ASEAN leaders warn connectivity alone won’t bridge emerging AI divide

During the Digital Trust Summit’s keynote in Kuala Lumpur, Sulyna Abdullah of the International Telecommunication Union argued that ASEAN’s digital transformation must prioritize trust, not just connectivity, to ensure citizens feel safe using AI-driven services. She outlined three essential pillars—user protection, inclusive participation, and resilient networks spanning terrestrial, subsea and satellite links—to counter fraud, impersonation and service disruptions.

Abdullah warned that the shift from informational AI to autonomous agents introduces complex issues of authorization, identity verification and legal liability. ZTE’s senior vice-president James Zhang warned that the rapid rise in AI demand could cement a new layer of inequality if computing power remains costly for developing economies. He advocated for sovereign AI, security, affordability and sustainability, suggesting that the telecom sector’s infrastructure-sharing model could be adapted for AI to lower barriers. The summit, organized by the GSM Association and hosted by Malaysia’s communications ministry and regulator, gathered ministers, regulators and industry leaders to discuss digital trust, AI policy and regional integration.