Summary

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), compromised of ten members, drafted a guide to AI ethics and governance that is expected to be completed by the end of January 2024. The AI guide is voluntary instrument and provides a business-friendly approach. It advises companies to take countries’ cultural differences into account, while it limits the compliance burden in a region already characterized by complex local legislation. The guide provides guidelines for safer AI while still promoting innovation as it encourages companies to put in place an AI risk assessment framework and AI governance training, but leaves specifics to companies and local regulators. Additionally, the guide recommends governments to aid companies through research and development funding and the establishment of an ASEAN digital ministers working group on the implementation of AI.
This guide follows the US NIST AI Risk Management Framework-approach, rather than the stricter EU AI Act approach. Since ASEAN does not have the authority to pass any laws, member states have the responsibility to implement the guide and to formulate their own policies regarding AI. This adds to the complex global debate regarding AI governance as e.g. the EU has been actively engaging with the ASEAN countries to establish broader principles and a common understanding.