While the U.S., China, and Europe are grabbing most of the attention for their AI development, Southeast Asian countries are also making significant progress and more people should be paying attention.
First, Southeast Asia is a burgeoning economic powerhouse. The collective GDP of the 10-member ASEAN states ranks 5th globally. The region’s middle class, around 200 million, exceeds 2/3 of the United States’ population.
Second, the region’s economic clout makes it a prime target for global tech giants and thousands of firms have set up shop. However, Southeast Asia’s unique regional dynamics and complex languages, including Thai, Malay, and Bahasa Indonesia, present significant challenges for AI adoption.
Western AI models, often trained on datasets lacking Southeast Asian context, may struggle to navigate the region’s nuances.
However, with the challenges, come opportunities: startups and public-private partnerships are scrambling to launch, develop IP, scale, and refine LLMs to accommodate Southeast Asia.
Lastly, the geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China will undoubtedly influence AI development in the region. Many countries are seeking to benefit from both leading AI ecosystems through neutrality. Their approach may shape global AI policy for years to come.
Sarosh Nagar and Sergio Imparato offer more context in The Diplomat.
