KUALA LUMPUR: Artificial intelligence (AI) companies are stepping up their global expansion as governments and industries ramp up investments in AI infrastructure, automation and intelligent systems, fuelling rapid growth across key markets. The United States remains the world's largest AI market, driven by major technology companies, cloud computing providers, generative AI platforms and semiconductor demand. The US AI market is estimated to exceed US$100 billion in 2025 and is expected to expand significantly over the coming decade. China ranks as the second-largest AI market, supported by strong government initiatives, a vast digital economy and widespread AI adoption across manufacturing, smart cities and industrial applications. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific is emerging as one of the fastest-growing AI regions, with adoption accelerating in manufacturing, financial services, healthcare and logistics. The Middle East, particularly the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, is also positioning itself as a strategic AI hub, committing billions of dollars to AI infrastructure, data centres and sovereign AI capabilities. Against this backdrop, AI firm Robo.ai is expanding its presence in the Middle East through its proposed Abu Dhabi-headquartered subsidiary, Alif Holding, an intelligent industrial technology group focused on AI-powered solutions for critical industries. Robo.ai has appointed former Interpol president Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi as chairman of Alif Holding, strengthening the group's corporate governance, security framework and compliance oversight as it develops AI systems for government and mission-critical applications. Alif Holding will develop, integrate and manufacture AI systems in the UAE through two core platforms — intelligent software and intelligent equipment. Its solutions will target strategic sectors including energy, oil and gas, ports, public safety, utilities, mining, transportation, smart cities and critical infrastructure. The group is positioning itself as a provider of secure, reliable and government-grade AI solutions, with technology built on open architecture principles and aligned with the UAE National Strategy