Most Asia-Pacific firms use AI for tasks without cutting jobs: survey

While a wave of job cuts across Asia’s finance and other industries due to wider use of artificial intelligence has spurred concerns, a new study shows that the technology’s net impact on employment is not as clear-cut.

Recruiters and industry observers say many companies are adding AI-related roles without having to lay off workers.

A study by professional services firm Aon released on Wednesday shows that 74 per cent of 504 companies surveyed across industries in the Asia-Pacific region have deployed or piloted AI programmes. Firms surveyed include those in Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China, Malaysia, the Philippines and India.

A quarter of the companies expected AI adoption to lead to job displacement, but 84 per cent said they were using the technology to perform certain tasks without completely replacing jobs.

In May, Meta announced 8,000 layoffs around the world as it stepped up restructuring and investments in AI, with some of its Singapore-based staff among those who were let go.