Reference data, page 2 of 2
29th Global CEO Survey, Asia Pacific
PwC asked 1,766 Asia Pacific chief executives what AI has returned. These are the numbers, with nothing added and nothing charted.
The first page holds Deloitte’s enterprise numbers. Revenue gains and cost reductions from AI appear on both.
PwC
29th Global CEO Survey, Asia Pacific
Published 20 January 2026.
| Publisher | PwC |
|---|---|
| Sample, Asia Pacific | 1,766 Asia Pacific CEOs |
| Sample, global | 4,454 chief executives |
| Countries | 95 countries and territories |
| Seniority | Chief executives only |
| Published | 20 January 2026 |
| Collection | Self-reported survey responses |
What AI has returned
Asia Pacific CEOs, past 12 months.
| AI drove additional revenues in the past 12 monthsGlobal figure 30% | 39% |
| Seeing tangible cost reductions from AI | 26% |
| Achieving both revenue and cost gains at once | 15% |
| Report little to no financial upside at all | 50% |
“Attention is now shifting from proof of concept to proof of value, moving from experimentation to business-led, top-down adoption tied directly to growth. A shift from ‘doing things differently’, to doing entirely different things, such as rethinking business models and new value streams altogether.”
PwC, 29th Global CEO Survey, Asia Pacific, January 2026.
AI foundations
Seven core areas: culture, technology environment, strategy and AI roadmap, Responsible AI, talent, investment, data.
| Strong AI foundations across at least six of seven core areasThe remaining 74% are capable in parts, not enterprise wide | 26% |
| Culture, technology environment, strategy and AI roadmapAll three score above this | 60%+ |
| Formalised Responsible AI and risk processes | 54% |
| Ability to attract technical AI talent | 54% |
| Sufficient investment | 49% |
| Data accessThe lowest scoring foundation | 31% |
“The remaining 74% are building in pockets, capable in parts but not yet set up to consistently turn AI into enterprise-wide impact.”
“Many organisations score well on intent-led enablers such as culture, technology environment and strategy/AI roadmap, all over 60%. But fewer have the practical foundations that convert adoption into sustained value.”
“The low score for data access is a clear constraint. Understanding what data exists, its quality, and whether it’s fit for AI use is fundamental. Without it, AI can’t deliver meaningful value, regardless of intent or investment.”
Organisations score well on intent led enablers and less well on the practical foundations that convert adoption into value.
What readiness is worth
Outcomes for organisations with strong foundations against those without.
| Report revenue growth from AI, strong foundationsAgainst 30% where foundations are limited | 62% |
| Report cost reductions from AI, strong foundationsAgainst 20% where foundations are limited | 39% |
“The message is simple. Value follows readiness.”
PwC, 29th Global CEO Survey, Asia Pacific, January 2026.
Expected employment levels
How will AI adoption change your employment levels over the next three years?
| Expect junior employee numbers to decreaseAs AI automates routine, entry level tasks | 45% |
| Expect junior employee numbers to increaseA clear divergence in how organisations view early career work | 38% |
| Expect mid level employee numbers to increase | 46% |
| Expect little to no change at mid level | 33% |
“Future junior roles are likely to place greater emphasis on curiosity, critical thinking and problem-solving, with technical execution increasingly handled by AI.”
PwC, 29th Global CEO Survey, Asia Pacific, January 2026.
Confidence
How confident are you about revenue growth?
| Very or extremely confident in revenue growth, next 12 monthsDown from 34% in 2025. Global figure 30% | 21% |
| Very or extremely confident in revenue growth, next 3 years | 51% |
| Expect global economic conditions to improve in the next 12 months | 59% |
Showing very and extremely confident only.
Risk exposure
How exposed will your company be to these threats in the next 12 months?
| Cyber risksGlobal figure 31%. The only region where cyber clearly surpasses all other threats | 39% |
| Inflation | 33% |
| Macroeconomic volatility | 33% |
| Technological disruption | 32% |
| Availability of key skills | 28% |
| Geopolitical risk | 26% |
| Tariffs | 24% |
| Climate change | 17% |
| Social inequality | 11% |
“The signal is clear: risk in Asia Pacific isn’t narrowing; it’s broadening. CEOs are navigating a more complex, more interconnected threat landscape, where resilience depends on managing multiple pressures at once.”
Showing highly and extremely exposed only. Technological disruption and availability of key skills were not asked in 2024. Tariffs were not asked in 2024 or 2025.
Capital and reinvention
Investment plans and moves beyond the core industry.
| Plan at least one major acquisition in the next three yearsDown from 54% last year | 28% |
| Have no plans for international investment in the next 12 monthsUp from 44% last year | 60% |
| Plan to grow beyond their traditional industry boundaries | 37% |
| Say more than 10% of revenue over five years came from new sectors | 61% |
| Expect little to no change to net profit margin from tariffs | 51% |
PwC, 29th Global CEO Survey, Asia Pacific, January 2026.
What PwC argue
“Above all, leadership binds these foundations together. Culture may be seen as supportive, but permission matters. In hierarchical environments, people need explicit encouragement to use AI as part of their work.”
Quoted from PwC, spelling and punctuation left as published.
Before you compare these to the Deloitte numbers
Both reports ask about revenue gains and cost reductions from AI, so the measures look like a pair. They are not quite.
- PwC asked chief executives only. Deloitte asked directors through to board, half of them IT leaders.
- PwC is Asia Pacific. Deloitte is 24 countries aggregated, with no region reported separately.
- PwC asked about the past 12 months. Deloitte asked what has been achieved, with no window stated.
- The fieldwork is roughly four months apart, and PwC published in January 2026 against Deloitte fieldwork closing in September 2025.
You can still average them. Just say out loud what you averaged, and never present the result as one measurement.