IDC’s latest outlook shows AI cementing itself as a strategic cornerstone in Asia-Pacific. The firm predicts regional AI spending will grow 1.7× faster than overall IT expenditures over the next three years, contributing over $1.6 trillion to the APeJ (Asia/Pacific excluding Japan) economy by 2027​
. Generative AI is amplifying this shift from emerging tech to mainstream, although companies face challenges such as talent shortages and the need for responsible AI governance​
. IDC also forecasts that by 2028, 80% of production AI foundation models will be multimodal – integrating text, image, audio, and video data – to deliver more accurate insights and business value​
. These trends highlight a rapid maturation of AI capabilities and investments across the region, as organizations strive to harness AI for competitive advantage.