Southeast Asia's $368B digital economy rides AI surge to $1T by 2035

southeast asia's digital economy is surging, with a projected value of $368 billion in 2026 and $1 trillion by 2035. generative ai is driving this growth, with 243 million people, or 58% of the working population, using ai for daily tasks. ai adoption is growing four times faster than mobile internet and is transforming sectors like e-commerce, online travel, and digital financial services. to sustain this momentum, the region must prioritize expanding data center infrastructure, improving energy efficiency, and establishing unified digital trade policies. widespread ai implementation is propelling the region's digital economy to grow 17% year-on-year.