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APAC Executives See GenAI as Self-Funding Strategic Asset by 2026

A new IBM report forecasts that by 2026, 95% of executives in the Asia-Pacific region expect generative AI to be at least partially self-funding, transforming it from a cost center into a strategic growth asset. Companies are now directing the majority of AI investment into core business operations to reshape cost structures and customer value, moving beyond pilot projects. The report emphasizes that successful AI scaling depends more on workforce adoption, culture, and governance than on the technology itself. Organizations that invest in upskilling and ethical frameworks are seeing AI unlock new revenue streams and accelerate value creation through a virtuous cycle of investment.

Key Points: 95% of APAC Execs Expect GenAI to Be Self-Funded by 2026

  • 95% of APAC execs expect GenAI to be partially self-funded by 2026
  • AI investment shifting to core business activities
  • Success depends more on people & culture than technology
  • Leaders treating AI as infrastructure outperform peers
  • AI unlocking new revenue streams and business models
2 min read

95% of executives across APAC expect GenAI to be partially self-funded by 2026: Report

IBM report reveals APAC executives see generative AI as a strategic, self-funding asset driving core business transformation by 2026.

"This paradigm shift positions AI not as a cost center... but as a strategic asset that generates its own capital for further innovation. - IBM APAC AI Outlook 2026 Report"

New Delhi, January 7

By 2026, 95% of executives across Asia-Pacific expect generative Artificial Intelligence to be at least partially self-funded.

In a report titled, APAC AI Outlook 2026, IBM said, "This paradigm shift positions AI not as a cost center or a discretionary IT expense, but as a strategic asset that generates its own capital for further innovation, thereby accelerating the pace of transformation and creating a virtuous cycle of growth."

What's changed isn't ambition, it's execution. Companies are moving AI out of side projects and into the heart of their operations. Nearly two-thirds of AI investment is now directed at core business activities, where AI is reshaping cost structures, operating models, and customer value rather than delivering incremental efficiency gains, the report mentioned.

The most advanced organizations are no longer asking whether AI works. They are asking how fast it can scale.

The report highlighted that 64% of CEOs say AI success depends more on people's adoption than on the technology itself. Culture, skills, governance, and trust, not algorithms, now determine whether AI delivers returns at scale.

Organizations investing in workforce upskilling, ethical AI, and clear governance frameworks are consistently outperforming peers. In other words, confidence in AI's financial payoff is highest where leaders treat it as enterprise infrastructure, not a black-box experiment.

Across industries, AI is already unlocking new revenue streams through AI-powered services and platforms; Faster, more resilient operations via predictive and autonomous systems; and Business model reinvention, from "as-a-service" offerings to ecosystem plays.

This explains why executives increasingly see AI as a self-reinforcing investment early gains fund further deployment, accelerating value creation rather than draining budgets, the report mentioned.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Rohit P
Exciting times! If AI can become self-funding, it means more innovation budgets for Indian startups and enterprises. The key is moving it from "experiment" to core operations. We've seen this with UPI and digital infra. AI could be our next big leap.
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Aditya G
The focus on ethical AI and governance is crucial. We cannot have a repeat of some biased algorithms. Trust is everything, especially in a diverse country like India. Hope our regulators are paying attention to this report.
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Sarah B
Working in tech in Bangalore, I see this shift daily. The question is no longer "if" but "how fast." The pressure to scale AI solutions is immense. The part about it funding itself is promising, but the initial investment hurdle is still very real for many firms here.
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Karthik V
A bit skeptical about the 95% figure. Sounds optimistic. In the Indian context, many mid-size companies are still struggling with basic digital transformation. Jumping to self-funding AI seems a distant dream for them. The report might be focusing only on large MNCs and tech giants.
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Meera T
This is encouraging! If AI can create its own capital, it means more sustainable growth. For India, this could mean better services in healthcare, agriculture, and education. The virtuous cycle mentioned is what we need to solve our big challenges. Jai Hind!

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