HKT unveils business AI adoption survey findings at Tech Week 2026 Over 80% of enterprises surveyed plan to invest in AI in the coming year

HKT (SEHK: 6823) – HONG KONG, 21 July 2026 – HKT today unveiled the findings of its Hong Kong Business AI Adoption Survey at its five-day Tech Week 2026. Most surveyed respondents said they have already adopted or plan to implement AI, with more than 80% indicating they plan to invest in AI over the next 12 months, underscoring that AI adoption has become mainstream in the corporate sector.

 

Among the companies surveyed, 67% have implemented, are piloting or plan to use AI, with large enterprises showing the highest engagement at 79%. More than half cited improving overall operational efficiency as the primary objective for AI adoption, well ahead of other factors such as automating routine tasks (11%) and reducing costs (11%). While 82% of businesses said they have an AI investment plan in place for the next 12 months, nearly 70% stated that costs and return on investment (ROI) are considerations in deployment, reflecting their focus on quantifiable outcomes.

 

The survey also shows that Hong Kong businesses have begun adopting a wide range of AI solutions to drive business transformation. Among the most common are Chatbots and Virtual Assistants, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Generative AI and Agentic AI. Among businesses that have adopted AI, only 14% are using Agentic AI, while nearly 40% of large enterprises plan to adopt the solution in the future, roughly double the proportion among SMEs (19%).

 

Steve Ng, Managing Director of Commercial Group, HKT, said, “Most Hong Kong businesses have already adopted or are accelerating their implementation of AI to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen competitiveness. However, the survey also highlights that AI strategies vary by company size, and a single tool or solution cannot meet the diverse needs of different industries. With extensive systems integration experience and a robust partner ecosystem, HKT is well positioned to identify the most suitable AI solutions for businesses across different sectors and sizes, helping them deploy AI in real-world business scenarios and accelerate digital transformation.”

 

This year’s Tech Week 2026, themed “AI+, The Nexus of Transformation, Powering the Future Enterprise”, brings together leaders from government, academia, research institutions and industry to share the latest developments and insights in AI. The event explores how collaboration across government, industry, academia and the research community can accelerate Hong Kong’s innovation and technology development and boost business productivity. It also features a showcase of cutting-edge AI applications and announces the findings of the AI Adoption Survey.

 

Conducted in the first quarter of this year, the survey gathered responses via an online questionnaire from nearly 300 IT leaders and senior decision-makers across a broad range of industries, including both SMEs and large enterprises. The survey examines the extent of AI adoption, implementation areas and future development plans among businesses.