AI can drive business growth in Southeast Asia. But some big challenges remain

Southeast Asian digital economies are projected to expand to 263 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV) this year -- and artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to fuel further growth, if greater business value is extracted from the technology. According to the latest iteration of the e-Conomy SEA report, the region's digital economy will also be fueled by increasing user sophistication and the importance of cybersecurity. Also: How Singapore's SMBs and AI sustain a robust digital economy Jointly released by Singapore's investment firm Temasek, Google, and Bain & Company, the study taps insights and analyses from Temasek, Bain, and Google Trends, alongside data from research partners, expert interviews, and industry sources. The report covers six Southeast Asian markets: Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The study includes a projection on the region's profitability, which will hit 11 billion in 2024, up 24% from 9bn in 2023 and 101% from 4bn in 2022.