Artificial intelligence usage has surged to near-universal levels in Bangladesh, with 96% of internet users now relying on AI — up from 88% last year — making the country one of the fastest adopters of everyday AI in Asia, according to Telenor Asia’s Digital Lives Decoded 2025 report released on Monday.
The study identifies mobile phones as the primary driver of this rapid adoption, showing how smartphones are enabling everything from online learning and remote work to budgeting, health tracking and routine decision-making.
“As mobile phones continue to transform daily life in Bangladesh, they have become powerful enablers of smarter, more connected communities,” said Telenor Asia Head Jon Omund Revhaug. “Connectivity is the foundation, and trust must be built into every layer.”
The report, based on a survey of 1,000 internet users, underscores that AI’s growth has been accompanied by a rising need for responsible, ethical and safe adoption.
Data from the study shows sharply increasing mobile-driven activity. Remote work rose by 39% over the past year, while budgeting and expense tracking increased by 36%.
Generational patterns also reveal that millennials lead in adopting AI-powered tools such as smart home controls, health monitoring apps and voice assistants, pointing to deeper integration of AI into daily life.
Nearly six in ten respondents reported using AI every day, particularly to create content, seek personalised advice on health or finance, or support online purchasing decisions.
Trust levels in AI-generated educational content and chatbots are high, and this confidence is fuelling optimism about the technology’s broader potential to enhance learning and contribute to economic growth.
AI adoption in the workplace has expanded significantly as well, jumping from 44% to 62% this year.
However, only half of users say their organisations have a formal AI strategy — a gap the report describes as an “untapped opportunity” for structured and responsible AI integration.
While writing and content creation remain the most common workplace uses, just 28% use AI to manage repetitive administrative tasks, indicating that many professionals may still be unaware of AI’s full productivity benefits.
At the same time, the study highlights growing unease among younger users, who use AI most frequently yet express concern over job security, privacy risks and becoming overly dependent on the technology.
This tension, the report says, reflects a “blend of enthusiasm and caution” as AI embeds itself more deeply into daily routines.
“Alongside the optimism surrounding AI’s potential in Bangladesh, a pressing reality remains,” Revhaug said. “Without access to connectivity or the skills to navigate the digital world safely, people risk being left behind.”
He said closing the digital divide must be a collective effort to ensure every citizen can participate in — and benefit from — an AI-enabled future.
