TLDR: The ASEAN AI Safety Network (AI Safe) is slated for endorsement by leaders at the 47th ASEAN Summit in October 2025, marking a significant step towards fostering responsible artificial intelligence development and governance within the region. The initiative aims to institutionalize safety, ethics, and governance principles for AI, with its initial implementation anticipated by early 2026.
KUALA LUMPUR – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is poised to take a monumental step in artificial intelligence governance with the upcoming endorsement of the ASEAN AI Safety Network (AI Safe) at the 47th ASEAN Summit in October 2025. This pivotal initiative, with its initial inception expected by early 2026, underscores the region’s commitment to the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies.
ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn announced the impending endorsement during his speech at the ASEAN Artificial Intelligence (AI) Malaysia Summit 2025 held in Kuala Lumpur. Dr. Kao emphasized that the establishment of AI Safe is a crucial move towards institutionalizing safety, ethics, and governance principles within the AI landscape, directly supporting the broader ASEAN Responsible AI Roadmap. He further noted that this regional effort aligns with global calls for an international network dedicated to addressing AI safety risks through collaborative efforts among governments, academia, and industry stakeholders.
The summit also served as a platform for significant national AI advancements. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officially launched ‘ILMU’, a Malaysian home-grown AI developed by YTL AI Labs in partnership with Universiti Malaya, showcasing local innovation in the field.
Dr. Kao Kim Hourn highlighted the transformative impact of AI, noting its pervasive influence on economies, societies, and daily lives worldwide, despite ongoing volatility and uncertainty in global trade. He projected that AI is expected to contribute a substantial 10 to 18 percent to ASEAN’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030, translating to nearly US$1 trillion. Furthermore, he pointed out that ASEAN’s current prioritization of the ASEAN Digital Economic Framework Agreement (DEFA) could potentially double the digital economy’s projection to US$2 trillion by 2030, reinforcing the region’s digital ambitions.
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In a related development, Malaysia’s Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, indicated that the government is considering the need for specific laws to address emerging legal challenges posed by AI. This includes complexities related to the burden of proof, authenticity, and integrity of documents and content generated by AI, signaling a proactive approach to regulatory frameworks in the face of rapid technological advancement.
