Stanford HAI Engages ASEAN Leaders in Critical AI Dialogue Amidst Regional Challenges

Southeast Asia represents about 8.5% of the world’s population. Its nations are diverse geographically, culturally, and economically. But increasingly they are facing many of the same questions about the challenges and opportunities that AI presents.

This summer, in collaboration with The Asia Foundation, Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI faculty and staff visited the region to host digital ministry officials, technologists, and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations community for a workshop on the eve of ASEAN’s Committee on Science, Technology & Innovation (COSTI) Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology, and Innovation (MMSTI) in Siem Reap, Cambodia. 

During the one-day workshop, Jeff Hancock, the Harry and Norman Chandler Professor in Communication, and Sanmi Koyejo, assistant professor of computer science, discussed AI governance, bias, fairness, and trust, and convened a panel of policy experts to discuss approaches to AI regulation from around the world.

“Of course each of the member states have their own priorities. But there seemed to be a strong desire among participants to work together to advance policy that can benefit the region as a whole, particularly leveraging the convening power of the ASEAN structure,” said Hancock, who is also the co-director of the Stanford Cyber Policy Center.

The workshop is part of a broader Stanford HAI program focused on the Asia Pacific. Collaborating with The Asia Foundation, the program produces research, offers educational training, and hosts convenings to support policymakers and civil society in this region as they harness AI’s potential and mitigate its harms.

“At this workshop, we were able to bring HAI’s research directly to delegates from across ASEAN’s ten member states,” Koyejo said. “The event highlighted the importance of AI to both local and global governance, the particular attention being paid to generative AI as an emerging technology, and the need for a human-centered approach to development and deployment.”

During the workshop, Hancock and Koyejo led a discussion with ASEAN member state representatives on their perspectives on AI and potential governance structures. 

Delegates raised issues around trust and trustworthiness, fairness in AI decision-making, and potential downstream impacts such as widespread job loss. Delegates also identified key challenges they face from accelerating AI adoption, such as expanding access to computing power, mitigating the energy needs of AI systems, and attracting international investment that can expand important infrastructure in the region, such as building new data centers. 

At the workshop’s conclusion, delegates continued the conversation in ASEAN ministerial meetings. Following the event, ASEAN announced new AI initiatives, including plans to establish a senior-level working group on AI governance and develop an ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics.

“A truly productive dialogue goes both ways,” said Hancock. “As much as we were excited to present our research and thinking to the ASEAN audience, it was equally as valuable for us to hear what concerns are top of mind for the delegates. These types of exchanges have the ability to spark new research collaborations and policy approaches, and I look forward to seeing how we can continue to work together with the ASEAN community to accomplish our shared goals.”

Stanford HAI’s mission is to advance AI research, education, policy and practice to improve the human condition. Learn more.