ASIAN enterprises are accelerating AI adoption faster than the global average, but poor data quality and security concerns threaten progress, according to a Hitachi Vantara report. The State of Data Infrastructure Survey found 42 percent of Asian organizations consider AI critical to operations, compared to 37 percent globally, with China (53 percent) and Singapore (57 percent) leading the way.Despite enthusiasm, AI models in Asia achieve only 32 percent accuracy, with just 30 percent of data structured, hampering effectiveness. Data security is a top concern, cited by 44 percent of respondents, particularly in India (54 percent) and Indonesia (50 percent). Meanwhile, data storage needs are set to rise 123 percent in two years, increasing complexity.To address these issues, 71 percent of Asian enterprises are hiring AI specialists, and 68 percent are consulting external experts, exceeding global averages. However, Malaysia (50 percent) relies more on self-teaching.Success in AI hinges on data quality (40 percent), AI vendor partnerships (39 percent), and strong governance (45 percent), all above global norms. Adrian Johnson, senior vice president at Hitachi Vantara, emphasized the importance of 'strategic investments and governance in ensuring AI's long-term impact.'Asian businesses increasingly seek third-party support, particularly for hardware (36 percent), data processing (34 percent), and software development (39 percent). Johnson stressed that 'aligning AI expansion with data integrity and governance will be key to unlocking AI's full potential.'
