On 12–13 August 2025, the ASEAN Foundation, with support from Google.org, hosted the 2nd Regional Policy Convening of AI Ready ASEAN during the ASEAN AI Malaysia Summit in Kuala Lumpur. Bringing together policymakers, educators, AI practitioners, youth leaders, and civil society organisations, the convening carried the theme “Bridging AI Literacy and AI Safety: Building Responsible AI in ASEAN.”
A highlight of the event was the launch of AI Class ASEAN, a free regional e-learning platform designed to make AI literacy accessible to all. The platform offers 70 interactive modules covering 25 topics, from the basics of AI to practical applications in education, business, and content creation. It also includes lessons on ethics, data privacy, and combating misinformation. To meet the region’s diversity, the courses are available in 10 ASEAN languages, supported by AI-powered chatbots, real-time translation, and collaborative discussion forums. This initiative is part of the USD 5 million AI Ready ASEAN programme, which aims to equip more than 5.5 million people with responsible AI knowledge and skills.
The launch was marked by a symbolic ceremony attended by ASEAN and corporate leaders, reaffirming the region’s shared commitment to advancing digital readiness and inclusivity. This was complemented by policy dialogues and panel discussions on aligning AI literacy with safety standards, bridging policy and practice in education, and leveraging philanthropy to scale AI initiatives.
The convening also gathered representatives from the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Education, the ASEAN Working Group on AI Governance, and local implementing partners from all ten ASEAN Member States. Through focus group discussions, participants identified regional priorities for AI in the digital economy, youth, and education, while aligning AI Ready ASEAN with the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics and the long-term aspirations of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Looking ahead to 2045, ASEAN envisions a community where youth are empowered as meaningful contributors to regional development and transformation. This vision comes at a time when global shifts, from digitalisation to artificial intelligence, are rapidly reshaping the future of work, learning, and society.
Education is recognised as a key driver in preparing them to address emerging challenges, foster innovation, and promote sustainable socio-economic growth. Within this context, the education sector has identified a top priority: strengthening teacher capacity and integrating digital pedagogy to equip learners with future-ready skills.
AI Ready ASEAN directly responds to this priority by providing accessible, multilingual training modules that help teachers integrate AI into classrooms, enhance their digital competencies, and guide students in developing responsible AI literacy. In doing so, the programme not only supports the region’s education agenda but also ensures that young people are equipped to thrive in an increasingly digital future.
Another highlight of the convening was the presentation of preliminary findings from the study Assessing Artificial Intelligence Readiness in ASEAN Educational Contexts, conducted with King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi and MIT Media Lab. Early results show 72.4% of students and 70.5% of educators across ASEAN have never taken an AI course, with most using AI only for basic tasks such as searching or writing. Educators often report confidence but show limited literacy when tested, while students are enthusiastic yet tend to overestimate their skills. The study also revealed stark urban–rural divides, with schools in urban areas beginning to experiment with AI tools while remote areas still struggle with connectivity. The full report will be released in early 2026.
The convening further showcased Malaysia’s leadership and local contributions to AI readiness, highlighting initiatives from the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, educators, and community champions. These efforts demonstrated how national-level programmes can complement regional collaboration in shaping AI adoption.
Looking ahead, the outcomes of the convening, including a unified work plan and cross-sectoral collaborations, will drive forward ASEAN’s vision of a digitally empowered community. By equipping today’s learners with the tools to understand and use AI responsibly, AI Class ASEAN is laying the foundation for a more inclusive, innovative, and resilient ASEAN future.
Start your AI journey at www.aiclassasean.org.