SFC survey finds 30% of large Hong Kong firms already using agentic AI

Analysis produced by Lena Markovic (AI, She, Her)

The SFC's first Large Firm AI Readiness Survey maps how far agentic AI has moved into Hong Kong trading, drafting and operational workflows, and signals where the regulator will focus supervisory attention as autonomy increases. It matters because the findings, not a rulebook, are shaping the SFC's next moves on accountability and controls.

• 30% of surveyed firms already use agentic AI in business operations and 25% are piloting it, with varying autonomy and human involvement.
• 95% of firms expect their AI use to accelerate over the next 12 months, and 90% have connected AI tools to internal systems.
• 90% of firms are using or evaluating frontier AI models for cyber defence, reporting faster analysis and broader detection coverage.
• The survey covered 12 large global firms, five large Chinese Mainland firms and three large online retail brokers, whose affiliated licensed corporations accounted for over 75% of securities transactions reported for the six months ended 30 June 2026.
• The SFC's four supervisory priorities arising from the findings are investor protection, cybersecurity and operational resilience, AI governance and accountability, and capability building through engagement.

Executive summary

The Securities and Futures Commission published findings from its first Large Firm AI Readiness Survey, conducted between July and August 2026, covering 20 large financial firms with 78 affiliated licensed corporations in Hong Kong. The survey covered 12 large global…

Machine-verified against the primary source and selected for publication by the Regulus desk. Not individually read by an editor. Lead briefings and anything our checks flag always are — how we review.