Southeast Asia’s digital economy is projected to reach $368 billion in gross merchandise value in 2026, up 17% from a year earlier, according to the latest e-Conomy SEA report from Google, Temasek and Bain & Company.
The report estimates that 243 million people in the region, equal to 58% of its working population, actively use generative AI. It says adoption is expanding four times faster than mobile internet did and forecasts a 60-fold rise in regional AI usage over the next five years.
Consumer interest is moving beyond answers toward transactions. In the report’s survey, 75% said they would let an AI agent compare prices and complete purchases, while respondents also asked for privacy protections, clear limits and the ability to reverse transactions.
That growth requires physical capacity as well as software. The authors estimate Southeast Asia will need roughly three times as much data-center capacity within five years, alongside better energy efficiency and regional digital-trade rules. The figures are projections from an industry-sponsored report, not guaranteed outcomes.