BUSINESSES across Asia-Pacific (Apac) are stepping up investments in artificial intelligence (AI), with 80 percent of C-suite executives planning to increase spending on the technology over the next 12 months as they seek measurable returns and competitive gains.
More than half, or 53 percent, of Apac business leaders expect their AI investments to deliver quantifiable outcomes that can be reported to their boards within the next year, according to Accenture’s latest Pulse of Change research.
The findings come as businesses navigate slower growth expectations, inflation concerns and geopolitical uncertainty, increasing pressure on executives to demonstrate returns from technology investments.
While only 21 percent of executives said their organizations have already achieved widespread and sustained business value from AI, 65 percent said investments in agentic AI are generating
higher-than-expected returns in areas including productivity, decision-making, customer and employee experiences, innovation and risk management.
The figure reporting sustained AI value declined from 26 percent at the start of the year, underscoring the challenge companies face in moving from experimentation to broader, measurable business impact.
“Organizations are doubling down on AI because they recognize it is critical for competitive advantage and growth, and because they are seeing tangible results,” said Ryoji Sekido, Asia Pacific co-chief executive officer at Accenture.
Organizations generating the most value from AI are treating it as a strategic business transformation priority rather than solely as a technology initiative, while investing in talent, capabilities and operating models to sustain those gains, he said.
The push for AI investment is also reshaping the workforce, with companies facing persistent skills gaps and the need for new roles, reskilling programs and changes to how work is organized.
Employees surveyed reported increasingly positive experiences with AI. Some 82 percent said AI tools have increased their overall productivity, up sharply from 43 percent at the start of the year who said AI helped them work faster and more efficiently.
Meanwhile, 72 percent reported higher job satisfaction since AI tools were introduced.
However, the transition is creating concerns over responsibility for acquiring new skills. More than half, or 53 percent of employees said they believe they would be expected to reskill on their own if AI disrupted their roles.
Accenture surveyed 3,000 C-suite executives and 3,000 employees across 20 countries and 19 industries from April to June 2026. The Apac sample comprised 680 executives and 680 employees. / KOC