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Google Gemini and Antom Partner to Scale Google AI Plus Access Across Asia

By Lauren Towner · 1 October 2026

Press Release: Google Gemini and Antom Partner to Scale Google AI Plus Access Across Asia | Featured Image by FF News

Quick Summary

Google Gemini and Antom have launched a strategic partnership to expand Google AI Plus accessibility across Asia. By leveraging the A+Rewards marketing engine, the collaboration connects advanced AI tools with 2.85 billion users, following a successful pilot in Indonesia that reached 10 million people.

How Does the Antom Partnership Expand Google AI Plus Access?

Antom’s digital marketing solution, A+Rewards, serves as the primary vehicle for this regional expansion. By utilizing privacy-preserving computing and AI-driven growth engines, the partnership allows Google to tap into a massive ecosystem of 30 digital platforms. This network provides high-intent entry points within apps that consumers already use for daily financial activities, making it easier to discover and adopt Google AI Plus services.

  • 2.85 billion active digital payment users connected via the network.
  • 30+ leading platforms integrated with the A+Rewards marketing solution.
  • Privacy-preserving AI technologies used to target relevant user segments.

The strategy focuses on lowering adoption barriers by embedding subscription trials directly into the checkout and rewards flows of popular e-commerce and payment apps. This "two-way growth engine" helps AI providers find local users while helping local merchants enrich their digital service offerings.

What Results Has the Indonesia Pilot Program Delivered?

The Indonesia debut in July served as a proof-of-concept for the broader Asian rollout. Specifically targeting students aged 18-25, the initiative offered a 12-month free trial of the premium AI service. This demographic-specific approach utilized local giants like DANA and GoPay to ensure the offer reached the most tech-savvy segment of the population.

  • 10 million users reached in Indonesia during the initial phase.
  • 12-month free trials offered to the student demographic.
  • Multi-channel distribution via Tokopedia and offline MomoYo locations.

By combining digital wallet integration with physical retail touchpoints, the partnership demonstrated that Google AI Plus could achieve rapid scale in emerging markets. The success in Indonesia provides a blueprint for how Antom and Google will likely approach other high-growth Asian markets in the coming months.

How Does Antom Support Global Merchant Digitisation?

Antom’s full-stack solutions are designed to help merchants navigate the complexities of the modern AI-native payment landscape. By providing a single integration point, Antom allows businesses to accept over 300 payment methods across 200 different markets. This infrastructure is critical for companies looking to scale agentic commerce solutions and digital services globally.

  • 140+ currencies supported for flexible global merchant settlements.
  • AI-native payment architecture built on Ant International foundation models.
  • Blockchain RTP platform utilized for secure, real-time transaction processing.

"We share Google Gemini’s goal of making AI services more accessible to more people and building the skills they need for an AI-enabled future," said Gary Liu, CEO of Antom and Senior Vice President of Ant International. "We’re building a two-way growth engine: helping AI companies connect with local users through the platforms and merchants they engage with, while enabling our local partners to enrich their offerings and deepen user engagement."

FF NEWS TAKE:

This partnership is a masterclass in distribution-led growth. While many AI companies struggle with high customer acquisition costs, Google is bypassing traditional advertising by embedding Google AI Plus directly into the financial plumbing of Asia. By leveraging Antom’s 2.85 billion-user reach, Google isn't just selling a product; they are normalizing AI utility within the world's most active mobile payment ecosystem. This move significantly moves the needle for AI adoption in APAC.

Companies in this story: Google Gemini, Antom, Ant International

People in this story: Gary Liu

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