• 81% of Chief Data Officers surveyed prioritize investments that accelerate AI capabilities and initiatives.
• 78% of surveyed leaders cite leveraging proprietary data is a top strategic objective to differentiate their organization in the market.
• Nearly half of respondents identify advanced data skills as a top challenge – rising from 32% in 2023.

ARMONK, N.Y., Nov. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A new global study by the IBM (NYSE: IBM) Institute for Business Value reveals enterprise data strategies are rapidly evolving as organizations race to scale AI across their business. The findings suggest that while Chief Data Officers (CDOs) are at the helm of this transformation, many say their data is still not ready to unlock AI’s full potential.

IBM Corporation logo.

Based on insights from 1,700 CDOs worldwide, the study* highlights a widening gap between AI ambition and readiness. Although 81% of surveyed CDOs report their organization’s data strategy is integrated with its technology roadmap and infrastructure investments –compared to 52% in 2023 — only 26% are confident their data can support new AI-enabled revenue streams. In addition, barriers such as data accessibility, completeness, integrity, accuracy, and consistency are preventing organizations from fully leveraging enterprise data for AI.

“Enterprise AI at scale is within reach, but success depends on organizations powering it with the right data. For CDOs, this means establishing a seamlessly integrated enterprise data architecture that fuels innovation and unlocks business value,” said Ed Lovely, VP and Chief Data Officer, IBM. “Organizations that get this right won’t just improve their AI, they’ll transform how they operate, make faster decisions, adapt to change more quickly and gain a competitive edge.”

Key findings include:

The CDO role is shifting from data custodian to business strategist as proving data’s value remains a challenge

• The majority (92%) of CDOs surveyed say they must focus on business outcomes to succeed in their role.
• Yet, only one-third of respondents strongly agree they can clearly convey how data facilitates business results, and just 29% have clear measures to determine the value of data-driven business outcomes.
• Deploying data for competitive advantage is now the top priority for CDOs, ahead of governance and security as core responsibilities.
• 84% of CDOs surveyed say their unique data products have already provided significant competitive advantages, and 78% cite leveraging proprietary data as a top strategic objective to differentiate their organization in the market.

AI ambitions remain high amid AI-data gap

• 81% of CDOs surveyed prioritize investments that accelerate AI capabilities and initiatives.
• Yet, only 26% of CDOs surveyed are confident their organization can use unstructured data in a way that delivers business value.
• To help close this gap, 81% of CDOs surveyed say they bring AI to data rather than centralizing it.
• While 80% of surveyed leaders have started developing diverse datasets to train AI agents, 79% admit being early in the process of defining how to scale and govern them.
• Despite these challenges, 83% of respondents believe the potential benefits of deploying AI agents outweigh the risks, and 77% are comfortable with their organization relying on outcomes from AI agents.

A data-driven culture is viewed as essential, but talent gaps may slow progress

• 82% of CDOs surveyed say data is wasted if their organization isn’t giving people access to it, and 80% say data democratization helps their organization move faster.
• While 74% of respondents actively promote a culture of data stewardship among employees, fostering a data-driven culture remains a top strategic challenge for those surveyed.
• At the same time, 47% of CDOs surveyed now say attracting, developing and retaining talent with advanced data skills is a top challenge – up from 32% in 2023.
• 77% of surveyed leaders are struggling to fill key data roles, and only 53% say recruiting and retention efforts deliver the skills and experience needed – down from 75% in 2024.

To view the full study, visit: https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/institute-business-value/en-us/report/2025-cdo

*Study Methodology
The IBM Institute for Business Value, in cooperation with Oxford Economics, surveyed 1,700 senior data and analytics leaders holding titles such as Chief Data Officer, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Chief Analytics Officer, Chief AI Officer and other senior roles. The survey was conducted across 27 geographies and 19 industries between July and September 2025. Survey topics included data strategy, data standards, quality, and integrity, data governance, data readiness for AI, talent, and organizational culture.

The IBM Institute for Business Value, IBM’s thought leadership think tank, combines
global research and performance data with expertise from industry thinkers and leading academics to deliver insights that make business leaders smarter. For more world-class thought leadership, visit: www.ibm.com/ibv. To receive more insights, subscribe to the IdeaWatch newsletter: https://ibm.co/ibv-ideawatch. 

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service.  Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media Contact
Marisa Conway
IBM Corporate Communications
conwaym@us.ibm.com

HONG KONG, Nov. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In the latest episode of ‘Tech For Good’, CNN anchor and correspondent Kristie Lu Stout meets young innovators who are pushing the boundaries of sports science and engineering, designing cutting-edge technology that could one day redefine how athletes train, compete, and stay safe.

CNN first visits the University of Hong Kong (HKU), where student Jan Wong Ho Wang and his team have meticulously built an electric race car from scratch that will compete at an upcoming “Formula Student” competition in China. Under the guidance of academic advisor Dr. Match Ko and with Jason Chu Yan Kiu leading aerodynamics, the team has developed a unique Electrical Control Unit that will optimize the car’s overall racing performance while specially designed crucial safety features guard against potential accidents and mishaps.

Across the globe, breakthroughs in athlete safety are taking shape at the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab. Led by Professor Steve Rowson, the lab, which began testing helmets in 2009, has expanded its scope from American football to a wide array of sports and occupational head protection gear. Illustrating this diversity, PhD student Caitlyn Jung‘s research is focused on kids’ bicycle helmets, while master’s students Andrew Calis and Katie Metrey are testing youth hockey helmets and the effects of lacrosse stick impacts directly to the head, respectively. Their work uses advanced sensors to measure impact forces, providing a detailed, public rating system (one to five stars) that goes beyond standard pass-fail certifications, driving manufacturers to prioritize safety.

Finally, CNN travels to the picturesque English countryside, to the University of Bath, where PhD student Mike Muckelt is part of a team revolutionizing the study of biomechanics in the gruelling winter sport of skeleton racing. Working with Senior Lecturer Dr. Steffi Colyer, the team developed a unique markerless motion capture system. This non-invasive technology uses specialized cameras to capture the athletes’ movements at 200 frames per second during push-starts, identifying body landmarks without the need for traditional sensors or body suits. This data helps optimize performance by analyzing the inherent asymmetry of the sport, with future applications extending to other sports like tennis and badminton, and even healthcare for clinical gait analysis and rehabilitation. Mike will apply what he’s learned from this trackside tech as a coach for Great Britain’s skeleton team at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Tech for Good trailers: https://bit.ly/4oE8z2G
Tech for Good images: https://bit.ly/4nUyAK3
Tech for Good microsite: https://cnn.it/3PB5DSq 

Airtimes for 30-minute special:
Saturday, 15th November at 2:30pm HKT
Sunday, 16th November at 12pm and 7pm HKT
Monday, 17th November at 6:30am HKT

About CNN International  

CNN’s portfolio of news and information services is available in seven different languages across all major TV, digital and mobile platforms, reaching more than 379 million households around the globe. CNN International is the number one international TV news channel according to all major media surveys across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific region, and Latin America and has a US presence that includes CNNgo. CNN Digital is a leading network for online news, mobile news and social media. CNN is at the forefront of digital innovation and continues to invest heavily in expanding its digital global footprint, with a suite of award-winning digital properties and a range of strategic content partnerships, commercialised through a strong data-driven understanding of audience behaviours. CNN has won multiple prestigious awards around the world for its journalism. Around 1,000 hours of long-form series, documentaries and specials are produced every year by CNNI’s non-news programming division. CNN has 36 editorial offices and more than 1,100 affiliates worldwide through CNN Newsource. CNN International is a Warner Bros. Discovery company.

BEIJING, Nov. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bairong Inc. (the “Company”, “we” , “us” or “our” ; HKEX: 6608), a leading AI turnkey service provider, recently established a strategic ecosystem partnership with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. Leveraging its cutting-edge technology architecture and extensive customer experience, Bairong Inc aims to accelerate the large-scale and intelligent development of “financial agents”, accelerating the financial industry entry into the AI era.

Bairong Inc. officially signed an in-depth strategic cooperation agreement with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank (Hong Kong Branch) and SPDB International Holdings Limited in November, 2025. Through this partnership, the parties will jointly explore the deep integration of finance and technology, build a long-term “AI + finance” strategic cooperation alliance, and create an open, intelligent, and mutually beneficial new ecosystem for bank-enterprise collaboration.

Against the backdrop of global digitalization and the rapid evolution of the artificial intelligence industry, technology has become a driving force behind the transformation of the financial industry.

As the first state-owned commercial bank in the industry to explore the technology-driven financial service model, SPD Bank has always attached great importance to the expansion and upgrading of its technology financial business. Focusing on the “five key tasks” of the Central Financial Work Conference, the bank has established a “digital intelligence” strategy, and has taken science and technology finance as its top strategic priority, continuously strengthening its presence in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and other fields.

At the same time, as a leading AI native technology enterprise in China, Bairong Inc. has long been deeply involved in the industrial application of artificial intelligence technologies.  The Company has developed a core technology framework that includes its AI agent platform (Bairong CybotStar), self-developed large model (BR-LLM), intelligent decision-making engine, intelligent risk control and marketing middle platform, and has consistently played a key role in the process of financial intelligent transformation.

Leveraging its “Result as a Service (RaaS)” business model, Bairong Inc. deeply integrates AI technology with financial business scenarios. Through its “silicon-based workforce” concept, it helps financial institutions build intelligent system architectures that are practical, evolvable and measurable, enabling end-to-end intelligent upgrades from front-end marketing to middle-office risk management and back-office operations, and accelerating the financial industry transition toward a new era of intelligence and efficiency.

The strong cooperation between SPD and Bairong Inc. is not only the result of a shared vision, but also the beginning of joint innovation in action.

Leveraging this strategic collaboration as an opportunity, the parties will fully integrate their technological strengths and resource advantages to carry out systematic joint development in key areas such as agent platform construction, AI-driven business innovation, intelligent risk management, and customer service enhancements. Bairong Inc. will provide SPD with customizable AI hubs and enterprise-level intelligent agent capabilities, empowering the bank to achieve AI-driven transformation across core functions such as intelligent financial management, credit decision-making, risk monitoring, cross-border finance, asset management, and customer operations, unleashing the multiplier effect of artificial intelligence across the entire financial value chain.

Amid the deep integration of technology and finance, a future-oriented intelligent financial practice is taking shape. Driven by innovation, empowered by intelligence, and connected through ecosystem collaboration, this strategic alliance between Bairong Inc. and Shanghai Pudong Development marks an important milestone in bank-enterprise integration, and sets a new benchmark for the new era of “AI + finance”. With the power of science and technology and the wisdom of finance, Bairong Inc. will join hands with its partners to embark on the boundless journey toward the intelligent economy.

About Bairong

Bairong Inc. is a leading enterprise-level AI application service provider, delivering AI Agent to institutional clients through its Results-as-a-service (RaaS) business model. The Company applies large language models (LLMs), reinforcement learning (RL), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), multimodal intelligence, natural language processing (NLP), deep machine learning, digital human 3D engines, privacy computing, cloud computing and other technologies. Leveraging its proprietary BR-LLM large language model and its agent buidling system Bairong CybotStar（百融百工）, the Company enables clients to automate end-to-end internal operations management and external business transactions. Both “Bairong CybotStar（百融百工）” and BR-LLM have completed national regulatory registration. The Company holds over 95% of intellectual property rights among its product portfolio, and a total of 461 software copyrights and patents as of June 30, 2025. Bairong serves more than 8,000 institutional customers across industries including finance, internet, retail, communications, education and healthcare, with AI Agent services applied in scenarios such as marketing recommendation and sales collaboration, intelligent customer service and outbound calls, contract, invoice and system analysis, credit assessment and fraud prevention, claims settlement and records management, as well as recruitment and operations and training empowerment.

For more information, please visit: http://ir.brgroup.com

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminologies such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and the negative of these words and other similar expressions or statements. Bairong may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the HKEx, in its annual and interim reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors, or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Bairong’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the following: Bairong’s strategies, future business development, and financial condition and results of operations; Bairong’s limited operating history; risks associated with the financial service industry, Bairong’s ability to develop and deliver services of high quality and appeal to clients; Bairong’s ability to generate positive cash flow and profits; Bairong’s ability to compete successfully; Bairong’s ability to build its brand and withstand negative publicity; and changes in client demand and government incentives, subsidies, or other favorable government policies. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Bairong’s filings with the HKEX. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Bairong does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required under applicable laws.

For investor inquiries, please contact:
Bairong Inc.
Ms. Sandy Qin, CFA, CMA, FCG HKFCG
Email: ir@brgroup.com

For media inquiries, please contact:
Bairong Inc.
Email: brmarketing@brgroup.com