The Role of AI in Enhancing Start-Up Scalability: A Comparative Study between China and Southeast Asia

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies evolved quickly to reshape various sectors including entrepreneurship during the past years. The paper examines AI-based start-up scalability through a comparative research approach focused on China and Southeast Asian markets. This research evaluates the performance effects of AI implementation when start-ups from these regions need to expand their markets and gain competitive advantages while improving operational efficiency. This paper utilizes previous empirical findings and literature research to examine three critical factors which include leadership practices and cultural aspects and technological adoption behavior patterns. The paper builds its theoretical foundation through major literary references which include Lai and Chok (2022) as they researched how leadership elements with business venture culture components help stakeholders analyze strategic choices in start-ups. The research conducted by Chok and Lai (2022) which utilizes Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) provides essential determinants for understanding start-ups that deploy AI within their human resource management systems. This research adopts the findings from Chok and Lai’s (2022) work on crisis consumer behavior to understand how artificial intelligence market approaches handle shifting customer behavior. The Lai, Law, Low and Lai (2020) research examines personality characteristics that influence entrepreneurial self-efficacy because this establishes fundamental understanding of human behavior during AI adoption in entrepreneurial contexts.