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About Documents
At the ASEAN Summit held on May 26–27, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, ASEAN leaders officially adopted the “ASEAN Community Vision 2045” under the theme Inclusivity and Sustainability. This vision serves as a strategic roadmap for the next 20 years, aiming to build a resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centered ASEAN Community.
In a global landscape marked by uncertainty—particularly the geopolitical and economic tensions among major powers that threaten the stability of global supply chains—developing countries must navigate through rising challenges. At the same time, the world is entering an era of rapid advancement in artificial intelligence (AI). ASEAN nations now stand at a crossroads between “opportunity” and “inequality.”
According to the Technology and Innovation Report 2025 by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), AI is identified as a game-changing technology with the potential to generate substantial economic value. ASEAN is emerging as one of the fastest-growing digital economies in the world. However, this transformation is uneven, especially among vulnerable groups that still lack access to digital tools and skills. The report also projects that AI will dominate the advanced technology market, potentially reaching a value of USD 4.8 trillion by 2033. Yet, over 40% of global research and development (R&D) investments are concentrated in just 100 companies, mostly based in the United States and China.
Despite the growing importance of AI, ASEAN faces significant gaps in readiness: (1) Infrastructure – The region lacks adequate data centers and computing power essential for training and deploying advanced AI models. (2) Data – There is a shortage of large-scale datasets, particularly in the legal domain. (3) Skills – The workforce skilled in AI remains limited, especially in lower-income and developing countries.
Countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam still face a shortage of large-scale AI infrastructure, such as data centers, and continue to rely heavily on foreign technologies. This imbalance increases the risk of ASEAN falling behind in an era driven by data-intensive economic activities.
In alignment with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, the region aims to become innovation-driven, more economically integrated, and sustainable. The goal is to achieve inclusive and environmentally responsible development while responding effectively to future challenges across economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
AI can play a critical role in achieving these goals—if deployed with fairness and inclusivity. It can enhance economic competitiveness, improve the quality of life through innovation, and strengthen human capital by developing digital and technological skills. A globally competitive ASEAN requires cross-border collaboration in data sharing, standards, and regulatory practices.
Furthermore, AI supports ASEAN’s sustainable development agenda by improving resource management, enabling precise healthcare and diagnostics, and enhancing disaster risk management and climate adaptation—especially in vulnerable and high-risk areas. Examples of AI applications include:
Integrating AI with IoT, 5G, and blockchain technologies to advance smart agriculture, smart cities, and renewable energy infrastructure. Promoting open innovation, where governments collaborate with universities, startups, and local companies. Establishing an ASEAN AI Innovation Hub to co-develop public AI models in local languages and regional AI sandboxes to test innovations within flexible regulatory frameworks.
Building low-energy, low-carbon Green AI infrastructure and involving local communities in AI system design, such as transparent, participatory digital carbon credit systems.
Over the next two decades, ASEAN will face pivotal challenges in the digital era. Comprehensive readiness in AI will be essential to achieving sustainable development and reducing inequality.
Author:
Ms. Namphueng Tassanaipitukkul
Senior Researcher
International Institute for Trade and Development (Public Organization)
www.itd.or.th
Publication: Bangkok BIZ Newspaper
Section: First Section/World Beat
Volume: 38 Issue: 12911
Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Page: 8 (bottom-right)
Column: “Asean Insight”
