In a move designed to foster international collaboration on artificial intelligence (AI) policy, Stanford HAI faculty and staff conducted a workshop for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) community in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The event, held in collaboration with The Asia Foundation, took place on the eve of ASEAN's Committee on Science, Technology & Innovation (COSTI) Ministerial Meeting.
The one-day workshop featured presentations and discussions led by Stanford professors Jeff Hancock and Sanmi Koyejo, focusing on AI governance, bias, fairness, and trust. The event also included a panel of policy experts discussing global approaches to AI regulation.
Jeff Hancock, the Harry and Norman Chandler Professor in Communication and co-director of the Stanford Cyber Policy Center, noted the participants' desire for regional cooperation. "There seemed to be a strong desire among participants to work together to advance policy that can benefit the region as a whole, particularly leveraging the convening power of the ASEAN structure," Hancock said.
The workshop is part of Stanford HAI's broader programme focused on the Asia Pacific, which aims to support policymakers and civil society in harnessing AI's potential while mitigating its risks. Sanmi Koyejo, assistant professor of computer science, emphasised the workshop's significance, stating, "The event highlighted the importance of AI to both local and global governance, the particular attention being paid to generative AI as an emerging technology, and the need for a human-centered approach to development and deployment."
During the discussions, ASEAN delegates raised several key issues, including trust and trustworthiness in AI systems, fairness in AI decision-making processes, and potential widespread job losses due to AI adoption. They also addressed challenges in expanding access to computing power, mitigating the energy needs of AI systems, and attracting international investment for infrastructure expansion, such as data centers.
Following the workshop, ASEAN announced new AI initiatives, including plans to establish a senior-level working group on AI governance and develop an ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics. These outcomes demonstrate the immediate impact of the dialogue in shaping regional AI policy.