Multinational companies have expanded their use of AI and robotics in China to survive “life or die” competition in the world’s second-largest consumer goods market, where local rivals have sharpened their edge and shoppers often switch between brands for better value, analysts said. L’Oréal, for example, has accelerated its deployment of artificial intelligence and automation to support its growing e-commerce footprint and operational needs. After launching a smart operations centre in Suzhou,...