Business leaders in the Asia-Pacific region are increasing their investments in artificial intelligence (AI) in 2026, even as a gap grows between executive expectations and employee readiness, according to new research from Accenture.
The Accenture Pulse of Change report, a quarterly survey of C-suite executives, found that 75% of business leaders in the region expect a higher level of change this year, and 88% anticipate strong revenue growth in both domestic and international markets.
“The generally positive outlook is reflected in hiring plans, with 71% saying that they intend to increase their workforce,” the report said.
Most organizations (86%) expect to increase AI investments in 2026, and 65% of executives believe AI will substantially or completely transform their business models and processes. Leaders also see AI as a bigger driver of revenue growth than cost reduction, with 76% saying it adds more value to revenue. The top 3 areas where executives expect AI to have the most impact are product and service innovation, revenue growth or new market opportunities, and operational efficiency.
Almost all organizations (96%) are already experimenting with, piloting, or deploying AI agents to improve business processes.
The report highlights a growing divide between executives and employees on AI adoption. While 78% of executives believe AI creates business impact, only 59% of employees agree.
“When it comes to scaling AI, investing in a strong data and technology foundation remains the most important priority for more than 60% of executives,” the report said. Less than 30% of executives consider helping their workforce adapt to AI as a top priority.
Although 94% of executives believe their workforce has the foundational training needed to use AI efficiently, only 69% of employees agree, and just 32% say they can confidently use AI tools.