Talent shortage emerges as key barrier to AI adoption in Hong Kong

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Concerns over data privacy and system integration also hinder enterprise-level AI implementation.

A shortage of skilled talent is the most significant obstacle to artificial intelligence (AI) adoption among Hong Kong enterprises, according to the AI Readiness in Workplace Survey 2025 by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC).

The survey, carried out by the HKPC Academy in September 2025, gathered responses from 800 local companies. Findings revealed that 88% of employees in these organisations are already using AI tools in their daily work, primarily in customer service, data analysis, and marketing.

Looking ahead, 92% of respondents plan to gradually introduce AI into related workflows, with nearly a quarter (24%) planning for full implementation within a year.

Respondents cited productivity gains, production cost reduction, improved decision-making, and enhanced customer experience as potential benefits of AI.

Despite growing enthusiasm, enterprises face several practical challenges. The top five barriers identified include:

• Lack of AI expertise and training
• Data privacy and security concerns
• Difficulty in integrating with existing systems
• Employee resistance or readiness gaps
• High implementation costs

In addition, while 45% of enterprises already have officially recognised AI platforms for employee use, more than half (54%) admitted they lack a complete or ongoing AI governance framework or policy for the time being.

To address these challenges and accelerate AI adoption, HKPC has proposed eight strategic recommendations across human resources, strategic layout, and organisational culture:

Establishing AI foundations:

• Develop a clear AI development strategy and long-term plan.
• Strengthen leadership from the top and cross-departmental collaboration to establish a top-down transformation promotion mechanism.
• Establish a data governance and security compliance framework, along with a trusted AI application foundation.

Deepening operational integration:

• Implement AI skills training for all employees and cultivate a digital organisational culture.
• Promote the integration of AI systems with internal corporate systems to lower technical barriers.
• Deeply embed AI tools into business processes to improve operational efficiency.

Achieving sustainable impact:

• Implement the "One Enterprise, One AI Coach" Scheme to empower AI professionals to continuously promote AI training and application within the organisation.
• Establish an AI investment return assessment and optimisation mechanism.

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