Hong Kong lags in AI readiness among 30 global markets, survey shows
News Summary
A survey by US tech infrastructure and software company Cisco, conducted in August and released on Wednesday, found Hong Kong to be the least ready to fully adopt artificial intelligence (AI) in workplaces among 30 global markets. Only about 2% of organizations surveyed in the city were considered “pacesetters”—companies outperforming peers in AI adoption—compared to 13% globally. The study surveyed over 8,000 senior IT and business leaders responsible for AI strategy across 26 industries. The report highlighted that nearly 99% of pacesetters had a defined AI roadmap, in contrast to just 32% of all organizations surveyed in Hong Kong. Pacesetters were more likely to expand AI use, make AI their top investment priority, invest in new data-centre capacity, track AI investment impact, and were highly aware of AI-related security threats. Cisco executives expressed being “somewhat surprised” by Hong Kong’s low readiness, noting that emerging economies like Indonesia and Thailand showed
Background
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a crucial driver for global economic growth and corporate competitiveness, with governments and businesses worldwide racing to invest in AI technologies for digital transformation and efficiency gains. Cisco, a leading global networking equipment and software company, conducts AI readiness surveys that serve as important benchmarks for assessing the state of AI adoption across global markets. In 2025, the world is undergoing profound changes driven by AI technological innovation, with industries exploring AI's potential to enhance operations, customer experience, and product innovation. Hong Kong, as an international financial hub, has long been known for its efficient market mechanisms and advanced infrastructure. However, similar to other major economies, it faces continuous challenges in maintaining its competitive edge, particularly in rapidly evolving technological sectors. Cisco's survey introduces the concept of “AI infrastructure debt,” referring to technical and digital shortcomings accumulated through compromises, deferred upgrades, and underfunded architecture that hamper companies' transformation efforts in the AI era.
In-Depth AI Insights
What does Hong Kong's lagging AI readiness imply for its long-term competitiveness as an international financial hub? - Hong Kong's significant lag in AI readiness could signal severe challenges to its future competitiveness as an international financial and business center. AI's application is increasingly critical in Hong Kong's pillar industries like financial services, trade, and logistics. If businesses cannot effectively integrate AI, it will erode their operational efficiency, innovation capacity, and global appeal. - This is not merely a technical issue; it more profoundly reflects potential shortcomings in Hong Kong's overall ecosystem, including talent development, policy support, data governance, and corporate culture towards adopting emerging technologies. Compared to regional rivals like Singapore, which are actively pursuing AI strategies, Hong Kong's attractiveness might be impacted. What are the risks and opportunities for investors considering technology or transformation-related investments in Hong Kong, given the