Executives lag on AI use as workflow adoption stays low: report

Among white-collar workers who use AI tools, 88% reported productivity improvements.

Just 14% of Hong Kong executives use AI multiple times a day, which it said is four to five times lower than managers and junior staff.

McKinsey said fewer than 25% of Hong Kong AI users deploy the technology across complete end-to-end workflows, even as more than 90% of users engage with AI daily.

The consultancy said 70% of Hong Kong white-collar workers use AI tools today, based on its Hong Kong AI Usage Survey of 4,521 professionals and students.

Among white-collar workers who use AI tools, 88% reported productivity improvements, McKinsey said.

McKinsey said one in five users reported saving more than one hour a day, and said more than half of “power users”, defined as sending over 50 prompts a day, save more than an hour daily.

The firm said workers prefer AI as augmentation rather than full automation, with over 90% comfortable using AI for support tasks compared with 40% comfortable with full workflow automation.

Data privacy and security were cited as the top concern across almost all industries, with other barriers including unclear use cases, limited access, and insufficient training, while McKinsey said 73% of students prefer roles where AI plays at least a supportive role and 93% are actively developing AI-related skills.