Some 79 per cent of the 3,085 business owners surveyed plan to increase AI investment in their main business over that period. On average, they expect to allocate 21 per cent of annual revenue to the technology.

The figures come at a time of continued ferment about AI, its investment potential, use cases and the impact on wealth management. This news service is currently investigating that effect in a forthcoming report. HSBC's survey is also a temperature check on how entrepreneurs see business prospects more broadly. 

HSBC's survey said respondents were more likely to link AI to hiring than to job losses. Forty-four per cent expect AI integration to increase headcount over the next two years, against 23 per cent who expect a decline. Raising employee productivity was the most commonly cited reason for using AI, selected by 43 per cent.

Ipsos UK conducted the research online between 1 April and 15 May 2026 across 17 markets, including mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Switzerland, the Gulf states, the UK and the US. 

Positive, if not quite so much
Turning to other topics, the report said 95 per cent of respondents are positive about their business prospects and 90 per cent expect their personal wealth to improve over the next 12 months. However, the share describing themselves as "very positive" fell to 49 per cent from 54 per cent in 2025.

Dealmaking appetite is high. Some 83 per cent are considering mergers and acquisitions, with 52 per cent looking to buy a business in their own market in the next year and 43 per cent looking to expand into new markets.

The sample is highly mobile. Some 72 per cent were resident in more than one country during the year and 70 per cent plan to move or add a residency abroad in the next year.

Young, female, ultra high net worth entrepreneurs aged 18 to 34 were among the most optimistic groups: 74 per cent expect their wealth to get a lot better, against a global average of 44 per cent.

The top financial concerns were market volatility (31 per cent), inflation (30 per cent) and making irreversible investment mistakes (29 per cent). One third worry about balancing enjoying their wealth with growing it, the survey said.