86 percent of SEA firms to adopt AI agents by 2025
A survey reveals 86 percent of Southeast Asian organizations plan to use AI agents within the next year, with 42 percent already implementing the technology.
A new survey commissioned by UiPath and conducted by IDC InfoBrief reveals that 86% of Southeast Asian (SEA) organizations plan to use artificial intelligence (AI) agents within the next 12 months. The report, titled “Agentic Automation: Unlocking Seamless Orchestration for the Modern Enterprise,” highlights a rapid shift from AI experimentation to large-scale implementation in the region.
Key Findings:
- 42% of SEA organizations have already implemented agentic AI.
- 44% are planning to adopt the technology within the next year.
- 75% report improved decision-making, while 72% cite increased productivity.
Industries Leading AI Adoption:
- Financial services
- Manufacturing
- Retail and wholesale
Top Use Cases for 2025:
- Customer support automation (58%)
- Risk management and fraud detection (58%)
- Productivity enhancement (56%)
Challenges to AI Implementation:
- AI governance and risk management (22%)
- Shortage of skilled professionals (18%)
- High infrastructure costs (18%)
Concerns Specific to Agentic AI:
- Data privacy breaches (51%)
- Security vulnerabilities (48%)
- Unintended consequences from complex interactions (47%)
Implementation Barriers:
- Data security concerns (57%)
- High implementation costs (48%)
- Integration with existing systems (42%)
Despite these challenges, 79% of organizations are actively developing use cases for agentic AI, even without substantial investments. Agentic automation is emerging as a key enabler, allowing businesses to integrate AI and robotic process automation (RPA) for scalable workflows.
Expert Insights:
- DebDeep Sengupta (UiPath): “Trust and security remain barriers to widespread implementation.”
- Deepika Giri (IDC Asia/Pacific): “Becoming an AI-fueled business is fast becoming a strategic necessity.”
Recommendations for SEA Leaders:
- Prioritize transparent human-agent ecosystems.
- Implement robust governance frameworks.
- Strengthen data security and privacy compliance.
- Invest in upskilling programs to address talent shortages.
For more on AI trends in SEA, read: Antler doubles down on AI with $7.4M in early-stage funding across SEA.
Related News
AI Agents Transform Managed Services as Digital Colleagues
Exploring how agentic AI is revolutionizing managed services by combining human judgment with AI's speed and adaptability for critical operations.
IBM Highlights Key Challenges in AI Adoption for Businesses
Many companies are disappointed with AI results, with only 25% of projects meeting ROI expectations, according to IBM's latest study.
About the Author
Michael Rodriguez
AI Technology Journalist
Veteran technology journalist with 12 years of focus on AI industry reporting. Former AI section editor at TechCrunch, now freelance writer contributing in-depth AI industry analysis to renowned media outlets like Wired and The Verge. Has keen insights into AI startups and emerging technology trends.