January 20, 2026 3:47AM

AI Usage in Malaysia 2026: Adoption, Trust, and What’s Next

Survey findings on who uses AI tools, key use cases, search and verification habits, and trust and privacy concerns. 

• AI is already mainstream: 67% of Malaysians say they’ve used an AI tool in the past 3 months. 
• Most Malaysians take a flexible approach: 39% say it depends on the task. 
• Trust drives behaviour: privacy and accuracy concerns are widespread, and people often double-check AI answers rather than taking them at face value.

AI is no longer something Malaysians only hear about in headlines. It is showing up in small, practical moments, helping people get started faster, simplify information, and communicate more easily. At the same time, AI is not being treated as a replacement for familiar ways of doing things. Many people are still figuring out when AI is genuinely helpful, when it needs to be checked, and how it fits alongside tools they already trust. 

Conducted in Malaysia between 29th December 2025 and 2nd January 2026, our Vodus AI Consumption in Malaysia Study aims to understand how Malaysians are using AI today, what’s shaping adoption, and what needs to happen for AI to become a more trusted, everyday tool. It looks beyond whether people have tried AI and focuses on the real behaviors behind adoption: the tasks Malaysians rely on AI for, the moments they still turn to search or official sources, and the concerns that make people cautious, especially around privacy and accuracy. 

Together, these findings offer a grounded view of where AI adoption in Malaysia stands right now, where it is uneven, and what can unlock the next wave of growth. They also highlight what this means for AI providers, businesses and brands, and policymakers and educators who want AI to be responsible, inclusive, and genuinely useful in everyday life. 

Looking for the complete set of findings, charts, and demographic breakdowns? Access the full Vodus AI Consumption in Malaysia Study for the detailed results and analysis. 

How widespread is AI usage in Malaysia, and who is left behind?

AI usage is widespread, but it is not evenly distributed. The topline number, 67% using AI in the past 3 months, masks a clear inclusion gap. 

Adoption is being driven most strongly by young working adults. Respondents aged 25 to 34 are the standout group, with only 15% saying they did not use AI recently, which implies about 85% have used it. This aligns with daily reality: people in this stage are balancing work, learning, communication, and productivity, and AI shows up as a shortcut that helps them move faster. 

Older groups are far more likely to be non users. Among those aged 55 and above, 67% say they did not use AI in the past 3 months, meaning only about one in three did. This gap is unlikely to be explained by awareness alone. It is more likely comfort, confidence, and perceived relevance. If AI feels unfamiliar or risky, many people will choose “safe and known” tools even if they see AI as interesting. 

Household income shows a similar divide. Usage is 48% among households below RM3,5k, but rises to around 80% for RM8k and above. That gap is not just about premium subscriptions. Higher-income groups tend to have better devices, more stable connectivity, and more workplace exposure to AI-enabled workflows. Lower-income groups often face more friction: less time to experiment, uncertainty about practical value, and stronger concerns about cost, data use, or safety. 

Region adds another meaningful layer. Central Malaysia leads at 78% recent usage, while Northern and Southern sit at 61% each. This likely reflects differences in digital exposure and job mix, with Central having more office-based and service-sector environments where AI features show up naturally. 

Gender and ethnicity are not the biggest drivers, but a couple of differences are worth noting. Men report slightly higher usage than women (about 70% vs 65% based on non-use rates), and Malay and Chinese respondents are similar at 69% usage, while “Others” is lower at 61%. 

What this means in practice is simple: the biggest unlock is not more hype. It is making AI easier and safer to try for groups that currently participate less. 

What tools are Malaysians using?

Most people enter AI through tools that feel familiar and require low effort. Among recent AI users, 87% report using AI chatbots or assistants. Chat wins because it is intuitive. You ask a question; you get a response. It requires little training, works in plain language, and fits mobile-first behaviour. 

Adoption expands when AI appears inside tools people already use. 44% say they use AI embedded in search engines, reflecting the growing role of AI summaries and AI-assisted answers in search. 40% use AI image or video generators or editors, showing that visual AI has become a common “try it and see” entry point, especially for quick edits and social content. 

More specialised tools remain niche. Only 10% report using AI coding assistants, which is expected because the need is narrower and the learning curve is higher. 

This pattern also helps explain demographic differences in adoption. When AI is packaged as a simple chat experience or built into common apps, it is easier for mainstream users to adopt. When AI requires configuration, technical knowledge, or a specific workflow, usage concentrates in smaller groups. 

What do people use AI for? Information, learning, and ideas lead

AI’s strongest role today is practical problem-solving. 81% use AI for searching for information or answers. This is the clearest signal in the survey: for many people, AI is not mainly about “creating content.” It is about getting clarity quickly. 

Beyond that, the next most common uses reflect everyday productivity and communication. 51% use AI for generating ideas, 48% for learning or studying, and 44% for translation. Work and writing support are also meaningful. 38% use AI for work tasks like documents, slides, or analysis, and 37% use it to draft or improve writing. 

These use cases help explain why 25 to 34 year olds are such heavy users. AI is most used for quick answers, drafting, studying, and idea generation, which are exactly the kinds of tasks that come up often in early to mid career life. 

A key nuance is that usage remains selective. People lean into AI where the cost of being wrong is low, such as drafting and brainstorming. When the stakes are higher, they shift to verification and trusted sources. That selectivity is not resistance. It is people being sensible. 

Is AI replacing search in Malaysia? Not exactly

Our findings point to a blended workflow. AI is changing how people start, but it is not removing the role of search engines and trusted sources. Many people treat AI as the first step for speed, then verify through familiar channels before trusting or acting. 

This shows up clearly. For learning new topics, 50% still use Google alongside AI. For idea generation, 50% still go to Google. Even when using AI for searching for information, 78% still use Google as part of the process. That suggests a typical flow: AI gives the overview and the quick explanation, while search provides the proof, original sources, and comparisons. 

This is especially important for groups that are more cautious, such as older users and those who worry about misinformation. If verification is already a habit, products and content strategies should lean into it rather than trying to “replace search” as an identity goal. 

How do Malaysians choose between AI and traditional tools?

Most people in Malaysia are not taking an all-or-nothing stance. The largest group says their choice depends on the task at 39%. These are people who switch based on the task. They use AI when it saves time, improves clarity, or reduces effort. They switch back to traditional tools when the task feels risky, sensitive, or accuracy critical. 

Beyond that group, 27% say they mostly use traditional tools; 21% say they use an even mix, and 13% say they mostly use AI tools. This tells us that adoption is broad, but depth varies. Many people are still testing and learning. 

Some demographic texture helps explain the pattern without overcomplicating it. “Fairly even mix” is higher among Chinese respondents at 25%, compared with Malay at 20% and Others at 17%, suggesting stronger comfort with hybrid tool use in that segment. “Mostly AI tools” peaks in mid-income bands at 23% to 24% among RM5k to RM12k, which suggests AI-first behaviour is strongest among mainstream working households rather than only the most affluent. 

This is a useful reminder for growth strategy: the biggest opportunity is not converting skeptics overnight. It is helping occasional users build repeatable habits. 

Trust, privacy, and what is holding adoption back in Malaysia

Trust is the main constraint on deeper usage. 67% worry about data privacy, and 55% worry AI may give inaccurate information. These concerns shape behaviour in practical ways. People hold back on sensitive prompts, double-check results, and limit AI use to lower-stakes tasks. 

At the same time, sentiment is cautious rather than hostile. 51% feel positive about using AI, 38% feel neutral, and 12% feel negative. Emotionally, curiosity leads at 41%, followed by excitement at 29% and feeling empowered at 24%. That mix signals momentum, but also a desire for guardrails. 

This is where the adoption gaps connect back to design. If older users feel less confident and worry more about “being misled,” then trust features are not just nice-to-have. They are how you widen access. The same applies to lower-income groups if concerns include privacy, data usage, or fear of “getting it wrong.” 

Trust is built through experience. People feel more confident when sources are visible, uncertainty is communicated clearly, and fact-checking is easy. People feel safer when privacy controls are simple and default to protection. 

What this means for AI providers, businesses, and policymakers in Malaysia

For AI providers, the opportunity is to reduce friction around trust and verification. With 67% worried about privacy and 55% worried about accuracy, reassurance cannot be an afterthought. Verification features such as citations, linked sources, and easy fact-checking align with behaviour that is already common, especially given how often Google is used alongside AI. 

For businesses and brands, AI is reshaping discovery. Since 81% use AI to search for information or answers, more journeys will begin with AI summaries and AI-assisted search. That increases the value of authoritative, up-to-date content. Clear FAQs and well-structured official pages make it easier for systems to retrieve and summarise accurately and easier for users to verify. 

For policymakers and educators, inclusion is the main challenge and opportunity. With usage far lower among those aged 55 plus (only about a third using AI recently) and among households below RM3,5k (usage 48%), adoption could deepen inequality if left unmanaged. Literacy efforts that teach prompting, verification, and privacy protection will help adoption become safer and more equitable. 

Conclusion 

AI is widely used in Malaysia, with 67% reporting recent usage, but it is not universally trusted and not evenly adopted. The dominant approach is selective. 39% say they switch tools depending on the task. AI’s biggest role today is everyday utility, led by information and answers at 81%, while search remains central to verification. 

The near-term opportunity is clear. Adoption will deepen fastest when tools fit real tasks, work naturally alongside search and trusted sources, and build confidence through transparency and privacy-first design. If Malaysia can reduce barriers for groups that participate less today while strengthening trust for everyone, AI’s benefits can be broader, more resilient, and more equitable.

To access the full Vodus AI Consumption Malaysia Study including complete charts and detailed demographic breakdowns by age, gender, household income, region, and ethnicity, please purchase the full report. 

Research Methodology

The findings in this report are based on data from the Vodus AI Consumption Study Malaysia 2026, conducted using an online quantitative methodology among 2,556 Malaysian adults. The sample was stratified to mirror the Malaysian population census, ensuring representation across key demographics and regions, including both Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak).   

Data collection was carried out through the Vodus Media Network, which includes major partner platforms such as Astro and Media Prima, providing extensive reach across diverse audience segments. The survey employed Vodus (OMTOS) survey method, a low disruption approach designed to capture authentic, unbiased responses from respondents within their natural online browsing environment.   

Fieldwork was conducted from 29 December 2025 to 02 January 2026. The target population comprised of Malaysians aged 18 years and above, and the demographics of the sample stratified to accurately reflect the general population.