FILE PHOTO: An illustration taken on March 31, 2023, shows the words “Artificial Intelligence”. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
SINGAPORE/BANGKOK – Reports have revealed that Southeast Asian countries are currently in the process of developing governance and ethics guidelines for artificial intelligence (AI). These guidelines, expected to be known as the Asean Guide on AI Governance and Ethics, aim to set boundaries and regulations for the rapidly expanding technology. This move comes as regulators worldwide scramble to establish rules for generative AI, which has the ability to generate text and images, fueling both excitement and concern about its potential impact on various industries.
In February, ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) agreed on the necessity of creating an AI guide for the region’s 668 million inhabitants. While specific details of the discussions among regional policymakers have not been previously reported, senior officials have confirmed that progress is being made in shaping the Asean Guide on AI Governance and Ethics. The objective of this guide is to strike a balance between the economic advantages of AI and the associated risks. It is anticipated that the drafting process will be completed by the end of the year, with endorsement by Asean members expected in early 2024 during the Asean Digital Ministers’ Meeting.
Singapore, as the chair of the Asean Digital Ministers’ Meeting in 2024, is leading the efforts to develop the Asean Guide on AI Governance and Ethics. As stated by Singapore’s Ministry for Communications and Information, the country will collaborate with other Asean states to create a practical and implementable framework that supports responsible and innovative AI technologies within the region.
The remaining Asean countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, have yet to make official comments on the matter.
It is important to note that these actions by Asean come in conjunction with the expected release of a draft voluntary code of conduct for AI by the European Union and the United States in the coming weeks. Similar to their European and American counterparts, policymakers in Southeast Asia have expressed concerns regarding the potential for AI to facilitate misinformation. Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority issued a warning in June about the dangers of “hallucinations” caused by generative AI producing misleading content that appears to be genuine.
Overall, these ongoing initiatives and discussions highlight Asean’s commitment to address the challenges and opportunities presented by AI by establishing an ethical and governed framework that fosters responsible AI innovation and deployment within the region.
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Omprakash Tiwary is a business writer who delves into the intricacies of the corporate world. With a focus on finance and economic landscape. He offers readers valuable insights into market trends, entrepreneurship, and economic developments.
