FOMO Over Results: Asia-Pacific’s Blind Spot in AI Investment

The Asia-Pacific region is sprinting into the age of artificial intelligence, but a new report suggests many enterprises are running blind. According to an IDC InfoBrief commissioned by Expereo, fear of being left behind—not a clear vision of return on investment—is the primary fuel behind massive AI spending in the region.

The report, titled "Enterprise Horizons 2026: Where Innovation Meets Reality," surveyed 800 technology leaders from companies with more than 500 employees across the United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific . The findings paint a picture of a global gold rush, but the pressure is particularly acute in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Reckless Charge in APAC

The most striking statistic from the research is the sheer volume of unchecked AI spending in the Asia-Pacific. The survey found that 37% of organizations in the region are investing aggressively in AI with little to no assessment of the outcomes . This figure stands in stark contrast to the global average of 20%, meaning APAC enterprises are nearly twice as likely to write blank checks for AI initiatives without a disciplined plan to evaluate their effectiveness .

The driving force behind this behavior is unmistakably psychological: Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO). Companies across the region are worried that rivals will outpace them if they don’t deploy capital quickly, even when the financial returns are unproven . This reactive investment posture has created a dangerous disconnect between ambition and accountability.

Singapore has emerged as a clear example of this high-stakes trend. The report highlights that more than one-third of organizations in the city-state are pouring significant resources into AI without fully evaluating its impact, making it a particular hotspot for this FOMO-driven investment strategy .

The Global Disconnect Between Hype and Returns

While the lack of assessment is most pronounced in Asia-Pacific, the phenomenon of spending without seeing results is global. The IDC InfoBrief notes that roughly 70% of organizations worldwide are actively investing in AI, motivated by either the technology’s potential or the fear of falling behind competitors .

However, these substantial investments are failing to keep pace with the hype. The study reveals that fewer than 25% of global organizations report that their AI implementations have exceeded expectations. Specifically, just 19% of global respondents say AI has surpassed expectations, and a mere 5% report it has significantly surpassed them .

This gap is not necessarily due to a lack of technological potential. Analysts point to a pervasive failure in infrastructure readiness—specifically, networks that are inadequate for supporting advanced AI workloads—as a key reason for the sluggish returns . The findings suggest that the “fear of missing out” often overrides the critical, unglamorous work of building a robust foundation for AI to operate effectively.

The data serves as a cautionary tale for C-suites and boards across the region: while maintaining a competitive edge is critical, failing to establish clear ROI metrics could lead to wasted capital and a painful hangover once the AI investment cycle matures.