Analyses & Studies
Wavestone Global AI survey 2025
100% of companies polled in Singapore & Hong Kong report having deployed at least one AI solution — but do these initiatives scale effectively?
Wavestone's 2025 Global AI Survey, published in October 2025 provides a snapshot of how artificial intelligence is being adopted by companies in Singapore and Hong Kong. The findings reveal a sharp rise in investments and growing confidence in the expected benefits. Yet behind this optimism, often tinged with wishful thinking, lies a nuanced reality: most organizations still struggle to demonstrate tangible value creation. Many remain at early stages of maturity, experimenting without meaningfully transforming their models and processes.
Key takeaways
- AI is now a strategic imperative for companies, but actual maturity remains low.
- AI ROI is still largely unmeasured and unproven.
- Sovereignty is a stated priority but rarely put into practice.
- Deep transformation of processes and organizations lies ahead.
- The main risk for companies: investing without transforming and therefore generating no lasting value.
"In Singapore, AI is no longer a question of adoption: it’s a question of impact. Our survey shows that while nearly every organization has launched AI initiatives, only those that embed AI into their operating model and governance will unlock real value. The next frontier is not just deploying tools; it is building trust, scaling responsibly, and aligning transformation with Singapore’s unique ecosystem of innovation and regulatory expectations. Success here will come from combining ambition with disciplined execution and a strong local partnership mindset." Romain Gagliardi, Managing Director, Wavestone Singapore
Widespread AI adoption, but uneven maturity
Artificial intelligence has become a must for companies in Asia: all of them report having deployed at least one AI solution. Yet only 78% (HK) and 80% (SG) have truly embedded it at the core of their strategy. The gap between ambition and reality is also reflected in budgets: 26% (HK) and 28% (SG) of IT spending is currently allocated to AI — a strong signal, but still far from deep transformation.
Success often overestimated
While AI promises a structural overhaul of organizations, 61% (HK) and 63% (SG) of users impacted by an AI deployment have genuinely transformed the way they work. In most cases, benefits remain difficult to measure: few companies have robust ROI indicators, and the majority are still in the early stages of understanding AI’s transformative potential.
Foundations and sovereignty: between ambition and pragmatism
The most advanced organizations are investing in the invisible yet essential foundations for industrialized AI deployment: AI and data platforms, governance of models and use cases, data quality and security, and integration of AI into core processes. When it comes to technology choices, 84% (HK) and 74% (SG) of companies cite sovereignty as a strategic priority. But in practice, performance and cost remain the main decision drivers.
"The conclusions of Wavestone’s Global AI Survey 2025 resonate strongly with what we’ve observed in the field: AI maturity is growing fast, playing an important part in companies' business strategies. This is particularly true in Hong Kong and Singapore, where this rapid adoption - unhindered by regulatory constraints - is mirroring the dynamic pace seen in the U.S. What is critical for decision makers and organizations to understand from the survey is that sovereignty is a new concern. Also, while agentic AI experimentations are booming, moving to the next stage will require building operational foundations first." Jeanne Pigassou, AI & Cybersecurity Expert, Wavestone Hong Kong
Towards the era of agentic organizations
The rise of “agentic organizations” — where humans and intelligent agents collaborate daily — is reshaping expectations around AI. This shift opens significant opportunities, but also new risks: orchestrating multiple agents requires rethinking operating models, defining accountability frameworks, and implementing ethical safeguards. Many are rushing to adopt these technologies; few are truly ready to govern them.
The real challenge: proving value and scaling transformation
In 2025, the question will no longer be who is experimenting with AI, but who can demonstrate value, industrialize responsibly, and embed trust at the heart of transformation. Only then will AI become a true lever for sustainable competitiveness — rather than a mere expression of technological FOMO.
Read the full global report here
SOURCE: WAVESTONE
