KUALA LUMPUR, August 17 — ASEAN leaders are set to adopt a declaration on the establishment of the ASEAN AI Safety Network (ASEAN AI Safe) at the 47th ASEAN Summit, marking a significant step in institutionalising AI safety, ethics, and governance across the region.
ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn said the initiative supports the ASEAN Responsible AI Roadmap and aligns with global calls for collaborative action to address AI safety risks involving governments, academia, and industry. The network is expected to be formally established by early 2026.
Speaking at the ASEAN Artificial Intelligence (AI) Malaysia Summit 2025, where Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched Malaysia’s home-grown AI system ‘ILMU’ by YTL AI Labs and Universiti Malaya, Dr Kao highlighted AI’s transformative potential.
He noted that AI could contribute up to US$1 trillion to ASEAN’s GDP by 2030, with the ASEAN Digital Economic Framework Agreement (DEFA) poised to potentially double the figure to US$2 trillion, driving innovation, inclusive development, and regional digital integration.
