Amid a global boom in artificial intelligence investment, investors and government officials gathered at a Hong Kong forum to discuss capital allocation and the practical applications and risks of AI, highlighting that Hong Kong can serve as a core hub that links global capital with entrepreneurs.

The Cyberport Venture and Capital Forum opened on Wednesday in Hong Kong, bringing together over 80 international investors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to discuss trends in global venture capital, fund reallocation, and enterprise AI.

During a session on capital allocation, Jeremy Dalton, an adviser at the venture capital fund FOV Ventures and the US startup showcase platform SXSW Pitch, said that funding often misses the mark. "There is incredible transformative value in the AI space, but the main issue is that too much money has been invested in the wrong things," he said.

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He said that many companies overemphasize the AI label rather than driving actual deployment in production. Citing a Deloitte report released this year, Dalton said only 25 percent of business leaders have successfully pushed more than 40 percent of their AI pilots into production.

Lillian Cheong Man-lei, HKSAR’s undersecretary for innovation, technology and industry, said, "Adopting AI does not in itself guarantee business success. What matters is how effectively these enterprises integrate AI into their operations to meet customer needs, improve productivity, and strengthen their long-term competitiveness."

Hong Kong can help investors identify high-growth, promising ventures while providing startups with the platform needed to boost their competitive edge, she said.

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Supported by government initiatives such as the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund and the Digital Transformation Support Pilot Programme, the city continues to build a robust tech ecosystem, Cheong said. "Technology, capital, and applications must be developed together. We want entrepreneurs to find here not only funding, but also partners, customers, and pathways to wider markets," she added.

Simon Chan Sai-ming, chairman of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Ltd, said AI has become a key driver of global economic growth. In the first three quarters of 2026, more than half of the total funds raised from Hong Kong IPOs came from the information technology sector, he said.

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"In a shifting global capital landscape, Hong Kong's role as a superconnector and super value-adder between the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world is more valuable than ever," Chan said.

Contact the writer at akirawang@chinadailyhk.com