By Cally Chan, General Manager of Microsoft Hong Kong and Macau
As the Year of the Snake approaches, business leaders and employees come together to celebrate, hoping for a productive and prosperous year ahead. AI implementation in the workplace has already entered the practical stage. In Hong Kong, key sectors are making significant strides as generative AI adoption has increased from 56.3% in 2023 to 62.1% in 2024, according to a recent IDC report.
Notably, representatives from leading organizations also came together to establish AI Hong Kong at the end of 2024, aiming to spearhead innovations across the region. The workplace is poised to see further evolution in the coming year, where several AI trends will revolutionize workflows, boost productivity and drive greater business impact.
From my conversations with business leaders, AI adoption is increasingly being embraced in the workplace. At Microsoft, we are confident that the advancement in AI models will continue to power the evolution of the work, most significantly in the following areas:
1. The future of work has arrived as agents revolutionize the workplace
In 2025, a new generation of AI agents will further support our workflows and even handle more complex tasks on our behalf. Organizations can reimagine processes like creating reports and handling human resources tasks such as helping resolve a new laptop issue or answering benefits questions, freeing up employees’ time to focus on higher value work. Also, we can build and use agents no matter our technical skill in Copilot Studio without having to code.
In fact, workers at nearly 70% of Fortune 500 companies already use Microsoft 365 Copilot to tackle plenty of repetitive and mundane tasks, such as sifting through email and taking notes during Teams meetings.
In Hong Kong, leading real estate investor and asset manager, Link Asset Management Limited (Link) has leveraged Microsoft 365 Copilot to enhance operational efficiency and decision-making. Using tools like its Tenant Risk Assessment Tool, powered by Copilot to monitor 3,000 social media and news websites daily, Link can access tenant risks, optimize tenant portfolios, and streamline decision-making processes effectively.
2. Measurement and customization will be keys to building AI responsibly
Measuring AI risks is crucial for responsible development as markets around the world are gradually rolling out clearer guidelines for responsible AI usage. For instance, Hong Kong recently announced its first official policy statement on the responsible application of AI in the financial sector, stressing the need to tackle data privacy and cyber threats.
As a result, organizations will increasingly place the focus on testing and customization, ensuring AI models are compliant to the evolving regulatory standards. Part of Microsoft’s ongoing work to build safe AI applications is developing tough and comprehensive testing. In addition to assessing internal threats like “hallucinations”, testing will become better at recognizing external and increasingly sophisticated attacks. At the same time, users will gain greater control over AI applications, customizing content filters and guardrails to suit their organizations’ needs.
3. AI will become more resource-efficient
Organizations will remain committed to their sustainability goals while optimizing the potential of AI.
While AI consumes vast sum of resources like water and energy, innovative solutions are helping with this challenge. Technology leaders like Microsoft are spearheading the green evolution of data centers, from adopting superefficient liquid cooling systems, to using more low-carbon building materials to establish more efficient AI infrastructure.
The arrival of a new year brings renewed energy and motivation to achieve greater heights. Organizations should strive to unlock the boundless potential of AI and delve into the limitless capabilities of intelligent agents to revolutionize their operations and propel innovation. As Hong Kong accelerates AI transformation across sectors, I am confident that Hong Kongers will lead the way, steering AI into a transformative new era.
