TLDR: Malaysia is taking the lead in establishing the ASEAN AI Safety Network (ASEAN AI Safe), with its secretariat set to open in Kuala Lumpur by early 2026. This initiative, adopted at the 47th ASEAN Leaders Summit, aims to foster regional cooperation in developing common frameworks for AI governance and safety, aligning with Malaysia’s vision to become an ‘AI nation’ by 2030.
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia is spearheading a significant regional initiative with the establishment of the ASEAN AI Safety Network (ASEAN AI Safe), a move endorsed at the 47th ASEAN Leaders Summit held in Kuala Lumpur on October 28, 2025. The network’s secretariat, which will be based in Kuala Lumpur, is slated to commence operations in early 2026, marking a pivotal step towards responsible artificial intelligence (AI) development across Southeast Asia.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo announced that the ASEAN AI Safe will unite all ASEAN member states to develop common frameworks for AI governance and safety. He emphasized that the initiative will serve as a platform to translate shared principles into concrete action, strengthening collective capabilities, advancing ethical governance frameworks, and fostering a culture of transparency and accountability in AI use.
Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim highlighted ASEAN’s collective responsibility to ensure technology serves humanity, stating that the network reflects the region’s resolve to embed ethics, safety, and good governance in AI, driving innovation that promotes inclusion, trust, and progress.
The establishment of ASEAN AI Safe is a key deliverable of Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, aligning with the theme ‘Building a Sustainable and Inclusive Future for All’. The initiative follows a comprehensive feasibility study and consultation process led by Malaysia’s Ministry of Digital through the Malaysia Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (MYCentre4IR), which received endorsement at the 5th ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting in Bangkok in January 2025.
ASEAN AI Safe will be guided by existing regional frameworks, including the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025, the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics, the expanded guide on AI governance and ethics for Generative AI, and the ASEAN Responsible AI Roadmap (2025–2030). It is also aligned with future frameworks such as the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2030 and the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).
The network will adopt a collaborative approach, acknowledging the varying stages of AI maturity among ASEAN members. This ensures that all states can participate and benefit from its programs, which include capacity building, knowledge exchange, and research and development initiatives. External partnerships with dialogue partners, international organizations, industry leaders, and academia are also anticipated.
Minister Gobind Singh Deo reiterated Malaysia’s ambition to become an ‘AI nation’ by 2030, a vision championed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for inclusive, technology-driven growth. ‘This means we must develop a structure that enables our country to possess and lead in AI technology,’ Gobind stated at the ‘Powering the Intelligent Age Summit’. The Digital Ministry’s focus areas to support this ambition include strengthening infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity, building public trust, and developing local talent.
The ‘Powering the Intelligent Age: Driving Innovation with Southeast Asia and Beyond Summit,’ co-hosted by MYCentre4IR and the World Economic Forum, brought together 400 delegates from 14 countries to foster cooperation in AI, digitalization, and green industrial transformation. During the ASEAN AI Malaysia Summit 2025, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also launched ‘ILMU,’ a Malaysian home-grown AI developed by YTL AI Labs in partnership with Universiti Malaya.
Also Read:
- India’s Ambitious AI Drive: From Sovereign Models to a Skilled Workforce
- Ondo State Unveils Ambitious Plan for AI-Powered Governance and Economic Transformation
ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn highlighted the transformative growth of AI, projecting its contribution to global GDP at 10 to 18 percent, equivalent to nearly US$1 trillion by 2030. He also noted that the ASEAN Digital Economic Framework Agreement (DEFA) could potentially double the regional digital ecosystem’s projection to US$2 trillion by 2030.
