CBRE: AI is expected to reshape the work model in the Asia-Pacific region, and the Hong Kong office market will accelerate the “quality office” trend

According to the Zhitong Finance App, CBRE said that according to the latest research, AI is expected to reshape the work model in the Asia-Pacific region, but demand for office buildings is expected to remain steady. Even under moderate AI replacement scenarios, the occupied office space is still expected to increase by 13% between 2026 and 2030, which is only slightly lower than the 18% increase predicted in the benchmark scenario.

The bank's analysis shows that of the overall employed population in the Asia-Pacific region, only 1.8% of jobs face a clear risk of being replaced by AI; another 8% of the labor force may be affected by AI, but it is expected that many employees can adapt to changes through skill improvement and career transformation. According to the benchmark scenario forecast, the overall vacancy rate of office buildings in the Asia-Pacific region will drop slightly from 16% in the second quarter of 2026 to 15% in 2030; under the moderate AI replacement forecast scenario, the vacancy rate is only about 3 percentage points higher than the benchmark forecast.

Fung Wai-sheh, Chief Operating Officer of CBRE Hong Kong Consulting Services, said that in Hong Kong, AI is expected to assist rather than replace workplace and office demand, and further enhance the importance of high-quality office space, especially a work environment that promotes teamwork, productivity, innovation and customer interaction. As AI becomes more deeply involved in business operations, tenants will pay more attention to office space quality rather than simply pursue size. It is expected that demand will further focus on high-quality office buildings with modern specifications, excellent sustainable development performance, and supporting facilities to enhance productivity and attract talents. Consolidate and accelerate the “quality office” trend already emerging in the Hong Kong office market.

CBRE believes that AI will influence corporate site selection strategies. Future demand will focus on high-quality office projects conducive to collaboration, innovation and technology-driven work models, accelerate market concentration on high-quality assets, and widen the performance gap between high-quality and secondary properties; lower-quality property owners will face greater pressure to enhance competitiveness through upgrading, repositioning or conversion to other uses.