Across the fintech landscape in ASEAN, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled services are recognized as a critical future skill domain. However, according to a new report by the Asian Development Bank, this skill set remains underdeveloped across the region, especially in Indonesia and Vietnam.

Released in August 2026, the report shares findings from a research comprising a literature review, a regional survey, as well as stakeholder engagement through a senior roundtable to identify fintech workforce gaps across Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

The research found that AI-enabled services are the least developed technical skill in ASEAN’s fintech landscape. Unsurprisingly, Singapore emerged as the most skilled country in the domain, although its proficiency remains limited. The city-state is considered “competent” in AI-enabled services, demonstrating consistent and effective performance in this area of expertise across various contexts.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, initiatives such as the National AI Program have played a significant role in strengthening AI capabilities. This program provides practical, industry-aligned training to enhance AI skills across the public sector.

On the other hand, Indonesia and Vietnam have the lowest levels of AI skills. Their proficiency is limited to the “basic” level, with only a foundational understanding of the technology and limited practical application.

These results highlight a stark contrast between the current levels of AI competencies in the fintech workforce and the rapid pace at which the technology is being adopted in these economies. A 2025 global survey conducted by Finastra polled of more than 1,500 managers and executives from banks and financial institutions and found that 74% of institutions in Vietnam had actively deployed AI – the highest level of active AI deployment among the studied countries.

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