Asia-Pacific (APAC), June 2025 – In a significant signal of how Artificial Intelligence is reshaping retail across Asia-Pacific, a new survey from global financial technology company Adyen reveals that over 33% of consumers in the APAC region are already using AI-powered tools as part of their shopping journeys. From personalized recommendations and chatbots to smart inventory and real-time payment solutions, AI has begun to deeply influence consumer behavior, transforming not just how people shop—but how businesses operate.
As retailers in countries such as Singapore, Japan, India, Australia, and South Korea race to stay competitive, they are embracing AI not just as a supplement, but as a core component of their digital commerce strategies.
A Consumer-Led AI Adoption Wave
The Adyen research highlights a consumer-led push towards smart retailing. Approximately one in three shoppers in APAC now interact with AI tools while making purchase decisions. These include:
- Conversational AI chatbots offering 24/7 customer support
- AI-powered product recommendations based on browsing and purchase history
- Dynamic pricing engines that adjust based on real-time demand
- Voice-enabled commerce, especially among mobile-first populations
More impressively, the number is expected to surpass 50% by 2026, as retailers across the region increase their investment in AI-driven platforms and as consumer trust in digital tools grows.
This evolving landscape represents a paradigm shift in the retail experience—pushing businesses to become smarter, more agile, and deeply personalized.
Markets Leading the Charge
While the AI shopping trend spans the entire Asia-Pacific region, certain countries are clearly leading the adoption curve.
- Singapore boasts one of the highest AI usage rates in retail, driven by a tech-savvy population and supportive government policy.
- India, with its massive and increasingly digital consumer base, has seen exponential growth in machine learning applications in e-commerce platforms like Flipkart, Amazon India, and Reliance Retail.
- Japan leverages AI in robotics and customer service kiosks in stores, creating a hybrid in-person and digital experience.
- Australia is utilizing AI primarily in the fintech-retail crossover space, integrating real-time fraud detection and smart wallets.
- South Korea integrates AI with immersive technologies such as AR/VR in cosmetics and fashion shopping, offering customers virtual try-ons powered by data science algorithms.
Each of these markets presents a slightly different picture of how Artificial Intelligence is adapting to local needs—but the common thread remains a rapidly growing reliance on intelligent automation and personalization.
What Are Consumers Saying?
The survey also delves into consumer sentiment around AI in shopping. Surprisingly, the response is overwhelmingly positive. Some key insights:
- 78% of APAC consumers say they are more likely to buy from brands that use AI to provide personalized offers or faster service.
- 65% report that they’ve interacted with AI without even realizing it—demonstrating how seamlessly the technology is integrating into digital touchpoints.
- 41% express interest in using AI-powered virtual shopping assistants in the near future.
Such data suggests that AI is not seen as intrusive, but rather as a welcome enabler—one that makes digital shopping faster, easier, and more relevant.
Retailers Respond: Investments in AI Surge
Retailers aren’t blind to these shifts. The APAC region has seen a notable surge in AI investment, particularly post-pandemic, when digital transformation became a survival strategy. From small online sellers to regional conglomerates, brands are investing in:
- AI chatbots for multilingual support
- Predictive inventory management
- Personalized marketing engines
- Fraud detection and payment risk assessment, relevant to both retail and Cybersecurity
- Voice commerce integrations with smart devices and gadgets
Notably, the luxury and fast-fashion segments are investing the most, as customer expectations for speed and personalization continue to rise.
Retailers are also embracing WebDev solutions that integrate AI functionalities at the design and user experience level—ensuring smarter interfaces that reduce friction and improve retention rates.
For more examples of AI transforming consumer technology, visit Tech Thrilled, your home for emerging innovations and smart shopping news.
The Future of AI Shopping in APAC
The implications of this shift are massive—not just in terms of consumer experience but also for employment, supply chains, and digital infrastructure.
Experts predict that by 2028:
- AI-driven shopping assistants will become mainstream across mobile and in-store retail environments
- Tokenomics-based loyalty programs using blockchain and smart contracts may emerge to reward consumer interaction and data sharing
- Advanced AI tools will allow even small businesses to compete on a level playing field with large e-commerce platforms
As generative AI becomes more accessible, retailers are also experimenting with content generation—automating product descriptions, personalized marketing messages, and even AI-generated visuals for ads and listings.
Challenges Ahead: Privacy, Trust, and Fair Access
Despite the clear benefits, integrating AI into shopping experiences isn’t without its challenges. Privacy and data protection remain top concerns for consumers, especially in regions where data regulations are still evolving.
Additionally, some users are concerned about the impersonality of AI—fearing that algorithms might override human intuition or cultural nuances in purchasing experiences. To counter this, brands are blending AI with human support, offering AI-human hybrid models that provide both efficiency and emotional intelligence.
There’s also the issue of digital divide—rural and older populations in some countries still struggle to access or trust AI-powered tools, highlighting the need for inclusive design and education.
Governments and tech firms across the region are expected to play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges, ensuring responsible AI adoption while maintaining Cybersecurity standards and ethical frameworks.
Case Studies: Retailers Doing It Right
Several companies in APAC are already setting the benchmark for successful AI integration in retail:
- Tokopedia (Indonesia): Uses AI for personalized homepage layouts and payment fraud detection.
- Tata Neu (India): Integrates a super-app strategy powered by AI to unify shopping, travel, and finance in one platform.
- Woolworths (Australia): Uses AI for demand forecasting and supply chain optimization, reducing food waste and improving delivery accuracy.
- Lotte (South Korea): Employs in-store robots and virtual mirrors powered by AI to enhance customer engagement.
These brands are not just using AI as a buzzword—they are embedding it deeply into their operations to drive real value for consumers and stakeholders alike.
Explore more such success stories by visiting our dedicated press release section.
The Role of Fintech: Smarter Payments with AI
Beyond the retail interface, AI is transforming payments in the APAC region. From AI-driven fraud detection to dynamic pricing and loyalty reward prediction, fintech players are now crucial enablers of smart commerce.
Adyen itself has rolled out AI-enhanced payment systems that analyze transaction behavior in real-time, improving authorization rates and detecting fraudulent activity without compromising on speed.
This convergence of retail and finance—commonly dubbed “retailtech”—is rapidly becoming the norm, pushing traditional banks and payment systems to innovate or risk irrelevance.
A Broader Trend in the AI Economy
The rise of AI-powered shopping in APAC is part of a broader shift toward a tech-centric, digital-first economy. Whether it’s through smart wearables, voice assistants, or blockchain-powered digital identities, the future of consumer interaction is intelligent, seamless, and hyper-personalized.
With global tech giants and regional innovators alike investing heavily, the region is quickly becoming a testbed for next-generation commerce.
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Final Words: The Shopping Experience of Tomorrow
What we’re witnessing in Asia-Pacific today is not just an incremental improvement—but a full-blown reinvention of how people discover, evaluate, and purchase products. AI has moved from the background to the center of this transformation.
As adoption deepens and innovation accelerates, AI won’t just change the tools we use—it will change what consumers expect, how businesses grow, and how economies evolve.
For shoppers, this means faster, smarter, and more delightful experiences. For retailers, it means agility, precision, and scalability. For the APAC region, it’s a leap into the forefront of the global digital economy.
Call to Action:
If you’re a business looking to tap into this AI retail revolution, now is the time. Evaluate your digital stack, embrace automation, and reimagine what customer engagement can be.
Consumers: have you interacted with AI during your shopping experience? Share your story below, comment with your favorite AI shopping tool, and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for deeper dives into the AI-powered future.