SHANGHAI, China - February 3, 2026 - The fifth annual Avnet Insights research report released by Avnet (NASDAQ: AVT) reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated into the design of products and solutions across the Asia-Pacific region. Engineers are actively advancing AI application implementation while effectively addressing the challenges that come with it. The research has consistently focused on how engineers worldwide integrate AI technology in response to market changes.

Avnet Insights: The Reality of Artificial Intelligence

Globally, engineers remain optimistic, with 77% of respondents indicating an improvement in the design environment for their products and solutions. In the Asia-Pacific region, the implementation of AI applications is accelerating, with variations in progress reflecting differing local market priorities for AI development. China leads in large-scale AI deployment, while Japan adopts a more cautious approach, focusing on system reliability, product quality, and longer product lifecycles.

To gain a deeper understanding of these trends, download the latest Avnet Insights whitepaper, 'The Reality of Artificial Intelligence,' for a comprehensive analysis of the research findings.

Accelerated Adoption and Implementation of AI Across Regions

Over half (56%) of engineers globally report that their companies have begun delivering AI-integrated products to customers, a 33% increase from last year. In China, AI adoption significantly surpasses the global average, with engineers widely applying AI technology across various industries, including automotive, industrial automation, and smart manufacturing. Japan and other Asia-Pacific markets are also steadily advancing AI implementation, prioritizing practical applications that enhance efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.

AI application priorities in the Asia-Pacific region align with global trends, with the most popular applications being process automation (42%), predictive maintenance (28%), and fault and anomaly detection (28%), which are also the most common AI functionalities. Engineers are increasingly valuing the integration and synergistic application of Edge AI and machine learning (ML), with 57% of respondents globally stating that both are equally important, reflecting the growing significance of multimodal AI in the Asia-Pacific and global markets.

Dong Hua, President of Avnet China, said, 'The openness and forward-thinking of Chinese engineers have enabled them to rapidly progress AI from the proof-of-concept stage to large-scale deployment. AI usage is now widely embedded and integrated into various products. Industries today face transformation, innovation, and even disruption driven by AI. AI has given rise to new professions that did not exist before and enabled applications that were previously unattainable or unimaginable. With AI technology, companies are actively providing more scalable solutions to meet rapidly changing market demands.'

Complementary Regional Strengths Enhance Innovation in Asia-Pacific

China leads in terms of speed and scale, while Japan and other Asia-Pacific markets offer complementary strengths. Japanese engineers place greater emphasis on high-quality deployment, data integrity, and product lifecycle management, ensuring robustness and sustainability in AI solutions. The diverse development paths across regions mutually reinforce the overall capabilities of the Asia-Pacific region in responsible innovation and large-scale AI adoption.

Addressing Design and Operational Challenges

In the Asia-Pacific region, the challenges faced by engineers largely align with global trends. The survey reveals that data quality (46%) remains the top consideration during the product design phase, followed by integration with existing tools (38%) and cost pressures (37%). At the operational level, functionalities such as continuous learning and maintenance (54%) and sustainability (43%) are becoming increasingly important, closely tied to the requirements for power consumption and lifecycle management of AI products.

'Successful large-scale AI deployment requires a balance between speed and reliability. Chinese engineers are actively addressing these challenges and continuing to drive the widespread application of AI across various industries, including industrial, consumer goods, healthcare, and automotive, from product design and manufacturing to enterprise operations. Undoubtedly, through a series of open and forward-looking initiatives, Chinese engineers and companies have significantly solidified China's leading position in AI adoption,' added Dong Hua.

AI's Expanding Influence

Globally, engineers are continuously exploring the full potential of AI, leading to a diverse range of emerging trends. According to the survey data, 'efficiency improvement' (11%) is considered the primary impact of AI, followed by real-time collaboration and AI-based simulation technologies (both at 9%). In the Asia-Pacific region, engineers are actively enhancing their technical expertise to acquire skills that strengthen AI model optimization (17%), improve data analysis (16%), and deepen AI/ML understanding (14%). This trend underscores the need for strengthened talent development to support continuous innovation.

'Avnet is committed to researching the latest cutting-edge semiconductor technologies and how to develop and apply products that integrate with AI. In China, we have a broad customer base across industries and have dedicated technical personnel responsible for AI-related semiconductor products to support the companies we serve in developing more market-leading and competitive intelligent products. We will continue to build professional teams and work closely with enterprises to jointly translate AI strategic visions into practical market solutions,' concluded Dong Hua.

To access the full 2026 Avnet Insights research report, please copy and download from the link below:

https://www.avnet.com/apac/resources/research/avnet-insight-2026-shaping-the-future-of-ai/?locale=zh_CN&utm_campaign=fy26-apac-avt-gen&utm_content=att-wp-avnetinsights2026&utm_medium=wbc&utm_source=other&utm_term=pr-sc

About the Avnet Insights Research Report

Avnet Insights is an annual survey conducted among engineers. The 2026 survey was conducted online from October 21 to November 5, 2025, and collected valid responses from 1,200 participants across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Asia, and Japan.

About Avnet, Inc.

Avnet is a global leader in technology distribution and solutions, dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of customers for over a century. Through its global network of specialized and regional operations, Avnet supports customers and suppliers at every stage of the product lifecycle. Avnet helps companies of all types adapt to changing market conditions by accelerating design and supply speeds during product development. As a central player in the technology supply chain, Avnet's unique position and perspective make it a trusted partner, enabling customers to solve complex design and supply chain challenges and achieve revenue growth faster. For more information about Avnet, please visit www.avnet.com.