Kuala lumpur: The regional headquarters of the ASEAN Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Network, known as ASEAN AI Safe, is slated to be established in Kuala Lumpur early next year, as announced by Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo. The ASEAN AI Safe Secretariat will play a pivotal role in coordinating programs and initiatives to bolster regional collaboration and propel advancements in AI safety across ASEAN member states.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Gobind Singh Deo emphasized the network’s function as a collaborative platform that brings together ASEAN nations to develop a secure and inclusive AI ecosystem. He highlighted the necessity for ongoing dialogue to ensure understanding of AI structures within each member country’s systems. This collaboration aims to build unity among ASEAN nations in formulating AI safety policies.

The minister’s remarks were made at the Powering the Intelligent Age: Driving Innovation with Southeast Asia and Beyond Summit, organized by the Digital Ministry in partnership with the Malaysian Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the World Economic Forum. The summit, attended by over 400 delegates from 14 countries, sought to enhance cooperation in AI, digitalization, and green industrial transformation.

The Digital Ministry stated that ASEAN AI Safe functions as a regional mechanism supporting the ASEAN Digital Senior Officials’ Meeting and the Working Group on AI Governance. The initiative aims to augment regional capacity, encourage cooperation, and promote research and innovation in AI safety, aligning with existing frameworks like the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025 and the Guidelines on AI Governance and Ethics.

The initiative also aligns with future frameworks such as the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2030 and the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, focusing on fostering cooperation to establish safe and secure AI systems among ASEAN member states.