Artificial intelligence (AI) use continues to grow across ASEAN as more companies start using it in their daily operations, according to new data from cloud computing company Amazon Web Services (AWS).
AWS said start-ups are still among the first to use AI in the region. Usage is at 55% in Vietnam, 50% in Thailand, and 45% in the Philippines. The company said this shows how many young businesses now rely on digital tools, especially in countries where more people are coming online every day.
About 61% of ASEAN’s population, or around 383 million people, is under 35. the The company said this young and tech-savvy group helps drive the demand for online services, digital payments, and AI tools. The region is also adding around 125,000 new internet users per day.
“We want to make sure we bring our services and AI technologies as close as possible to our customers,” Jeff Johnson, managing director of AWS in Asean, said during a media briefing at AWS re:Invent in Las Vegas.
Johnson said more companies are now building processes with AI built in from the start, instead of adding AI features later on. He said this shift is becoming more common across Southeast Asia as organizations look for ways to use data, automation, and cloud tools in everyday work.
The company’s data showed that 29% of businesses in ASEAN, including the Philippines, used AI in 2024. This is up from 21% in 2023. While more companies are adopting AI, many are still in the early stages. AWS said 73% of businesses are still at basic levels of AI use, 15% are at the intermediate level, and 11% are at more advanced stages.
To help more people and companies learn these tools, the company has been investing in training, cloud infrastructure, and support programs. Across ASEAN, 1.8 million people have taken cloud and AI training under AWS programs. More than 100,000 of these trainees were in Thailand.
The AWS Activate program, which gives credits and technical support to startups, has helped 330,000 companies worldwide. Many of these are in Southeast Asia, and AWS said it has provided $7 billion in credits to help startups build and grow digital products.
In the Philippines, the company said more companies are beginning to test how generative AI can support their teams and internal operations. Smart Communications and Globe Telecom are among the local organizations using AWS tools for digital systems. UnionBank of the Philippines also announced during AWS re:Invent that it is partnering with AWS to roll out generative AI (GenAI) tools for employees.
The company continues to support AI and cloud projects in industries such as farming, banking, manufacturing, and education. These efforts aim to make operations simpler, reduce costs, and improve access to services like financial tools and online learning.
Johnson said AWS is still looking at possible new investments in Southeast Asia based on local policies, infrastructure, and customer needs. He said the company plans to grow along with the region’s expanding digital economy.
