APAC's 10-Year Data and AI Trends: An Ekimetrics' Look Back at the Forces That Reshaped an Era

The last decade has seen the emergence of APAC as the world’s proving ground for new technology, driven by a culturally diverse, mobile-first population whose behavior is paving the road for the future of its digital economy.

This year, APAC’s Data & AI market is expected to reach $90 billion, with nearly 80% of enterprises implementing AI solutions into digital strategies. The momentum of its fast-growing digital market attracted numerous firms seeking to play their role in driving innovation in the region.

As a global leader in AI & data-driven marketing and commercial solutions. With +500 experts spread across three continents, we expanded to Asia in 2015 to help organizations deliver sustainable AI impact at scale.

According to Olivier Kuziner, our Managing Partner APAC, “Asia is a large region with a wide diversity of markets and cultures, ranging from mature to emerging. AI is a tool that is impacting commerce by enhancing the customer experience and improving operational efficiency.”

As APAC continues its trajectory as a global leader in emerging technology, it’s important to explore the milestones, industry shifts, and impact that have defined the region’s digital transformation over the last decade.

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The Evolution of AI & Data Science in Asia (2015 - 2025)

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The gradual adoption of AI & Data Science in Asia has disrupted tradition, reshaped industries, and streamlined processes, as seen in the key milestones that shaped its adoption.

2015 - 2019

• China, Singapore, and South Korea developed national AI strategies, investing in research, and expanded their digital infrastructure to support cloud analytics and machine learning (ML).
• Policy roadmaps in China, Singapore, and India accelerated public and private investments.
• Manufacturing in China, South Korea, and Japan expanded AI capabilities for predictive maintenance, quality management, and automation.
• SMEs and regional conglomerates began to incorporate cloud-based analytics, making AI solutions more accessible.

2022 - 2025

• Southeast Asia, China, and India saw mainstream adoption of Generative AI (GenAI), increasing venture and corporate investment projections at $45 - 77 billion.
• Asia-Pacific led in global AI adoption, with 60% of organizations piloting and deploying GenAI and LLM solutions across multiple sectors.
• South Korea passed the AI Basic Law, Asia’s first comprehensive Data & AI law.
• Japan passed the Act on the Promotion of Research and Utilization of AI-Related Technologies to accelerate the responsible growth of its domestic AI industry.
• IDC forecasts GenAI investments across APAC, China, and Japan will reach $110 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 24%.

“These advancements have created significant opportunities for Ekimetrics,” said Kuziner. “Our expertise aligns with Asia’s push towards digital transformation.”

How Data & AI Won APAC Consumer Trust

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As Data & AI evolved, consumer behavior shifted. This enabled millions of users to integrate AI into their daily lives, strengthening trust and driving adoption across industries and borders.

Financial Services

An early adopter, regional banks harnessed AI for fraud detection and credit risk analysis, improving consumer protection.

Healthcare

AI-assisted radiology systems improved cancer detection rates by 36% in select Japanese hospitals, while rural providers in India adopted AI to enhance access.

Manufacturing

Following the pandemic, China, Korea, and Japan used AI to address labor shortages through automation.

Retail & E-Commerce

In Southeast Asia, AI-powered recommendations boosted average order values for leading online retailers by 24% in 2023.

Transportation & Mobility

A Singaporean-founded super-app utilized AI to assist drivers, merchants, and users. An AI voice-enabling service trained on 80,000 local samples improved accent recognition to 89%.

Beauty & Luxury

A global leader harnessed our data solutions to analyze consumer behavior and personalize the online experience, forecasting demand and optimizing media performance.

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As Data Science and AI continue to impact commerce in APAC, Kuziner stresses the need for responsible use in business. “A lack of trust can torpedo progress, causing users to reject this technology. As such, strengthening consumer trust is critical for widespread adoption.”

Our Role in Fostering Sustainable AI Adoption in APAC

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Our success in Asia stems from combining global expertise with an understanding of the region’s diversity, built on two pillars. The first is Marketing & Commercial Effectiveness. A game-changing solution already utilized by some of the world’s top marketing leaders, One.Vision is an end-to-end Marketing Mix Modeling platform that optimizes commercial and marketing performance. It is designed for data and ROI-driven decision making that maximizes growth through data, modeling, insights, and optimization.

The second pillar is Sustainable AI Adoption at Scale. To foster AI literacy and accessibility, CLAIR (Comprehensive and Legitimate AI Response) was developed as a public platform that answers questions on job displacement, algorithmic bias, and AI regulation. Meanwhile, our public tool Climate Q&A uses GenAI trained on over 14,000 scientific publications to make credible environmental knowledge widely accessible to both the private and public sectors.

These pillars reflect Ekimetrics’ long-term vision for the future, where AI not only drives performance, but is also a force for positive change—empowering businesses, institutions, and individuals in Asia. Unlike traditional data consultancies, Ekimetrics delivers sustainable results through context-driven AI at scale. This ensures organizations are safeguarded with industry-specific solutions that yield tangible impact results in record time.

The Future of Data & AI in Asia

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From its use as a foundational backbone that supports organizations and industries, to the personalized experience it offers consumers, Data & AI have become an integral part of daily life for millions of people in Asia.

AI is here to stay.

“As a market leader in Data Science and AI, we carry the responsibility to diffuse best practices in the implementation of ethical and responsible AI solutions – fostering fairness, transparency, privacy, accountability, and safety,” Kuziner adds.

AI is rapidly shaping Asia’s economy. As we look to the future, the question won’t be about what AI can do, but how organizations can scale responsibly to deliver efficiency, revenue, and resilience in a digital-first world.

“We all have a role to play along the value chain,” Kuziner surmises. “Collaborating with policy makers, educating the future, and compelling businesses to adopt best practices are the steps we need to take together to ensure Asia cements its place as a global economic and technological leader.”

Read the full article on South China Morning Post: Data and AI’s Decade in APAC: How Ekimetrics Sustainably Scaled Mainstream AI Adoption in APAC’s Digital Economy | South China Morning Post