Hong Kong AI use reaches 72.7% in weekly work tools

Weekly use of artificial intelligence tools among Hong Kong professionals has reached 72.7%, according to a survey run by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology between March and April. The study, which covered 3,722 working professionals, found adoption in Hong Kong to be more than twice a global reference point of 31% recorded in a 2025 KPMG benchmark study.

The results point to a widening divide inside organisations over how the technology is experienced, with senior managers reporting higher motivation to learn while a significant share of junior staff anxiety about job security and the value of their current skills.

Generative AI is the main entry point

Generative applications were the dominant tools in daily work. The survey found 81.7% of respondents using platforms such as ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini, indicating that text-focused systems are the most common way employees are bringing AI into workflows.

Respondents primarily used these tools for document drafting, information summarisation, and creative support. The survey material described the overall level of technical integration as limited across the wider sector, suggesting that many deployments remain concentrated in general-purpose productivity tasks rather than deeper operational redesign.

Advanced use remains a minority

Despite high headline adoption, the survey indicated that more complex forms of AI use are not yet widespread. Only about a quarter of surveyed users reported using advanced applications such as data analytics, video generation, or agentic systems designed to execute multi-step tasks without human oversight.

This pattern suggests that many professionals are engaging with AI as an assistive layer rather than shifting toward autonomous systems. The survey did not provide sector-by-sector breakdowns in the source material, and the extent to which advanced tools are deployed by company size or function was not specified.

Senior managers and juniors report different pressures

Workplace sentiment diverged sharply by seniority. The survey found that 70% of senior managers said the software increased their motivation to learn new skills, framing the tools as a driver of capability-building and adaptation.

Among junior-level employees, more than half said they were concerned that the technology could reduce the value of their existing capabilities. Separately, approximately 40% of entry-level staff reported feeling less secure in their positions after the shift toward AI tools.

The survey results highlight a governance challenge for employers: leaders may pursue operational efficiency while needing to address morale, perceived displacement risk, and potential talent retention pressures. The source material did not include verifiable expert quotes or forward-looking projections, leaving uncertainty around how quickly these perceptions will change as organisations formalise AI policies, training, and role redesign.