AI Powered Startups Accelerate Revenue Growth in Cambodia
Cambodian startups and local digital applications that integrate AI powered features are experiencing a sharp rise in revenue as the country’s digital economy enters a phase of exceptional expansion, reflecting growing confidence among consumers and businesses in intelligent technologies that enhance efficiency, personalization, and decision making across multiple sectors.
Strong Market Momentum Driven by Regional Digital Transformation
Cambodia’s artificial intelligence market is gaining notable traction, with local startups reporting strong financial performance as AI adoption deepens nationwide, according to the ‘e Conomy SEA 2025’ report jointly compiled by Google, Temasek and Bain and Company, which positions Cambodia as an emerging contributor to Southeast Asia’s rapidly evolving digital ecosystem.
Revenue Growth Signals Cambodia’s Rising Digital Role
The report highlights that Cambodian startups offering AI powered features recorded an 86 percent increase in revenue between the first half of 2024 and the first half of 2025, underscoring how the country is transitioning from early adoption to tangible commercial returns within the broader ASEAN digital economy.
Next Wave ASEAN Markets Gain Investor Attention
Cambodia is classified among the region’s next wave ASEAN markets, defined by relatively low user penetration but rapidly increasing AI related revenues, a combination that signals strong upside potential as digital infrastructure improves and consumer familiarity with advanced technologies continues to expand.
High Awareness and Daily Use Among Cambodian Consumers
Survey data from the report shows widespread awareness and frequent use of AI tools in Cambodia, with 82 percent of respondents stating they had learned about AI through multiple channels and 75 percent reporting daily interaction with AI features, demonstrating how quickly intelligent tools are becoming embedded in everyday digital behavior.
Chatbots and Decision Support Drive Practical Adoption
More than one third of users, representing 38 percent of respondents, regularly converse with AI chatbots to ask questions or seek information, while 47 percent expect AI to help them make decisions faster and with less mental effort, highlighting the growing perception of AI as a practical productivity enhancer rather than a novelty.
What Motivates Users to Pay for AI Features
Key motivations for adopting or paying for AI powered services include saving time on research and product comparisons, receiving more personalized recommendations, and benefiting from improved security and fraud protection, all of which directly align with consumer priorities in an increasingly digital marketplace.
Regional Digital Economy Growth Reinforces Local Gains
Cambodia’s AI performance mirrors broader Southeast Asia trends, with the regional digital economy projected to surpass 300 billion dollars in gross merchandise value, supported by steady year on year growth of around 15 percent driven by deeper digital participation and new monetization strategies such as tiered services and diversified revenue streams.
AI Reshapes How Consumers Discover and Buy
The report notes that traditional linear search journeys are being replaced by dynamic AI powered discovery processes, as consumers rely on enhanced search tools and multimodal inputs to handle complex queries, compelling businesses to rethink how they guide customers from initial interest to final purchase.
Trust and Regulation Remain Key Challenges
Despite strong enthusiasm for AI, consumer trust remains a critical hurdle, with users cautious about allowing AI to manage high impact decisions due to privacy, data security, and reliability concerns, prompting the report to stress the importance of transparency, user control, and trustworthy system design.
A Decade of Digital Expansion Sets the Stage for the Future
Over the past decade, Southeast Asia’s digital economy has grown from about 40 billion dollars in gross merchandise value to more than 300 billion dollars in 2025, with a decisive shift toward monetization since 2024 expected to push digital economy revenue to 135 billion dollars, an eleven fold increase despite challenges such as the pandemic and inflation.
Conclusion
Cambodia’s rapid AI driven revenue growth reflects a broader transformation underway in the country’s digital economy, where rising consumer awareness, practical use cases, and regional momentum are converging to create new opportunities, and while trust and regulatory clarity remain essential priorities, the trajectory suggests that AI powered innovation will play an increasingly central role in shaping Cambodia’s economic future.