ASEAN Launches AI Readiness Research Report
Introduction to the ASEAN Digital Outlook and AI Ready ASEAN Research
The ASEAN Foundation, in collaboration with Google.org, recently launched the ASEAN Digital Outlook and presented initial results from the AI Ready ASEAN Research. This event took place on February 10 at the AI Ready ASEAN: 3rd Regional Policy Convening in Manila, Philippines. The reports were developed in partnership with the ASEAN Digital Senior Officials’ Meeting, highlighting regional priorities in digital governance, infrastructure development, and institutional preparedness. These findings build upon the AI Ready ASEAN programme, which has already reached over 5 million beneficiaries, trained more than 100,000 learners in AI, and supported over 3,000 master trainers across the region.
Rapid Digital Transformation in ASEAN
Digitalisation and AI are reshaping ASEAN economies, education systems, and public services at an unprecedented pace. With a population of over 660 million people, nearly one-third of whom are under the age of 20, the region’s ability to adopt AI responsibly will be crucial in shaping future skills development, employment opportunities, and social inclusion.
At the same time, ASEAN’s digital economy is projected to grow from $300 billion to $1 trillion by 2030. This growth presents immense potential but also increasingly complex risks. As AI adoption accelerates across various sectors, the need for inclusive, responsible, and well-governed AI use has become an urgent priority for governments, institutions, and communities across the region.
Focus on Readiness and Governance
The two studies address this urgency by shifting the focus from mere access and adoption to a clearer understanding of readiness, governance, and long-term impact. According to Piti Srisangnam, executive director of the ASEAN Foundation, “Across ASEAN, we are seeing AI use grow faster than our systems’ ability to guide it.” These studies aim to move the conversation beyond whether AI is being used to whether our institutions, educators, and communities are truly prepared.
ASEAN Digital Outlook: A Regional Assessment
The ASEAN Digital Outlook provides a broader regional assessment of digital and AI infrastructure, governance, and cybersecurity readiness across ASEAN Member States. While several countries have made progress in strengthening digital infrastructure, the study highlights uneven levels of digital maturity and institutional capacity across the region. Persistent gaps in digital skills, public trust, cybersecurity preparedness, and responsible technology use underscore the limitations of fragmented national approaches.
AI Ready ASEAN Research: Assessing Readiness Across Member States
Meanwhile, the AI Ready ASEAN Research assesses AI readiness across 10 ASEAN Member States, focusing on education communities and examining students, educators, and parents as key actors shaping how AI is adopted, understood, and governed. The findings reveal a consistent gap between high levels of AI usage and actual readiness, particularly in AI literacy, ethical understanding, and institutional support.
While students often emerge as early adopters of AI tools, educators and parents face greater barriers related to confidence, guidance, and access to structured training. In Vietnam, for instance, generative AI usage is widespread, reported by almost 90 per cent of students and around 82 per cent of educators. Although nearly two-thirds of educators have completed AI-related courses, only about one-quarter of students have received formal training. Despite high confidence levels, assessments reveal gaps in foundational AI understanding, indicating that adoption is outpacing readiness.
Challenges and Risks in AI Adoption
Taken together, the findings from both studies show that across ASEAN, AI and digital adoption is advancing faster than institutional, ethical, and community readiness. Students are the most active users of AI tools, while educators and parents report lower confidence and literacy. At the same time, growing risks, including online scams, deepfake-enabled fraud, misinformation, and data breaches, are undermining trust in digital systems and reinforcing the need for stronger governance frameworks.
Importance of AI Literacy and Education
“Access to AI tools alone is not enough,” said Marija Ralic, head of Google.org Asia-Pacific. “Real readiness requires people to understand how AI works, where its limits lie, and how it can be used ethically. These findings reinforce why investments in AI literacy, especially for educators and communities, are critical to ensuring that technological progress translates into inclusive opportunity.”
Contributions to Policy Dialogue
Through the launch of the AI Ready ASEAN Research and the ASEAN Digital Outlook, the ASEAN Foundation contributes data-driven insights to support informed policy dialogue on digital and AI transformation across the region. The studies are intended to serve as key references for policymakers, educators, and development partners in designing interventions that strengthen digital literacy, institutional readiness, and inclusive growth.
