A NEW study by Accenture reveals a concerning gap between the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and the implementation of responsible AI practices in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. In a virtual press conference with information technology editors, Accenture executives said that while businesses are eager to leverage AI for productivity gains and revenue growth, a mere 1 percent are fully prepared to anticipate and mitigate the associated risks.
The study, which surveyed 1,000 companies globally, including 254 in APAC, assessed organizations on their “responsible AI maturity” based on organizational and operational readiness. Worryingly, it found that while 78 percent of APAC companies demonstrate strong organizational maturity for responsible AI – meaning they have the strategies and frameworks in place – only 10 percent have achieved operational maturity, indicating a lack of practical implementation and risk mitigation measures.
This disparity is particularly alarming given Accenture’s finding that 90 percent of APAC organizations plan to deploy “agentic AI” within the next three years. Agentic AI refers to systems with increased autonomy, capable of independent action and decision-making. Such systems, while potentially transformative, carry heightened risks related to bias, unintended consequences, and ethical considerations.
“As APAC businesses navigate disruption, they are turning to AI for efficiency and growth,” says Ryoji Sekido, CEO of Asia Oceania at Accenture.
He also highlighted that “improving AI technology will allow enterprises to increase and improve customer experiences.” He gave an example of a Japanese insurance company with 30,000 salespeople that used Agentic AI as a solution to improve productivity by three times. He also talked of the convergence of technology, talent and trust to encourage enterprises to adopt scalable AI transformation. He emphasized in particular trust–to the customer and to the employees, that AI will increase their worth in the organization.
“However, scaling AI, especially generative and agentic AI, requires a foundation of trust. This means investing in responsible AI – ensuring ethical data use, mitigating risks, and building confidence among employees and customers,” Sekido said.
The study highlights privacy and data governance as the top AI-related risks for 57 percent of APAC companies, followed closely by security concerns.
Senthil Ramani, Global Lead, Data & AI, Accenture said that “AI just needs 2 months for learn what the human brain learns in 18 years. Once harnessed by enterprises, the bringing together of the “cognitive brain with autonomous AI agents to reinvent and create value.” This speed of learning is also the reason why organizations must proactively identify and assess AI-related risks.
Identifying potential biases embedded in data or algorithms, prevent transparency issues that may hinder explainability, while accuracy concerns that could lead to unreliable outcomes, and the potential impact of AI on human workers, including job displacement or changes in work processes.
Moreover, real-time monitoring of AI systems is essential to detect and address any deviations from expected behavior or potential ethical concerns. Organizations must evaluate the impact of AI on their workforce, ensuring a just transition and providing necessary support for employees. Furthermore, they need to assess the environmental sustainability of their AI initiatives, address privacy and security concerns related to data use, and foster cross-functional collaboration to ensure alignment with ethical and regulatory standards.
