Exclusive: Andrew Foo reveals the future of AI and data in APAC

Asia Pacific businesses are increasingly embracing real-time data streaming as a backbone for AI-driven innovation, and Confluent's regional lead, Andrew Foo, says the shift is accelerating faster than many realise.

"In ANZ, organisations are recognising that AI isn't just about models - it's about feeding them the right data, in real time, at scale," Foo told TechDay. "Without a streaming backbone, even the smartest AI will struggle to deliver meaningful business outcomes."

Foo's perspective aligns with the findings from Confluent's fourth annual Data Streaming Report, which surveyed more than 4,000 IT leaders globally, including 225 from Australia.

The research revealed that 85% of Australian IT leaders expect data streaming platforms to increasingly feed AI systems with up-to-date, contextual, and trustworthy data - an essential requirement for real-time AI applications. Across the Asia Pacific and global markets, nearly all organisations reported at least one challenge in adopting AI, from inconsistent data sources to infrastructure limitations.

"The story we're seeing in Australia mirrors what's happening across APAC," Foo said.

"Businesses in Singapore, Japan, and New Zealand are also grappling with data silos and the need for governance while trying to deploy AI at scale. Streaming platforms are not a luxury anymore - they're a critical part of digital transformation strategies across the region."

Foo points to the experiences of organisations like GEP and Palmerston North City Council as examples of how real-time data can transform operations. In the New Zealand local government sector, Palmerston North City Council eliminated fragmented systems and data silos with Confluent Cloud, enabling citizen service requests to be processed in minutes rather than hours. AI-powered automation now supports multiple regulatory workflows, while real-time streams feed analytics and operational dashboards.

"Good AI needs good data," Foo said. "The council's use of a streaming platform demonstrates how real-time, governed data enables automation, rapid decision-making, and smarter services - not just incremental improvements."

Across APAC, businesses are seeing strong returns on data streaming investments. In Australia, 73% of organisations report 2–5x ROI, with 12% reporting up to 10x. The platforms also help mitigate data silos (89% of respondents) and improve access to enterprise data (81%), creating a foundation for AI adoption.

"The impact goes beyond technology - it affects business models, customer experience, and operational agility," Foo said. "Companies that leverage streaming correctly can respond in real time to market changes, launch AI applications faster, and ultimately drive growth."

Confluent's global survey underscores the urgency: 97% of IT leaders worldwide have encountered at least one barrier to AI adoption related to data availability, timeliness, or quality. This is not limited to Australia - organisations across APAC face similar hurdles. Foo emphasises that a "shift left" approach, where data governance and processing occur closer to the source, is helping companies across the region reduce costs and improve data reliability.

Foo also highlighted APAC-specific opportunities in supply chain, finance, and smart city initiatives.

"In Singapore and Hong Kong, financial firms are streaming invoice data to AI platforms to classify spending in real time. In New Zealand, councils are using streaming to make urban infrastructure smarter, from monitoring traffic flows to automating resource consent processes," he explained.

The case of Palmerston North City Council illustrates the practical outcomes: the council has built reusable "data products" that combine information from multiple operational systems, providing a single source of truth for departments, AI platforms, and third-party regulators.

Similarly, GEP has leveraged Confluent Cloud to standardise its operations and feed AI models in real time, increasing efficiency across supply chain processes.

"Streaming platforms are essentially the nervous system of modern organisations," Foo said. "They connect disparate systems, provide a single, trusted source of truth, and make AI actionable. Across APAC, the organisations that treat data as a continuous, live asset are the ones leading in digital transformation."

Foo believes that Asia Pacific businesses will increasingly view real-time data streaming as a core business strategy rather than just a technology upgrade.

"The competitive edge comes from speed, reliability, and context," he said. "Companies that can integrate AI with live data streams can deliver services faster, make decisions smarter, and unlock entirely new capabilities."

As adoption grows, Foo sees streaming as enabling innovation across sectors - from government and healthcare to finance and logistics.

The global study supports this vision: almost all organisations that prioritise streaming report multiple benefits, including faster innovation cycles, better AI outcomes, and higher returns on data investments.

"The APAC market is ready," Foo concluded.

"The proof is in the transformation we're seeing - whether it's councils in New Zealand improving citizen services in minutes, or Australian enterprises generating measurable ROI from AI-enabled insights. Real-time data isn't the future; it's happening now."