Malaysia has taken a major step toward shaping the region’s responsible AI future with the adoption of the Declaration on the Establishment of an ASEAN AI Safety Network (ASEAN AI Safe) at the 47th ASEAN Leaders Summit in Kuala Lumpur. As one of Malaysia’s Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs), this initiative further strengthens the country’s leadership in balancing AI innovation with ethical governance and risk mitigation.
During the Opening Ceremony, Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that ASEAN shares a collective responsibility to ensure technology continues to serve humanity. He noted that the ASEAN AI Safe reflects the bloc’s commitment to embedding ethics, safety, and good governance in the use of AI that ensures innovation drives inclusion, trust, and progress across the region.
The declaration follows an extensive feasibility study and consultation process led by the Ministry of Digital through the Malaysia Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (MYCentre4IR), hosted by MyDIGITAL Corporation. The project received endorsement at the 5th ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN) in Bangkok earlier this year.
Once operational, ASEAN AI Safe will act as a regional mechanism under the ASEAN Digital Senior Officials’ Meeting (ADGSOM) and the ASEAN Working Group on AI Governance (WG-AI), supporting AI safety research, capacity building, and innovation collaboration. The initiative aligns with key regional frameworks such as the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025, ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics, and the upcoming ASEAN Responsible AI Roadmap (2025–2030), as well as future goals outlined in the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2030 and Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).
Since this is an ASEAN-focused initiative, all member states are guaranteed to benefit from shared knowledge, resources, and activities regardless of their stage of AI maturity. Partnerships with ASEAN Dialogue Partners, global organizations, academia, and industry leaders will further strengthen capacity building and research efforts across the region.
Minister of Digital YB Gobind Singh Deo said, “AI is reshaping the global economy, and ASEAN must lead in ensuring that progress is guided not only by the pursuit of economic gains and innovation but also by strong ethical and safety practices. The ASEAN AI Safety Network marks a defining step forward, serving as a platform to translate our shared principles into concrete action.”
The initiative, also spotlighted during the Powering the Intelligent Age: Driving Innovation with Southeast Asia and Beyond Summit co-organized by the Ministry of Digital and the World Economic Forum (WEF), represents a major legacy of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025 under the theme of “Building a Sustainable and Inclusive Future for All” that reflects Malaysia’s commitment to building an AI-driven future grounded in ethics, transparency, and inclusivity.
