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In recent years, the "wind" of artificial intelligence has been swirling around the world, and with the successive "emergence" of generative artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT and Sora, artificial intelligence has once again become a focus topic under the background of The Times, and has been placed in a prominent position in the discussion of big data and blockchain development.

In addition to China, the United States and other countries in the relatively leading position in artificial intelligence research and development, more and more countries have also begun to participate in the ranks of "share a piece of the pie", and Southeast Asian countries are one of the forces not to be underestimated.

Overview of AI development in Southeast Asian countries

In the long term, AI is expected to boost global productivity by 16% by 2030, equivalent to roughly $13 trillion. The business value of blockchain will also grow steadily and is expected to reach $360 billion by 2026; By around 2030, it will soar to $3.1 trillion.

The governments of Southeast Asian countries have also actively "embraced" the opportunities brought by the new dividend of artificial intelligence, and formulated relevant corresponding policies to help it release its industrial potential.

As a developed country in Southeast Asia, Singapore is constantly looking for new economic growth points based on technological innovation, and developing artificial intelligence strategic deployment commensurate with its national characteristics. For example, in order to promote economic transformation and improve people's lives, the Singapore government launched the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy for the first time in 2019, promoting the use of artificial intelligence technology in five major areas, such as transportation logistics, smart city Yu Township, health care, education and security. This initiative has driven the construction of its smart city to great success.

Other Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia and Thailand have also updated and introduced policies to encourage the development and application of AI technology. In late 2023, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society of Thailand proposed a new strategy to promote the application of AI and assist its domestic AI suppliers, titled "Fast Success in AI and Cloud Computing Policy". On January 16, 2024, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim officially launched the "Artificial Intelligence for the Good of the People" programme at Bottra University, which is implemented by the Ministry of Economy in collaboration with Intel Malaysia.

Although most countries in Southeast Asia will still face the constraints of backward infrastructure construction and lack of talents, so that the development of their artificial intelligence industry is limited to a certain extent, it can be seen that Southeast Asian countries are actively introducing encouraging policies, preferential policies to encourage relevant investment and research and development, and attracting talents to make up for the lack of infrastructure and education. Supported by government policies in Southeast Asia, the artificial intelligence market in the region is expected to continue to expand in the coming years.

Use overseas strength to enhance their own strength

Compared with the previous "Alpha Go" and other analytical artificial intelligence, ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence more effectively let people see the current huge business interests, and the future infinite possible business opportunities.

In this context of The Times, basically every qualified technology company has begun to train their own large language models, and began to promote the process of "going to sea". It is reported that Alibaba Group's research institute Damo Institute launched the first artificial language training based on Southeast Asia in December 2023 to take this momentum, and technology artificial intelligence companies in Southeast Asian countries are also actively opening up their own development. However, limited to some shortcomings in the level of scientific and technological development, empowering themselves by "standing on the shoulders of giants" is the choice of most international science and technology artificial intelligence enterprises in Southeast Asia.

As a result, Southeast Asia has also seen the emergence of "knockoffs" of ChatGPT, or tech companies claiming to be empowered by ChatGPT. These startups in Southeast Asia have products in a variety of areas, such as Singapore-based AI company Greywing's recently launched SeaGPT, an AI dialogue product focused on shipping communications; Shary.ai, owned by Malaysian ai startup VOX, is an artificial intelligence conversation product; Launched in April 2023 by Philippine tech company Limitless Lab, GreatGov GPT is an AI tool for public policy writing...... The smart large-model version of SeaLLM, along with a chatbot called Seallm-Chat, reflects Alibaba's emphasis on the Southeast Asian market.

Kristina Fong, principal researcher on economic affairs at the ASEAN Studies Centre, said the AI governance guidelines' low-interference, flexible approach reflects the challenges posed by the development gap among ASEAN member states. "Countries have developed very differently, not only in terms of digital capabilities, but also in terms of the maturity of regulatory authorities, institutional capacity and the rule of law."

Asean's guidelines warn of the risks of AI being used for disinformation, "deepfakes" and impersonation, but leave it up to individual countries to figure out how best to deal with these risks. The guidelines also recommend that companies set up AI risk assessment structures and AI governance training, but the specifics are also up to companies and local regulators to decide.

In the future, the courage to innovate and explore and the degree of relaxation will be an important basis for taking advantage of the "wind" of generative artificial intelligence. Technology executives say ASEAN's relatively hands-off approach is more business-friendly, limiting the compliance burden on companies under the region's already complex existing local legal system while also providing room for more innovation.