Australia and New Zealand are behind in the implementation of generative AI solutions and pilots.
Adobe’s Digital Trends 2024 Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) report examined brands across the region that are leading other geographies in generative AI deployment and are set to make major near-term organisational changes to scale up adoption.
ANZ reported a 50% rate of formal implementation rate in the APJ region in contrast to Japan with the highest deployment rate at 82%. Meanwhile, India and Asia both recorded 72%.
According to executives among APJ brands, almost two in three (65%) have implemented full or initial AI solutions and pilots, making them further along than peers in the US (61%) and Europe (55%).
Stage of generative AI adoption within the organisation according to senior executives (evaluation vs implementation of full or initial solutions/pilots)
However, while executives are confident their generative AI rollouts are advancing to plan, many day-to-day users hold a different view.
Across APJ, just 4% of executives say their organisation doesn’t have a formal generative AI adoption strategy, which rises substantially among practitioners. ANZ has a significant gap where only 3% of executives concede there in no formal strategy compared to 21% of practitioners.
Agree that no formal generative AI adoption strategy exists (senior executives vs practitioners)
Duncan Egan, vice president digital experience marketing Asia Pacific and Japan, Adobe said the disconnect can stem from viewing generative AI through a different lens.
“For some senior executives, adoption can be as simple as signing a vendor contract, while practitioners are likely better acquainted with the realities of having the right data, tools and training. However, we expect this disconnect to narrow in 2024, with brands poised to strengthen organisational readiness for generative AI deployment.”
The report confirms that among APJ brands, generative AI integration is the digital initiative most likely to support growth in 2024. As a result, most brands are developing guidelines for responsible use of AI (73%) and aligning a comprehensive AI roadmap with broader business goals (71%).
“Generative AI offers a clearer path to unify data, predict customer needs, and deliver more relevant and time-critical content. However, the study shows that despite widespread adoption intentions, only some brands are recalibrating to seize these benefits, putting them ahead in the race for consumer loyalty, conversion, and trust,” Egan said.
Brands to adapt organisation structures, skills and data capabilities for AI era
Brands anticipate significant changes to operating models and organisational structures to support generative AI adoption. Across APJ, the majority intend to reorganise teams and functions to accommodate AI usage, which is highest in Asia (80%) and India (74%), followed by ANZ (67%). While plans to introduce AI leadership roles are high across the regions (India at 78%, Asia at 73%, ANZ at 64% and Japan at 60%).
Changes to organisational structures expected by mid-to-end of 2024 to support generative AI adoption
Executives are also prioritising initiatives to help employees upskill and provide clear guardrails for using generative AI. The top-rated is advanced AI skills training for key staff (47%), followed by policies for ethical and secure generative AI usage (45%).
Over two-thirds of APJ brands also believe that generative AI will transform data analytics and management more than any other part of the organisation. They also recognise that data capabilities and governance are cornerstone capabilities, with most planning to increase investment in customer data management in 2024. Within APJ, this is highest in India (75%).
Sub-regional highlights and comparisons
