Malaysia's foreign minister urges greater Global South influence over AI rules

At the UN General Assembly, Malaysia's foreign minister Mohamad Hasan emphasized that the Global South must play a substantive role in AI policy making, not just serve as a location for data centres. He noted that artificial intelligence is transforming economies, societies and governmental decisions, offering huge benefits while also posing serious hazards. Hasan called for equitable participation of Global South nations in global AI discussions, stressing that they should be collaborators in innovation rather than passive customers.

He warned that the resource-intensive nature of tech infrastructure—water, energy and land—requires careful management. The minister concluded that AI rules should not be dictated by a small group of firms or states, but shaped collectively to ensure broader benefit.