The ASEAN AI Malaysia Summit 2025 brought together leaders from across Southeast Asia to discuss the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in the region. The event highlighted key initiatives and policies with direct relevance to education, skills development, and equitable access to AI technologies.
1. National Strategy for AI Literacy and Skills
Minister of Digital Malaysia, Gobind Singh Deo, emphasised that AI must deliver “real, inclusive benefits for every Malaysian”, including those in rural and underserved communities.
Key measures include:
- Free national AI literacy programmes to improve public understanding and participation.
- Development of homegrown AI ecosystems that reflect Malaysia’s languages and cultural context.
- Expansion of national computing capacity to support AI education and research.
- Ensuring affordability and access to AI tools so that all citizens can help shape AI systems in line with national values.
2. Regional Governance and Ethics
ASEAN Secretary General, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, confirmed the adoption of:
- The ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics (baseline standards for responsible AI use).
- The ASEAN Responsible AI Roadmap (practical tools for implementation).
- Plans for the ASEAN AI Safety Network, the first regionally endorsed initiative on AI safety, ethics, and governance, involving governments, academia, and industry.
For education, these frameworks provide a shared set of ethical guidelines and safety measures that can be integrated into curricula and teacher training.
3. Major Education-Focused Announcements
- ASEAN Foundation – AI ASEAN Learning Platform
A train-the-trainer programme to equip 800,000 community leaders, who will in turn help 5.5 million people develop AI knowledge. - MyStory Technologies – Affordable AI for Schools
Launch of low-cost AI-capable computers with Intel processors and on-device AI training capabilities, enabling schools and SMEs to develop AI skills without costly cloud services. - Huawei Malaysia – AI Talent Development Plan
A three-year programme to train 30,000 Malaysians in AI and support 200 AI partner organisations in building innovative solutions.
4. Bridging the AI Divide
Both national and regional leaders identified the risk of a growing AI divide between:
- High-income and low-income nations.
- Urban and rural communities.
- Technology-enabled and technology-excluded groups.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stressed that AI should be “a force for all”, capable of:
- Empowering small businesses.
- Uplifting rural communities.
- Expanding access to education, healthcare, and public services.
- Preserving cultural identity while embracing innovation.
5. Implications for the Education Sector
- Curriculum integration: AI literacy and ethics should become part of mainstream education from early levels through higher education.
- Teacher upskilling: Professional development to ensure educators can teach and model responsible AI use.
- Infrastructure investment: Affordable AI-capable devices and high-speed connectivity for all schools.
- Community partnerships: Collaboration between ministries, tech companies, and community organisations to extend AI learning beyond formal education.
- Ethics and governance education: Embedding ASEAN’s AI governance frameworks into student projects and civic education.
Tomorrow at the conference, I will sharing my insights on what AI means for education in the region and I look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible! Read about it here>>
