Friday saw a mostly downward trend in Asia-Pacific markets, influenced by concerns over artificial intelligence disruptions in the United States. These concerns contributed to the S&P 500 experiencing its third consecutive day of losses.

This year, certain segments of the U.S. stock market have been adversely affected by the introduction of AI technologies that threaten to replicate or undermine their business models and profit margins.

Specifically, shares in various trucking and logistics companies have fallen as fears mount that AI advancements could significantly reduce freight inefficiencies, potentially decreasing the demand for their services.

Additionally, real estate and financial sectors have suffered, with commercial real estate brokers seeing losses for the second day in a row.

Investors in Asia were watching for any spillover effects, though Taiwan — the most prominent market in the AI space — was closed for the Lunar New Year holiday.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was 1.02% down in early trade.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 lost 0.58%, after briefly touching 58,000 on Thursday. The Topix declined 0.58%. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.35%, while the small-cap Kosdaq retreated 1.36%.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index futures were at 26,703, lower than the index’s last close of 27,032.54.