PwC 2024 Global Investor Survey

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Investors reject trade-off between workers and AI, as over 70% urge companies to invest in both

Hong Kong, 13 December 2024 - The pressure is on for companies to turn AI investment into impact, according to PwC’s 2024 Global Investor Survey. 73% of investors say companies should deploy AI solutions at scale, with 66% expecting the companies they invest in to deliver productivity increases from AI over the next 12 months. 63% expect revenue increases from AI and 62% expect it to increase profitability.

The survey, which captures the views of 345 investors and analysts across 24 countries and territories, finds that investors see technological change as the most significant driver of change for the businesses they invest in (71%). This is ahead of government regulation (64%), changes in customer preference (61%), and supply chain instability (60%). Investors do not see a trade-off between AI and workers. 74% of respondents urge the businesses they invest in or cover to invest in upskilling their workforce. 

Geoffrey Wang, PwC China Managing Partner – Markets, said: “According to our 2024 Global Investor Survey, investors expect to see real outcomes from GenAI over the next year and recognise that achieving this will take investment in people and upskilling, as well as technology. Management can expect scrutiny over how they deliver AI productivity gains and support for approaches that extend beyond the tech itself to reinvent the way their businesses operate.”

Key highlights – Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong:

• Recovering economic outlook with greater risk awareness: Chinese investors show cautious optimism, with 54% (Global: 51%) expecting global economic growth in the coming year. Investors in the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong believe the companies they invest in or cover will be exposed to the following key risks in the next 12 months: macroeconomic volatility (51% vs. Global: 34%), cyber risks (49% vs. Global: 36%), and geopolitical conflicts (46% vs. Global: 36%). 
• Investors advocate a balanced approach with a commitment to upskilling: Chinese investors reject the notion of choosing between workforce investment and AI, emphasising that companies should invest in both to maximise growth potential. 78% of investors in the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong (Global: 74%) believe that companies need to increase their investments in upskilling employees, reflecting the importance of developing human capital alongside technological advances.
• Prioritising climate actions as a core strategy: 66% (Global: 64%) of investors in the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong urge companies to boost investments aimed at reducing carbon emissions. The benefits they expect from greater sustainability include: promoting risk mitigation (64% vs. Global:61%), effective corporate governance (64% vs. Global:59%), and competitive advantage (62% vs. Global:60%). This suggests a more holistic view of corporate responsibility, where environmental stewardship is seen as integral to long-term business success.

Ivy Kuo, PwC Asia Pacific Sustainability Leader, said: “Investors should continue prioritising action on climate as it has real bearing on business whether through physical or transition risks. While the formative years in climate action were on setting the direction, the spotlight is now firmly on operationalising climate action, expressed through climate transition plans. Conducting climate transition plans is a strategic process, an action plan to transition the company and its value chain to the new economy.”
 

Notes to editors:

About PwC’s 2024 Global Investor Survey 

In September 2024, PwC surveyed 345 investors and analysts across 24 countries and territories and conducted in-depth interviews with 14 investment professionals. Respondents were predominantly institutional investors, comprising portfolio managers (21%), analysts (21%) and chief investment officers (23%), with 52% having more than ten years of experience in the industry. Their investments covered a range of asset classes, investing approaches and time horizons, and the assets under management (AUM) at their organisations range from <US$500 million to US$1 trillion or more; 53% of respondents are at organisations with total AUM of more than US$10 billion.

Download the report: https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/c-suite-insights/global-investor-survey.html