Indonesia and Malaysia champion AI for growth while urging inclusive governance

Indonesia's deputy minister of Communication and Digital, Nezar Patria, announced that artificial intelligence will be a core driver of the nation's digital transformation and a new engine for economic growth, aiming for an 8% growth rate as part of the Vision 2045 plan. He highlighted the need for technology transfer, capacity building, and a human‑centred AI ecosystem, mentioning collaborations with global firms such as Nokia and NVIDIA and the creation of an AI Center of Excellence.

Malaysia's prime minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, warned that unchecked AI development could become a tool of digital colonisation, widening inequality and concentrating power in a few hands. Speaking at an international conference in Tokyo, he called for fair, inclusive governance that gives developing countries a stronger voice in setting AI rules and stressed cooperation with partners such as Japan to ensure the technology benefits all societies.