Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to significantly change the way we live, work, and learn. Our global AI Opportunity Agenda underscores the critical juncture we are currently at, where decisions made by governments, industry leaders, and civil society will determine how AI can be leveraged to benefit as many people as possible.
With a young and tech-savvy population, a dynamic digital landscape, and a growing tech ecosystem, ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is well-placed to utilize AI to dramatically transform its future. From addressing public health challenges to bolstering disaster resilience and enhancing economic competitiveness, there are numerous opportunities for AI to accelerate progress towards these objectives.
As ASEAN Digital Ministers and officials convene in Singapore this week to discuss AI among other topics, we are introducing an AI Opportunity Agenda for ASEAN — a whitepaper outlining policy recommendations to ASEAN member states (AMS) with suggestions on how to maximize the potential of AI.
We propose three key recommendations on how AMS — at both the individual and ASEAN levels — can responsibly harness AI to its fullest potential.
Invest in innovation infrastructure
AMS can bolster scientific competitiveness by investing in long-term research and development, and testing new approaches to build AI infrastructure. Facilitating collaboration to establish a national AI strategy is crucial to engender public trust in AI.
Build an AI-ready workforce
To thrive in the AI era, it is vital for workers to acquire new skills. This necessitates adapting skilling programs across sectors, developing national AI training and support initiatives, and fostering new public-private partnerships to expand these programs and ensure accessibility to all workers. AMS should craft a comprehensive ASEAN AI skilling roadmap with training and support programs catering to various segments, including youth, workers, and micro, small, and medium-sized businesses.
Promote inclusive adoption and accessibility
AMS should identify priority sectors with the highest need or lowest uptake of AI tools (or both). Working closely with these sectors on new pilot programs to demonstrate effective AI deployment will help ensure the inclusivity of these initiatives. AMS should embrace and advocate for the use of common technical standards, which will also alleviate the compliance burden for small and medium-sized businesses across ASEAN.
Google’s contribution
We are delighted to collaborate with governments and others to assist ASEAN communities and businesses in seizing the opportunities presented by AI. The latest e-Conomy SEA by Google, Temasek, and Bain indicates that Southeast Asia’s digital economy reached US$100 billion in revenue in 2022, but efforts are required to ensure that everyone can access the benefits of technology.
We will continue to support initiatives related to infrastructure, skilling, and accessibility through various programs. Google’s investments in network infrastructure have had a positive impact, with AnalysisMason estimating that these investments led to USD 640 billion in aggregate GDP for Asia-Pacific from 2010 to 2021. In terms of skilling, we collaborated with the government in Singapore to launch AI Trailblazers, which aimed to address 100 generative AI use cases within 100 days by providing AI training and infrastructure. Through Google’s Digital Futures Project, a Google.org fund that provides grants to think tanks and academic institutions, we support efforts to comprehend both the opportunities and challenges of AI. Locally, this fund is aiding AI Singapore in organizing cross-sector industry roundtables to examine challenges and applications of responsible AI deployment in the region. Additionally, we have launched an AI Policy and Skilling Lab for Southeast Asia, a series of Google-led workshops and resources aimed at aiding policymakers in understanding AI and its applications.
We are eager to collaborate with ASEAN to advance towards an AI-driven future that benefits everyone.
