IDC Worldwide AI and Generative AI Spending Guide have shown that Artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (GenAI) investments, spanning software, services, and hardware designed for AI-driven systems, are experiencing unprecedented growth in the Asia/Pacific, including China and Japan.
The region is set to witness a substantial increase in AI and GenAI investments, projected to reach $175 billion by 2028. With a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 33.6% from 2023 to 202. Notably, GenAI investments alone are expected to reach $54.5 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 59.2%, constituting approximately 31% of the total AI and GenAI market.
“AI adoption across Asia/Pacific is fostering smarter and more resilient business environments. Companies are integrating AI to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen strategic decision-making,” says Vinayaka Venkatesh, senior market analyst, Data & Analytics, IDC Asia/Pacific. “This shift toward AI-driven solutions is laying the foundation for a future centred on intelligent automation and continuous innovation,” he further noted.
Investment surge
The surge of investments in AI and GenAI in the Asia/Pacific region can be attributed to several key factors. These include a growing demand for robust digital infrastructure, evolving customer expectations that aim to boost operational efficiency and reduce costs, and an increased need for improved security and real-time analytics. These factors collectively drive the region’s investment momentum in AI and GenAI.
“In 2024, there was a notable surge in AI infrastructure spending as companies in the Asia/Pacific region began entering the AI development phase,” said Deepika Giri, head of research, Big Data & AI, IDC APJ.
“Looking ahead, 2025 will be the year of unified AI platforms that support AI agents — integrated frameworks that support the full lifecycle of AI models, including GenAI, predictive, prescriptive, and other emerging models. These platforms will connect applications, data, infrastructure, and governance, offering a more standardised and scalable approach to AI deployment,” Giri said.
