Ashhar Alam | New Delhi

Artificial intelligence has become a routine tool for developers across Southeast Asia and India, but trust in its reliability is still evolving, according to Agoda’s AI Developer Report 2025. While engineers are increasingly relying on AI to speed up their work, many continue to see it as a support system rather than a replacement for human judgment.

The report shows that AI usage has reached near-saturation levels in the region. Almost nine out of ten developers surveyed said they use AI at least once a week, with most acknowledging clear productivity benefits. Yet, widespread adoption has not translated into equal confidence in AI’s capabilities.

Only 43 per cent of developers believe AI can currently deliver work comparable to that of a mid-level engineer. Skepticism is particularly evident in markets such as Thailand, India, the Philippines and Singapore, where confidence levels hover around or below the regional average. A smaller but notable segment of developers goes further, saying AI is still far from matching mid-level engineering quality, a view most strongly held in the Philippines, followed by Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and India.

Concerns over inconsistent output dominate developer hesitation. Nearly 79 per cent of respondents identified unreliable results as the biggest obstacle to deeper AI integration, outweighing issues such as cost, access or tooling. Worries about output quality are most pronounced in the Philippines and Thailand, but even advanced AI markets like Singapore and Malaysia report similar caution.

To manage these risks, developers have reshaped their workflows. Around two-thirds said they always review AI-generated code before it is merged, often revising outputs multiple times to meet production standards. Rather than reducing accountability, AI use has reinforced the importance of human oversight, with engineers retaining responsibility for final outcomes.

The report notes that confidence in AI is being built gradually through testing, repetition and verification not assumed by default. Teams with structured review processes tend to trust AI more, while those without clear checks remain wary.

Commenting on the findings, Agoda Chief Technology Officer Idan Zalzberg said the next phase of AI maturity will be defined less by adoption and more by disciplined usage. He noted that developers in Southeast Asia and India have embraced AI with speed and adaptability, but building consistent frameworks and trust around its outputs will be critical going forward.

At Agoda, the study reflects everyday engineering practices, where developers are encouraged to experiment with AI tools while maintaining ownership, review and verification as standard practice. This balance, the report suggests, is key to unlocking productivity gains without compromising quality.

ALSO READ: Islam does not need to rule the world to be true

The Agoda AI Developer Report 2025 is based on survey responses from developers across Southeast Asia and India and includes insights from regional companies such as Carousell, MoMo, Omise and SCB 10X. It offers a detailed snapshot of how AI is being used in software development today and what it will take to move from widespread use to trusted maturity.