The IDC report on the Asia/Pacific CIO Agenda 2026 forecasts significant changes as organizations transition to agentic AI. By 2028, CIOs are expected to increase investments in sovereign-ready cloud infrastructures by 50%, vital for compliance with evolving regulations. As AI becomes a board-level priority, CIOs will shift focus from experimentation to operationalizing AI securely and cost-effectively. Effective governance of AI is crucial, with projections indicating that 15% of major firms will face legal repercussions related to poor AI management by 2030. Additionally, CIOs must develop AI value playbooks by 2027 to standardize ROI metrics for showcasing AI impacts. The necessity for mature FinOps practices is highlighted, as operational costs may exceed initial forecasts by 30%. This evolving landscape emphasizes the need for robust data governance, transformational leadership, and financial discipline amidst escalating demands on CIOs in the region.
Source link
