Prime Minister Hun Manet addresses the opening ceremony of the 20th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-20) in Siem Reap province on June 7. STPM
Prime Minister Hun Manet has called for Artificial Intelligence (AI) development to be people-centric to avoid unwanted harm to society.
Speaking at the opening of the 20th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-20) in Siem Reap province on June 7, Manet praised the emergence of new technologies in enhancing human capabilities. However, he warned that the development of new technologies, especially AI, must include ethical considerations, inclusivity, transparency, fairness and data privacy.
Manet encouraged any AI development to be people-centric, with a responsibility to balance and ensure it benefits humanity. Recent developments, like OpenAI and many others, hold immense potential but require careful consideration and responsible development.
“Adoption and application of AI should remain within the bounds of ethical considerations and societal values. The public has expressed fears and concerns that their rights and privacy are being intruded upon by the capabilities of AI applications.
“Without requisite education, skills and continuous engagement, it is nearly impossible to differentiate between fake news and real news, or to distinguish artificial graphics from real ones,” he said.
Manet noted that the unwanted impacts of AI can be costly to society and the government, affecting public sentiment and opinion volatility, and potentially causing social division, confusion and instability, which may threaten social harmony and the country’s hard-won peace. Job loss and other challenges are also concerns for the public.
He added that any AI development requires regulatory frameworks with contributions from all relevant stakeholders and ultimately necessitates multilateralism among states and regions, such as ASEAN.
Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, said that the AMMSTI-20 meeting discussed various aspects of AI under the theme "Artificial Intelligence Application: Navigating the Future”.
He noted that AI has both immense potential and inherent risks, prompting the meeting to explore the impact of AI across key sectors such as industry, education, healthcare, climate change and services.
“The overarching goal is to establish strong frameworks and best practices for responsible AI development and application that promote inclusivity and sustainable development, while adhering to core values and the essence of humanity.
“It is urgent for us to build robust, human-made guidelines and frameworks for AI application in our region, well before the machines create them for us. This aligns perfectly with the core of our ASEAN Community Blueprint, which is to be people-centred,” he added.
Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary General of ASEAN, addressed the meeting, stating that the bloc is now one of the world's fastest-growing regions. With a combined GDP of $3.8 trillion, it is the world's fifth-largest economy and is projected to become the fourth largest by 2030.
He said the drivers of ASEAN's economic growth will increasingly shift from a heavy reliance on labour and natural resources to a more innovation-based, manufacturing-driven development model.
“With its robust, tech-savvy and youthful population, the ASEAN region is emerging as a global innovation hub. Over 60 per cent of ASEAN’s population is under the age of 35, providing a significant demographic advantage that fuels a thriving startup ecosystem,” he said.
He said AI-driven automation has boosted efficiency, reduced costs and enhanced productivity globally. However, it may also affect 1.2 billion jobs, disrupt $14.6 trillion in wages and impact 50 per cent of the world economy in the next decade alone.
According to Kim Hourn, AI has already been impacting ASEAN on all fronts – economically, socially and politically – resulting in a projected GDP uplift of 10 to 18 per cent, valued at approximately $1 trillion by the year 2030.
He said that to address this issue, ASEAN launched the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics in February. The guide serves as a baseline standard for the proper governance of AI in the region. It assists organisations in deploying AI technologies and provides recommendations for national and regional initiatives to ensure the responsible implementation of AI systems.
