Malaysia urges Global South to shape AI rules, not just host data hubs

At a public debate of the 81st UN General Assembly, Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan highlighted AI’s transformative impact on economies, societies and state decision-making. He warned that a handful of private actors dominate how billions of people interact, trade and use information, and argued that technology should serve humanity, not the reverse. Hasan cautioned that no single company or country should dictate AI regulations for others, and insisted the Global South must not remain only a data-center destination while rule-making occurs elsewhere.

He called for the region to become a co-creator in AI innovation, sharing benefits across borders and managing the large resource demands of tech infrastructure. The remarks came as the UN ramps up a global AI governance dialogue, following a Geneva-hosted AI Governance Forum. Hasan also warned that escalating conflicts in the Middle East could raise food, fuel and living-costs for Southeast Asian families, and suggested that middle powers like Malaysia and ASEAN could keep dialogue channels open when major powers disagree.