Southeast Asia Seeks Artificial Intelligence - Profit Growth Not Just in Subscription Fees

The report shows that the number of users of generative AI in Southeast Asia has reached approximately 243 million in less than three years, equivalent to 58% of the local labor force, and four times the speed of mobile internet adoption.

However, only 1% to 2% of the population will pay for personal AI subscriptions, highlighting a significant gap between AI’s high adoption rate and consumers’ willingness to pay directly.

Companies have found alternative ways to monetize AI, covering e-commerce, digital advertising, and other scenarios, such as improving e-commerce conversion rates and handling routine customer inquiries.