Africa, China, India, MENA, Latin America and the Caribbean
Survey time period
May 18 to June 29, 2021
Number of respondents
1,843 respondents
Method of interview
Online survey
Supplementary notes
Participants represented the full range of regions, industries, company sizes, functional specialties, and tenures.
Only those respondents who worked at companies that had adopted AI business functions were asked.
Emerging economies defined as: Associations of Southeast Asian Nations, China, India, Latin America, Middle-East, North-Africa, South-Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Citation formats
Leading concerns with AI usage by companies in emerging economies 2020-2021
Cybersecurity is the chief concern for companies in emerging economies when using artificial intelligence (AI), whether in 2020 or 2021. It is notable that the concern for cybersecurity has diminished by ** percent from 2020 to 2021. In most other categories concerns with AI usage increased between the two years or are equally concerning to respondents. Concerns regarding personal/individual privacy saw the greatest growth in the period.
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McKinsey & Company. (December 8, 2021). Main AI usage risks that companies in emerging economies worldwide consider relevant in 2020 and 2021 [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 20, 2026, from /statistics/1298415/ai-risks-emerging-economies/
McKinsey & Company. "Main AI usage risks that companies in emerging economies worldwide consider relevant in 2020 and 2021." Chart. December 8, 2021. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 20, 2026. /statistics/1298415/ai-risks-emerging-economies/
McKinsey & Company. (2021). Main AI usage risks that companies in emerging economies worldwide consider relevant in 2020 and 2021. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 20, 2026. /statistics/1298415/ai-risks-emerging-economies/
McKinsey & Company. "Main Ai Usage Risks That Companies in Emerging Economies Worldwide Consider Relevant in 2020 and 2021." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 8 Dec 2021, /statistics/1298415/ai-risks-emerging-economies/
McKinsey & Company, Main AI usage risks that companies in emerging economies worldwide consider relevant in 2020 and 2021 ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1298415/ai-risks-emerging-economies/ (last visited July 20, 2026)
Main AI usage risks that companies in emerging economies worldwide consider relevant in 2020 and 2021 [Graph], McKinsey & Company, December 8, 2021. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1298415/ai-risks-emerging-economies/
