- On October 19, 2026, CNA published an analysis provided by Accenture, showing that despite surging AI investment, only 13% of organizations report significant value across their entire enterprise.
- According to Accenture, many companies are deploying AI agents without a clear strategy, investing more in technology than in people, and confusing successful pilot projects with genuine organizational transformation.
- Accenture identifies five characteristics of companies that successfully turn AI into business value: secure digital infrastructure, high-quality data, responsible AI governance, CEO commitment, and a skilled workforce.
- Southeast Asia faces a shortage of specialized AI engineers, while workers with basic digital skills have not yet received sufficient training to collaborate effectively with AI.
- Differences in languages, legal regulations, data environments, and digital maturity across countries mean that an AI model performing well in one market may not be suitable for another.
- Around 64% of organizations in Southeast Asia expect to increase investment in sovereign AI to maintain control over data and AI systems in line with national requirements.
- Accenture’s Intelligent Digital Brain report proposes four foundations for scaling AI: unified data access, structured organizational knowledge, AI models suited to specific needs, and governance integrated from the design stage.
- Accenture recommends modernizing legacy technology systems, connecting internal data and knowledge, and considering specialized small AI models rather than automatically opting for large models.
- Accenture is working with Ascott to develop an AI-powered travel ecosystem, testing the MCP protocol and connecting booking channels to support assistants capable of comparing options, creating itineraries, and booking services.
- Accenture’s survey found that transformation programs directly sponsored by CEOs generate 2.5 times more value than initiatives led by lower-level management.
📌 Accenture argues that the main barriers to scaling AI extend beyond technology to include data, organizational structures, and governance capabilities. The finding that only 13% of companies generate significant AI value highlights the gap between investment and real-world results. For Southeast Asia, priorities should include addressing high-impact business challenges, building suitable data infrastructure, reskilling workers, and ensuring direct leadership from CEOs. These figures come from research published by Accenture and do not reflect the circumstances of each individual country separately.
