Accenture shares findings on APAC’s responsible AI readiness

Accenture leaders shared their latest research on the present and future state of AI adoption in the Asia-Pacific region. 

Ryoji Sekido, the CEO of Asia Oceania at Accenture, began by discussing AI’s rising disruption in APAC with these key trends among companies: 

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• 91% have witnessed more than two types of transformation in the past three years
• 95% will use AI agents in the next three years. 
• 13% gain significant value from their AI investments.

“I can see a lot of scalable [AI] transformation in the region,” Sekido said.

Accenture explains how APAC can boost AI readiness

He cited his home country, Japan, as an example. Due to its aging population, it needs to “completely reimagine its business models, cost models, and work style to the new business.” 

Sekido explains Accenture works with over 30,000 salespeople in Japan to “jointly develop AI sales agents and improve their productivity.”

More importantly, Sekido says APAC must address the essentials to scaling AI: 

• Technology: Companies must build a “digital core” by improving their technologies. Nowadays, 30% of APAC leaders cite data and tech limitations as the main challenges in scaling AI. 
• Talent: APAC must reinvent its workforce, especially since organizations worldwide typically spend 3x more on technology than talent. 
• Trust: 78% of APAC Chief Experience Officers (CXOs) say AI’s full potential depends on a strong foundation of trust. 

Next, Senthil Ramani, Accenture’s Global Lead for Data & AI, listed the top 10 industries that adopt artificial intelligence: 

1. Banking
2. Communications and media
3. Software and platforms
4. Insurance
5. Public service
6. Consumer goods and services
7. Life sciences
8. Retail
9. Utilities
10. Industrial

Next, Ramani explained the impact of AI agents, which are AI systems that perform tasks autonomously. 

He says they reduce the marginal cost of intelligence and action to “practically zero,” especially with the rise of DeepSeek.

This Chinese AI model inspired tech firms to launch their own affordable options. As a result, smaller firms could have several proprietary AI agents that can work together.

Such agents are called collaborative AI agents, and they can form the digital brain or “core” of an AI-ready company.

Lastly, Vivek Luthra, Accenture’s APAC Lead, listed the five priorities for responsible AI: 

1. Establish AI governance and principles
2. Conduct AI risk assessments
3. Systemic establishment of responsible AI testing
4. Ongoing monitoring and compliance
5. Workforce impact, sustainability, privacy, and security

 Learn more AI trends at Inquirer Tech.