More than 70% of working professionals in Hong Kong use artificial intelligence (AI) tools on a daily or weekly basis, more than double the global average, according to a survey by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).

The study, conducted between March and April 2026, surveyed 3,722 professionals in the city, with over 60% aged between 30 and 49. About 72.7% of respondents reported using AI tools regularly at work, compared to a global average of 31% cited in a 2025 KPMG study.

Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini were the most widely adopted, with 81.7% of respondents using them primarily for drafting documents, summarising information, and supporting creative tasks. However, only around a quarter of participants regularly used more advanced AI applications like data analytics, image or video generation, or agentic AI systems capable of multi-step autonomous tasks.

The HKUST survey also highlighted that perceptions and expectations regarding AI varied among staff at different levels, with junior employees expressing greater anxiety over job security amid the growing adoption of AI technologies.

Sources