Nearly a third of Gen Z respondents in Asia Pacific say they use AI as a friend, according to new research from Kaspersky, which also found that many young users underestimate the risks of sharing personal information with AI chatbots.

Half of Gen Z respondents in APAC use AI every day or almost every day, the highest share of any demographic group surveyed. Among them, 57% use it to search for information, 54% for studying and 50% for generating ideas. But 32% also say they use AI as a friend, with the behaviour most pronounced in Indonesia at 39%, followed by Vietnam at 35%, Thailand at 34%, Malaysia at 33% and India at 32%.

More than a third share personal issues with chatbots

Kaspersky found that 34% of Gen Z respondents in the region use AI to discuss personal issues they would rather not share with other people, with Vietnam recording the highest share at 42%, followed by India at 37% and Indonesia at 36%. The company noted that while such interactions can feel private and emotionally supportive, AI responses can be inaccurate or inappropriate, and users may disclose sensitive information more freely than on an ordinary online service.

Despite this high engagement, only 45% of Gen Z respondents in APAC say they consistently take protective measures when interacting with AI services, while 51% apply precautions only occasionally. The inconsistency was most pronounced in China at 60% and Malaysia at 54%, while Indonesia recorded the lowest proportion at 43%.

“An interaction that feels personal should not be mistaken for a private or fully reliable conversation. Young users need to combine their confidence and curiosity with habits such as checking information, protecting personal data and thinking critically about the responses they receive,” said Vladislav Tushkanov, group manager at Kaspersky AI Technology Research Centre.

Kaspersky urges safer AI habits

The company recommends verifying important information rather than relying on a single generated response, particularly for educational, financial, legal or medical topics, and avoiding sharing passwords, payment details, identity documents and other confidential information with AI services.

• 50% of APAC Gen Z use AI daily or almost daily, the highest of any generation surveyed
• 32% use AI as a friend; 34% discuss personal issues with it
• Only 45% consistently take protective measures when using AI services
• China (60%) and Malaysia (54%) show the highest rates of only occasional precaution-taking

The survey was conducted by Kaspersky’s market research centre in March 2026 among 7,200 respondents across 18 countries.