📢 𝙏𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚? That is the question.
On 5th June 2025, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Malaysia and the Malaysian Institute of Management (MIM) jointly hosted “𝗔𝗜 & 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗡’𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆”. The event brought together leading experts from government, industry, and academia to explore both the promise and complexity of Artificial Intelligence across the region.
This event also marked the first official engagement with KAS Malaysia’s new Country Director, Natalie Russmann, whose opening remarks underscored the importance of multilateral dialogue in shaping a future-ready AI agenda for the region.
Key Takeaways:
🤝 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀:
Speakers emphasised the importance of cross-border collaboration in ASEAN to unlock AI’s full potential. A shared digital economy vision—anchored in interoperability, data-sharing, and capacity building—could drive inclusive innovation across the region.
⚙️ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀:
From automating payment collections via WhatsApp to solving practical problems for SMEs, the AI startup ecosystem is brimming with innovation. But scaling across borders requires clearer regulations, robust support, and regional trust in data systems.
⚖️ 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
A spirited discussion emerged comparing ASEAN’s flexible, business-friendly governance style with the EU’s more prescriptive AI Act. While both approaches offer valuable insights, neither has found the perfect balance yet. What’s clear is the need for continuous dialogue between regions to shape AI frameworks that are safe, fair, and future-ready.
🔐 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮, 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 & 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗰𝘆:
AI’s integration into sensitive sectors like banking and finance has heightened the urgency of addressing ethical risks. From bias and surveillance to data misuse, panellists stressed the need for privacy-by-design systems and stronger safeguards to maintain public trust.
🌱 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗜 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀:
Perhaps the most profound insight was that AI is only as ethical and effective as the people who build and use it. To ensure AI serves the common good, we must first cultivate empathy, integrity, and responsibility in ourselves and our institutions.
As Southeast Asia steps into a digital future, building inclusive, responsible, and collaborative AI ecosystems will be key to sustainable growth.
