whereas in the United States, about half of the respondents expressed concern."

The article posed the question, "There seems to be a clear difference in views on AI between Asians (or people from non-Western regions) and Westerners. Why are Asians more enthusiastic about AI than Westerners?" and listed three reasons.

The first reason was "the greater positive impact on improving people's lives in Asia compared to potential negative effects." It stated, "AI plays an important role in regions where the standards of education, administration, and professional services are below average. For example, in many Indian villages, due to teacher shortages and other reasons, one teacher has to instruct many students with varying aptitudes. By utilizing AI, it becomes possible to provide instruction tailored to each student's aptitude."

The second reason was "because many Asians believe that the advancement of science and technology, including AI, is the key to national development and creating a better future," noting that this trend is particularly strong in China.

The third reason was "the difference in thinking stemming from traditional Asian philosophy and the religions of Western countries." It pointed out, "In the traditional religions of Western countries, humanity is placed above God's creations (animals, plants, tools, etc.). From this worldview, many people see AI and robots as a threat or competitor, feeling that human uniqueness is threatened by machines that mimic human thought processes. This is not the case in Asia. It seems that people there believe AI has benefits that far outweigh its drawbacks, is controllable, integrable into social development, and will become a technology that brings benefits to both individuals and the nation." (Translation/Editing by Harakuni-yuki)