Over Half of Hong Kong Workers Surveyed Say AI Is Making Retirement More Unpredictable; Only 1 in 5 Feel Financially Prepared

A majority expect retirement to happen in stages, as AI widens the range of possible career and retirement paths

HONG KONG, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- More than half (55%) of Hong Kong working adults surveyed say artificial intelligence (AI) will make their path toward retirement more unpredictable than that of the previous generation, yet only 21% feel fully or substantially financially prepared to stay on track for their ideal retirement if AI changes their work, income or path toward retirement, according to a survey conducted by T. Rowe Price, a global asset management firm and a leader in retirement investment management.

This AI-related uncertainty comes as retirement itself is becoming less linear. Among respondents with a clear view on how they will retire, nearly three-quarters (72%) expect to move toward retirement through multiple stages rather than transition directly from full-time work into retirement. Meanwhile, 63% believe the growing use of AI in the workplace will increase the need for flexible retirement arrangements.

The 2026 T. Rowe Price Hong Kong Retirement Survey was conducted in August 2026 among 1,004 Hong Kong residents age 30 or older who were undertaking paid work and earning at least HK$15,000 per month.

Workers in their 30s expect particularly pronounced AI-related uncertainty. Among respondents aged 30 to 39, 61% expect AI to make their path toward retirement more unpredictable. The finding suggests that workers with longer careers ahead may increasingly need to plan for a wider range of possible career, income and retirement outcomes.

AI Could Take Working and Retirement Lives in Different Directions

Respondents expect AI to reshape working lives in both positive and disruptive ways. Over half (56%) think AI is likely to enable more flexible ways of working, while 43% see the potential for new career, business or income opportunities. At the same time, 70% expect to need new skills to adapt to AI-related changes, and 49% expect AI to disrupt their employment or business income.

This mix of opportunity and disruption could also affect when people retire. Some 72% are already using or would consider using AI to work more efficiently so they can extend their careers, while 60% have already started or would consider using AI to reduce their working hours or move towards retirement earlier than expected. The findings suggest AI could shift retirement timing in either direction.

AI could also make retirement less of a one-way exit. Some 69% have already returned or would consider returning to paid work after retiring from their main career, using AI to work more flexibly or effectively. AI could add further stages before retirement too: 81% have started or would consider investing time or money in developing skills that may become more valuable in the age of AI, 73% using AI to work independently through freelance, consulting or project-based work, and 58% using AI to start a business or side business.

However, financial preparation for these possibilities is much lower. Among those considering each path, only 35% have prepared financially for extending their careers, 27% for reducing working hours or moving towards retirement earlier, and 26% for returning to paid work after retirement.

Raymond Chan, Head of Greater China Intermediary Distribution at T. Rowe Price, said:

"Retirement is becoming less of a single point in time and more of a journey. AI adds another layer of uncertainty because it could enable some people to work longer or more flexibly, while prompting others to reskill, reduce their hours or rethink when they retire.

"Our survey suggests the question is no longer simply how much people need to retire, but whether their financial plans can adapt to different ways of getting there. As working lives become more varied, financial flexibility becomes increasingly important as career length, income and retirement paths change."

Financial Flexibility Has Yet to Keep Pace

Nearly 60% of respondents believe they will need more than HK$5 million in savings and investments to retire with peace of mind, including 22% who believe they will need more than HK$10 million.

AI could make that target harder to plan around, with 44% saying the potential impact of AI on their work, income and retirement journey means they will need more money for retirement. Yet only 21% feel fully or substantially financially prepared to stay on track for their ideal retirement if AI changes their work, income or retirement path. The planning gap is similarly stark: just 15% have a comprehensive retirement plan that they review regularly.

The most common financial response to AI is focused on short-term resilience: 43% have built or increased an emergency savings buffer, compared with only 28% who have reviewed or changed their retirement investment mix.

This short-term response contrasts with what respondents say they want from their retirement investments, with 40% citing inflation protection as one of the most important features of a retirement investment approach and a similar proportion (39%) citing long-term growth.

Wenting Shen, Global Investment Solutions Strategist and Portfolio Manager at T. Rowe Price, said:

"Building an emergency savings buffer is a sensible way to prepare for the short-term uncertainty workers may face in the age of AI, but an emergency fund and a long-term retirement investment strategy serve very different purposes. Retirement may last for decades, and holding too much of a long-term retirement portfolio in cash can leave purchasing power vulnerable to inflation. That matters when respondents themselves identify inflation protection and long-term growth as important retirement investment needs.

"If people retire earlier, later or in stages, their investment horizon and risk needs may change too. That makes it important to have an investment framework that can adapt over time, while allowing investors to adjust their retirement approach if their circumstances change.

"A retirement glide path is one such framework, gradually adjusting the balance between growth and more defensive assets as an investor moves toward and through retirement. This disciplined approach to asset allocation can help balance long-term growth, retirement income objectives and changing risk capacity, while providing flexibility as the retirement journey evolves."

To learn more about the survey findings and explore retirement planning resources, visit T. Rowe Price Hong Kong's retirement website at: troweprice.com/hk/retirement

About T. Rowe Price

T. Rowe Price is a leading global asset management firm, entrusted with managing US$1.89 trillion in client assets as of June 30, 2026, about two-thirds of which are retirement-related^[1]. Renowned for over 85 years of investment excellence, retirement leadership, and independent proprietary research, the firm leverages its longstanding expertise to ask better questions that can drive better investment decisions. Built on a culture of integrity and prioritizing client interests, T. Rowe Price empowers millions of investors worldwide to thrive amidst evolving markets. For more information, visit troweprice.com.

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[1] Firmwide AUM includes assets managed by T. Rowe Price Associates, and its investment advisory affiliates, in addition to SMA Model Delivery.

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Over Half of Hong Kong Workers Surveyed Say AI Is Making Retirement More Unpredictable; Only 1 in 5 Feel Financially Prepared

BEIJING, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- T-MAXIMUM PHARMACEUTICAL ("T-MAXIMUM") today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the company to initiate a Phase 2 clinical study of MT027, its internally developed, B7-H3-targeted universal (allogeneic) CAR-T therapy, for the treatment of patients with brain metastases from lung cancer and breast cancer.

This is the second Phase 2 study of MT027 to receive FDA clearance. MT027 was previously cleared by the FDA to proceed with a Phase 2 study in recurrent glioblastoma, and has been granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and Fast Track Designation (FTD). With two FDA-cleared Phase 2 programs, T-MAXIMUM has established a dual-indication portfolio for universal CAR-T therapy covering both primary and metastatic intracranial solid tumors.

Brain Metastases: An Unanswered Clinical Question Despite Advances in Systemic Therapy

Brain metastases commonly arise in patients with lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, and colorectal cancer. International studies estimate that approximately 20% of cancer patients may develop brain metastases over the course of their disease, a proportion that can reach 20% to 40% among patients with advanced solid tumors.^[1][2] For patients, this means far more than an additional lesion on imaging: brain metastases may be accompanied by headaches, seizures, and cognitive and motor impairment, directly affecting daily life and subsequent treatment options.

This is a truly global clinical challenge. In 2022, there were nearly 20 million new cancer cases worldwide, including nearly 2.5 million new cases of lung cancer and approximately 2.3 million new cases of female breast cancer – the two leading primary tumor types giving rise to brain metastases.^[3] Asia accounts for roughly half of all new cancer cases globally;^[4] in the United States, an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 patients are newly diagnosed with brain metastases each year.^[2] This large patient population means brain metastasis is not a niche need, but a question that oncology worldwide must continue to answer.

Systemic therapies can help control disease throughout the body, but treatment of intracranial lesions often remains constrained by multiple factors, including the blood-brain barrier, tumor heterogeneity, and the need to preserve neurological function. This is especially true for patients who experience intracranial progression after prior therapy, for whom there remains a need for more treatment options that are validated intracranially while balancing safety and accessibility.

Consecutive Clinical Milestones Built on Long-Term Product and Translational Groundwork

MT027's recent series of regulatory milestones is no coincidence. It reflects an integrated capability across product, manufacturing, clinical development, and regulatory affairs built around intracranial solid tumors – one that is now advancing from early exploration toward more systematic clinical validation.

First, a foundation of clinical data. The company has accumulated sustained clinical experience in local delivery, repeat dosing, and safety monitoring for intracranial solid tumors. Years of clinical experience and data with MT027 have already led to two FDA-cleared Phase 2 programs. Data from an investigator-initiated trial (IIT) of MT026, a program built on the same platform, were published in Nature Communications in 2026: among 5 patients with recurrent high-grade glioma, 1 complete response and 3 partial responses were observed, for an objective response rate (ORR) of 80%, with no treatment-related Grade 3 or higher adverse events.

Early clinical data for MT027 in patients with refractory brain metastases from lung cancer were previously presented at the IASLC 2026 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC 2026). Five heavily pretreated patients with no guideline-recommended subsequent treatment options completed treatment; among the 3 evaluable patients, 2 partial responses were observed. The safety profile was favorable, with no Grade 3 or higher adverse events and no graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). These rigorous exploratory clinical studies provide an important basis for the clinical translation of allogeneic, locally delivered CAR-T therapy in intracranial solid tumors.

Second, a well-defined manufacturing process. MT027 is manufactured using a fully non-viral gene-editing process – a generational departure from the industry's mainstream lentiviral vector approach – offering potential advantages in product safety, batch-to-batch consistency, and cost control. The manufacturing process was established and locked prior to entering Phase 2 clinical development.

Third, leadership measured not only by getting there first, but by advancing systematically. For an innovative cell therapy company, leadership in regulatory progress comes from coordinated advancement across product, manufacturing, clinical development, and regulatory strategy. MT027's consecutive entry into FDA-cleared Phase 2 clinical development demonstrates T-MAXIMUM's ability to translate its prior groundwork into a repeatable and scalable clinical development capability.

Management Commentary

"Receiving FDA clearance for two consecutive Phase 2 studies of MT027 marks a pivotal step built on our sustained work in intracranial solid tumors. From glioma to brain metastases, we have always let the data speak and put clinical value first. Going forward, we will continue to rigorously evaluate the product's safety and potential clinical value through well-designed clinical studies, steadily advancing product supply, clinical execution, and the generation of key data, as we explore new possibilities for patients who lack effective treatment options."

About MT027

MT027 is an investigational, B7-H3-targeted universal (allogeneic) CAR-T cell therapy developed by T-MAXIMUM using a fully non-viral gene-editing process and administered via local intracranial delivery. MT027 has received FDA Orphan Drug Designation and Fast Track Designation and is being evaluated in FDA-cleared Phase 2 studies in recurrent glioblastoma and in brain metastases from lung cancer and breast cancer.

About T-MAXIMUM PHARMACEUTICAL

T-MAXIMUM PHARMACEUTICAL is a clinical-stage cell therapy company focused on developing universal (allogeneic) CAR-T therapies for intracranial solid tumors with high unmet medical need, including recurrent glioblastoma and brain metastases. Through engineered cell therapies, local delivery strategies, and clinical translation capabilities, the Company is advancing more accessible treatment approaches with the potential to support repeat dosing. Its lead program, MT027, is a B7-H3-targeted universal CAR-T therapy that has received FDA clearance to initiate Phase 2 clinical studies in recurrent glioblastoma and brain metastases. MT027 has also received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) in high-grade glioma and Fast Track Designation (FTD) for recurrent or progressive glioblastoma. T-MAXIMUM is working to translate its accumulated capabilities in product development, manufacturing, and clinical execution into continued innovation across both primary and metastatic intracranial solid tumors, with the goal of creating new possibilities for patients with limited treatment options.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the clinical development, potential therapeutic benefits, manufacturing advantages, and regulatory progress of MT027 and other product candidates. These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those inherent in clinical development, regulatory review, and manufacturing, that could cause actual results to differ materially. Early clinical results from small numbers of patients may not be predictive of results in larger studies. MT027 is an investigational product, and its safety and efficacy have not been established. T-MAXIMUM undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by law.

References

[1] Achrol AS, et al. Brain metastases. Nature Reviews Disease Primers. 2019;5:5. DOI: 10.1038/s41572-018-0055-y

[2] Moravan MJ, et al. Current multidisciplinary management of brain metastases. Cancer. 2020;126:1390-1406. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.32714

[3] Bray F, et al. Global cancer statistics 2022. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024. DOI: 10.3322/caac.21834; IARC GLOBOCAN 2022

[4] Current and future burden of breast cancer in Asia: A GLOBOCAN data analysis for 2022 and 2050. 2024

[1] Achrol AS, et al. Brain metastases. Nature Reviews Disease Primers. 2019;5:5. DOI: 10.1038/s41572-018-0055-y

[2] Moravan MJ, et al. Current multidisciplinary management of brain metastases. Cancer. 2020;126:1390-1406. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.32714

[3] Bray F, et al. Global cancer statistics 2022. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024. DOI: 10.3322/caac.21834; IARC GLOBOCAN 2022

[4] Current and future burden of breast cancer in Asia: A GLOBOCAN data analysis for 2022 and 2050. 2024

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T-MAXIMUM's B7-H3-Targeted Allogeneic CAR-T MT027 Receives FDA Clearance for Phase 2 Study in Brain Metastases from Lung and Breast Cancer