Startups' AI use jumps 473% as developer tools lead adoption

Travel, payroll, and office spending also climbed as firms scaled operations.

Hong Kong startups using artificial intelligence (AI) tools surged 473% year on year (YoY), with developer-focused platforms leading adoption, according to a new report from fintech company Aspire.

In its report, Startup Signals: Decoding the Forces Shaping Asia's Next Generation of Businesses, Aspire found that developer tools have become a key entry point for AI adoption in Hong Kong, citing access restrictions affecting some conventional AI chat products across organisations.

The findings were based on anonymised and aggregated transaction data from more than 10,000 businesses across Hong Kong and Singapore, examining spending patterns across AI and software, payroll, travel, and office space.

The report found that business travel spending also increased sharply.

Flight expenditure amongst Hong Kong startups rose 250% YoY and accounted for 46.3% of total travel spending whilst hotel spending also rebounded during the period.

Payroll transactions increased as well with Aspire reporting that the median payroll transaction rose 31% YoY from $13564.89 (US$1,731) to $17757.40 (US$2,266), whilst the average payroll transaction increased 14% to $36619.73 (US$4,673).

Office spending grew nearly fivefold compared with a year earlier. According to the report, the increase was concentrated in flexible and managed workspaces rather than traditional long-term leases.

“Startups often act as an early indicator of where broader business adoption is heading,” said Andrea Baronchelli, co-founder and CEO of Aspire. He added that businesses are becoming more AI-focused and adaptable in how they operate.