A recent survey by IDC InfoBrief, commissioned by Expereo, highlights a significant trend in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region where enterprises are aggressively investing in artificial intelligence (AI) primarily due to the fear of missing out, rather than proven results. The survey, which included 800 technology leaders from APAC, Europe, and the US, found that 70% of organisations are motivated by AI’s potential or the fear of lagging behind competitors, yet many lack a disciplined approach to evaluating return on investment (ROI).
In APAC, the pressure to invest is particularly intense, with 37% of organisations admitting to aggressive AI investment with minimal evaluation—nearly double the global average. Countries like Australia and Vietnam are leading this trend, with 45% and 44% of organisations respectively acknowledging such investments. Despite the enthusiasm, only 19% of global organisations report that their AI implementations have exceeded expectations.
The survey identifies several challenges hindering AI success, including inadequate training data, higher-than-expected costs, and underperformance of AI systems. In APAC, 54% of organisations cite cost overruns as a significant issue, with Malaysia experiencing the highest impact at 80%.
Expereo’s CEO, Ben Elms, emphasises the importance of robust network infrastructure to support AI initiatives, stating, “AI only delivers on its promise when the infrastructure carrying it is built to support it.” The survey also notes that only 9% of APAC organisations feel their network infrastructure is fully prepared for AI, highlighting a critical area for improvement.
As AI adoption continues to rise, with 35% of APAC organisations reporting extensive use, the focus is shifting towards ensuring that underlying networks and infrastructure are capable of supporting AI at scale. Eric Wong, President of APAC at Expereo, notes that addressing these foundational issues early leads to stronger outcomes and faster operational impact.
The survey also raises concerns about the long-term risks of unchecked AI investment, with 54% of global tech leaders worried about new security risks and 39% concerned about losing track of AI-related costs and ROI. In APAC, digital sovereignty is becoming a strategic priority, with 38% of organisations rating it as a high concern amidst a complex regulatory landscape.
