This article is contributed by Varinderjit Singh, General Manager, Lenovo Malaysia
Recent research reveals EMEA organisations are past the hype phase. Now, they’re getting strategic about enterprise AI and tangible results.
It’s time for AI-nomics
AI has been around for years, largely in the form of predictive and interpretive tools operating behind the scenes. That changed with the rise of generative AI, which brought AI into everyday workflows and sparked widespread interest. After a wave of rapid experimentation, organisations are now waking up to both the challenges and real opportunities AI presents.
When ChatGPT captured global attention in 2022, many rushed to adopt it without a clear plan, while others hesitated. A smaller group, however, focused on building strong foundations to turn AI into measurable business outcomes. Now the dust has settled, most organisations have caught up—or know how to.
AI is a key driver of business transformation—but not a magic bullet. The focus has shifted from experimentation to real outcomes. Success depends on what works for your business, backed by the right data, infrastructure, security, and expertise.
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To gauge the industry’s progress, Lenovo commissioned IDC research across Asia Pacific and ASEAN+ in the CIO Playbook 2026.
AI is a sound investment
96% of enterprises in ASEAN+ plan to increase AI investments by an average of 15% over the next 12 months—clear evidence that AI is now central to business strategy.
Across Asia Pacific, 88% of organisations expect a positive ROI from AI, with an average anticipated return of 2.8x. This demonstrates a clear commitment to leveraging AI for operational efficiency, customer insights, and competitive advantage.
Top AI priorities for 2026
Leading AI adopters get the fundamentals right. This year, they’re focusing investment on three core areas to form a future-proof foundation for AI innovation.
- AI Model Development and Management – Building and refining AI models to enhance business processes.
- AI Platforms – Investing in robust platforms that facilitate AI deployment and integration.
- Infrastructure for AI – Developing the necessary computing power and storage solutions to support AI initiatives.
Of all the infrastructure options, two lead the way…
Hybrid and on-prem are the go-to choices
In response, 81% of organisations in ASEAN+ prefer hybrid AI architectures, combining on-premises and edge environments with cloud capabilities to balance performance, security, and scalability.
Generative / Agentic AI is the current and next big thing
Generative AI (GenAI) continues to gain traction, while nearly 60% of organisations are already exploring or planning deployments of Agentic AI. Business leaders, in particular, recognise the wide-ranging potential of GenAI. Top use cases include:
- IT Operations – service automation to FinOps
- Marketing – web marketing and marketing operations
- Supply Chain Management – factory floor, warehousing and inventory
- Research & Development – discovering, designing, and developing new products
- Cybersecurity – securing applications and overall operations
However, GenAI won’t replace other forms of AI. In fact, predictive and interpretative AI accounted for the bulk of attention in previous years, and organisations will continue to increase their investments in these tried-and-tested technologies through 2025 and beyond.
Empowering the workforce with AI-powered PCs
AI isn’t just the preserve of specialist teams. It can and should add value for general users in day-to-day operations. Hence, AI-powered devices are poised for widespread adoption, enhancing user experience and boosting output.
Employee productivity has risen to one of the top IT investment priorities, with up to 50% of enterprise PC purchases expected to shift toward AI-enabled devices with on-device AI capabilities.
With Lenovo’s AI-powered PCs, businesses can equip their workforce with intelligent devices designed for efficiency, security, and seamless AI integration.
Addressing barriers to AI adoption
In ASEAN+, 67% of organisations are already piloting or adopting AI, while 15% remain in early stages and 18% are still evaluating. The gap is not due to a lack of interest, but uncertainty around execution.
Challenges often stem from data readiness, security, and integration. Many organisations already have sufficient data, but it remains siloed or unstructured. Addressing these foundations is key to scaling AI effectively.
You don’t have to do it alone
AI deployment remains complex, requiring specialised expertise. Many organisations lack in-house capabilities, driving increased reliance on professional services to accelerate implementation and scale outcomes.
Lenovo AI Services provide the guidance needed to deploy, optimise, and scale AI effectively.
The time for AI is now
The message from the CIO Playbook 2026 is clear: the era of experimentation is over. Organisations that succeed will be those that take a strategic approach—moving from pilots to production and delivering measurable impact.
With the right infrastructure, expertise, and AI-powered devices, businesses can unlock real productivity gains and build a competitive edge in an increasingly AI-driven world.
