Latest news with #AseanAISafetyNetwork


New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Plan to safeguard digital transformation
KUALA LUMPUR: The Digital Trust and Data Security Strategy 2026-2030 and Data Commission will safeguard national digital transformation through a comprehensive national ecosystem, said Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo. He said these measures were aimed at strengthening data protection and governance, enhancing cyber resilience and upholding the integrity of Malaysia's digital ecosystem. The strategy sets a long-term roadmap for building resilience against emerging threats, advancing data integrity and strengthening public confidence in the country's digital future. "Complementing this, the Data Commission will function as an independent oversight body, tasked with safeguarding and ensuring robust data governance while promoting ethical artificial intelligence (AI) practices. "Its frameworks will be designed for interoperability across Asean, enabling Malaysia to contribute meaningfully to a region-wide trust architecture," he said at the opening of Asean AI Malaysia Summit 2025 here yesterday. Gobind said Malaysia's proactive, future-oriented approach aimed to tackle current challenges while leading in setting regional and global standards for trustworthy AI and digital systems. "Our efforts to build trust — through the forthcoming Digital Trust and Data Security Strategy and the establishment of the Data Commission — are designed to complement and strengthen Asean's collective frameworks." He said these domestic initiatives would serve as building blocks for a wider Asean trust architecture capable of protecting data, ensuring AI safety and fostering public confidence across borders, especially in the agentic age of AI. Gobind said Malaysia was contributing to a region-wide trust architecture by aligning with Asean initiatives such as the Asean Guide on AI Governance and Ethics, the Asean AI Safety Network and the Asean Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy 2026-2030. He said this would enable AI to operate safely across jurisdictions, ensure consistent data governance and extend public confidence beyond national borders. He urged Asean state members to work together to close the AI gap and build regional trust so no community is left behind.


New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
AI Safe to be endorsed at Asean Summit in October
KUALA LUMPUR: The Asean AI Safety Network (AI Safe) to be endorsed by the leaders at the 47th Asean Summit in October 2025 with initial operations expected to begin by early 2026, said Asean Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn. He said the establishment of AI Safe represents a crucial step toward institutionalisation of AI safety, ethics and governance principles as endorsed by the Asean region ministers while supporting the implementation of the Asean Responsible AI Roadmap. "The establishment of Asean AI Safe aligns with global calls for an international network to tackle AI safety risks through collaboration among governments, academia and industry," he said in his speech at the Asean Artificial Intelligence (AI) Malaysia Summit 2025 today. At the event, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched a Malaysian home-grown AI known as 'ILMU', built by YTL AI Labs, in partnership with Universiti Malaya. Kao emphasised that despite ongoing volatility and uncertainty in global trade, the world is witnessing a transformative growth of AI in reshaping every aspect of economies, societies and daily lives. Hence, he said, the first ever Asean AI Summit has provided a timely opportunity to deepen regional cooperation and build strategic trust around a shared vision with innovation and inclusive development to guide the collective journey into a new era of digital transformation. Kao said AI is expected to contribute a gross domestic product of 10 to 18 per cent, equivalent to nearly US$1 trillion by 2030. Besides, he said this year, Asean is prioritising on the Asean Digital Economic Framework Agreement (DEFA) to build on the regional digital ecosystem, which could potentially double its projection to US$2 trillion by 2030. - Bernama

The Star
27-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
AI can unlock over US$113bil in productivity gains for Malaysia, says Gobind
KUALA LUMPUR: Widespread adoption of AI by businesses and workers in Malaysia is set to accelerate the nation's economic growth across various sectors, says Gobind Singh Deo. The Digital Minister said that Generative AI alone is projected to unlock up to US$113.4bil in productive capacity for the country. Speaking at the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2025 in Shanghai, China, on Saturday (July 26), he underscored the shared responsibility of countries worldwide to ensure that AI continues to be a force for good. "In this artificial intelligence (AI)-shaped era, collaboration is essential. Only through shared commitment, innovation and vigilance can we ensure that the digital world remains a force for good. "The overarching goal is to bridge the digital divide among nations and enhance digital collaboration to ensure the development and governance of emerging technologies benefit humanity," he said. Gobind said Malaysia welcomes the outcome document of the Global AI Governance Action Plan, and highlighted domestic efforts, including the establishment of the National AI Office in December 2024 to coordinate and drive the country's AI agenda. As the 2025 Asean Chair, Gobind said that the country is spearheading the Asean AI Safety Network and leading the conversation on AI safety. The network, according to Gobind, will act as Asean's regional platform for AI safety, facilitating best practice exchanges, research collaboration, standards development and responsible AI adoption. "By driving innovation, enhancing decision-making and optimising the use of precious resources, AI is not just changing industries – it is accelerating global development. "In doing so, it reminds us that the technologies of tomorrow must be built together, across borders, with a shared vision for a better world," he said. Gobind also said Malaysia will host two major global events this year, the inaugural Asean AI Malaysia Summit in August and the Smart Cities World Expo Kuala Lumpur in September, aimed at bringing together policymakers, industry leaders and academics to discuss AI, innovation and digital transformation. – Bernama


The Star
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
AI must serve development, not dominate, PM Anwar tells BRICS summit
RIO DE JANEIRO: Malaysia is championing the establishment of an Asean AI Safety Network, a regional initiative to strengthen governance and capacity in this domain, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister, who is also Asean chair, said Malaysia welcomed the BRICS' efforts in AI Governance, adding: "We support a vision of artificial intelligence that serves development, not domination – one that embeds ethics, reduces inequality, and respects human dignity." Anwar was speaking at the BRICS Leaders' Summit at the Museum of Modern Art (MAM) here on Sunday (July 6). Also in attendance were Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Aziz and Transport Minister Anthony Loke. Earlier, the Prime Minister was received by Brazilian President Lula Silva upon arrival. Anwar said the meeting was held as the international order was under severe strain. The institutions meant to uphold cooperation were, he said, "faltering under the weight of new realities." "Trade is increasingly shaped by politics. Technology is framed by security. And the rules that once governed global engagement are being selectively applied or ignored," he said. Malaysia's position is straightforward - multilateralism is vital for global stability, shared prosperity, and sovereign dignity, he said. The Prime Minister said that for multilateralism to endure, it must do more than express common values. "It must deliver tangible outcomes. It must respond to the realities of a world where markets are fragmenting faster than rules can adapt." He said Asean was not passive and that economic fragmentation was intensifying - tariffs, decoupling, and shifting alliances were reshaping trade flows once thought stable. Malaysia, Anwar said, was advancing a strategy that favoured diversification over dependency, resilience over fragility, and regional agency over external prescription. "We therefore welcome BRICS' commitment to an inclusive, rules-based trading system. Malaysia's 2025 Asean Chairmanship theme – "Inclusivity and Sustainability" – aligns closely with those priorities." Anwar said the party which shaped the digital future was the question now. Technology, he noted, is now splitting along geopolitical lines. "Export controls, national security restrictions and diverging standards are creating parallel systems." Anwar also spoke about the need to stop genocide in Gaza and atrocities in Iran.