Southeast Asia is hungry for AI — and the money isn't just in subscriptions
The region's AI growth is broad-based, with consumer adoption running far ahead of direct subscription spending and commercial use spreading across e-commerce, ads and travel.
Generative AI adoption in Southeast Asia has reached around 243 million people in less than three years, about 58% of the working population.
Only 1% to 2% of the region's population pays for personal AI subscriptions, while businesses are finding value in online shopping and digital advertising.
The report says 75% of users are willing to let AI agents find the best prices and complete purchases, and 62% trust AI tools more than they did a year ago.