A growing majority of internet users in Bangladesh are incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into their daily lives, marking a rapid digital transformation across the country. According to Telenor Asia’s new report, “Digital Lives Decoded: Bangladesh”, approximately 90% of respondents reported using AI in some form—highlighting the deep integration of AI technologies in Bangladeshi society.
The study surveyed 1,000 digitally connected individuals aged 16–64 and found that AI adoption in Bangladesh is being primarily driven by mobile usage, which has become the backbone of the country’s digital ecosystem.
AI uses and trends in Bangladesh
The most common use case for AI in Bangladesh is social media, with 48% of respondents engaging AI tools in this space. Interestingly, Bangladeshi mobile users are more inclined than users in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand to employ AI for practical purposes—44% use AI at work, 39% for entertainment, 30% for daily tasks, and 22% for both financial activities and health and fitness. Even travel (20%) and online shopping (19%) see significant AI usage.
This trend is led primarily by millennials, who are more engaged with AI tools than Gen Z. More than half of millennials use AI for social media and work, with over a quarter adopting it for financial management and fitness tracking.
Optimism and economic impacts
Bangladeshis hold a generally optimistic view about the role of AI. Around two-thirds believe AI will have a positive impact on both job security and the national economy. In particular, education is seen as the area most likely to benefit, with 8 in 10 respondents identifying AI’s potential to revolutionize learning through adaptability and accessibility.
AI in the Bangladeshi workplace
Bangladeshi professionals are leading the region in AI adoption in the workplace. Nearly half of male mobile users and 37% of women report using AI tools at work, surpassing usage levels in other Southeast Asian nations.
Users who engage AI at work are also more inclined to trust AI-generated content, especially in areas such as:
- AI chatbots and virtual assistants (56%)
- Threat detection (47%)
- Predictive analysis (45%)
This strong workplace adoption may reflect Bangladesh’s accelerated digitalization, but also signals a gap in regulatory safeguards compared to more mature markets like Singapore or Malaysia.
Rising data concerns
With the growing integration of AI, concerns about data security and privacy are intensifying. Professionals using AI are especially wary of:
- Lack of transparency in data usage (+31%)
- Excessive data collection without clear consent (+21%)
- Unauthorized access to personal information (+21%)
There is also unease about reduced critical thinking and over-dependence on AI, particularly among older generations.
Bangladeshi users are more worried than their regional peers about the erosion of problem-solving skills and the risks of identity theft, deep-fakes, and network attacks. Alarmingly, 7 in 10 mobile users in Bangladesh are concerned about online account security, while 30% cite network threats as a top issue—significantly higher than in neighboring countries.
The path ahead
Despite these concerns, the report paints a picture of a nation where mobile-driven AI is improving lives. People in Bangladesh are using AI to gain new skills, stay connected, and feel safer in the digital world.
As AI becomes more embedded in Bangladeshi society, there is a pressing need for:
- Public awareness campaigns
- Responsible AI education and training
- Robust policy frameworks around AI ethics and data handling
Bangladesh’s youth and workforce are embracing AI with enthusiasm, placing the country on a promising path toward a more digitally inclusive and intelligent future. However, ensuring safe, equitable, and transparent AI usage will be crucial to maintaining public trust and maximizing the technology’s long-term benefits.
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