Key facts
- Only 10% of Hong Kong firms have integrated generative AI across multiple business functions.
- About 21% of mainland Chinese enterprises have integrated generative AI across multiple business functions.
- Entrenched legacy systems and a risk-averse corporate mindset are slowing Hong Kong's digital transition.
- A Deloitte China and HKU AI Adoption Index 2026 survey found that 56% of organizations are in limited AI implementation.
- The same survey indicated that 23% of organizations report measurable financial impact from AI, with only 4% being transformational.
Hong Kong businesses are lagging behind their mainland Chinese counterparts in adopting artificial intelligence, primarily due to entrenched legacy systems and a cautious corporate culture, according to a report by consultancy Accenture. Only 10% of Hong Kong firms surveyed have integrated generative AI across multiple business functions, significantly lower than the approximately 21% of mainland Chinese enterprises that have done so.
A separate report by Deloitte China and the University of Hong Kong (HKU) highlights a similar challenge across China, where companies are struggling to translate AI ambition into measurable outcomes. This index, based on a survey of over 100 C-suite leaders, found that while confidence in AI's long-term potential is high, scalable results remain elusive. The primary barriers are identified as organizational issues such as siloed departments, cultural resistance, and poor data management, rather than technological limitations.
Accenture's research also indicates that while Chinese companies are accelerating AI adoption, only about 9% are realizing significant value in terms of productivity, revenue, or profitability. Many implementations remain shallow, with companies stuck in the tool application phase rather than achieving strategic integration. Despite these challenges, Chinese firms continue to invest heavily in digital transformation, with their Digital Transformation Index rising. Examples like Wuxi Lead Intelligent Equipment and Midea Group demonstrate successful AI deployment, achieving high defect detection accuracy and significant cost savings, respectively.