Asia’s AI playbook gets a reality check as the Iran war sends energy prices higher and snarls supply chains

The global AI boom has bolstered economic fortunes across Asia, lifting Korean chipmakers, Southeast Asian data center operators, Chinese AI startups and Japanese component-makers alike.

Even the worst Middle Eastern conflict in decades isn’t slowing things down. This week, Microsoft promised to invest $5.5 billion in cloud and AI infrastructure in Singapore, and an additional $1 billion into Thailand over the next few years.

But the Iran war may ultimately force Asia to revisit its AI playbook...