Currently, the global artificial intelligence (AI) industry is at a historic turning point: annual investment has exceeded $400 billion and is projected to cross the $4 trillion mark within the next five years. Based on in-depth tracking and full-sample analysis of nearly 6,000 AI startups worldwide, OxValue.ai and the Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CASISD) jointly released the Blue paper on AI Startup Value Creation (2025). The report reveals that the AI industry is undergoing a fundamental paradigm shift—a comprehensive transition from the “Wow Factor” of early technical validation to the “Utility Factor” driven by commercial scalability. However, this transition is taking place within a highly polarized global landscape. Currently, high-income countries account for 86% of global AI startups and 91% of venture capital, while low- and middle-income countries (excluding China and India) contribute less than 1% to global AI startup financing and notable model development. This concentration poses a fundamental challenge to inclusive global trade and development, potentially not only exacerbating the existing digital divide but also creating new barriers that hinder sustainable global economic development.