*Forging a United Regional Vision for Artificial Intelligence
PUTRAJAYA, 26 JUNE 2025 –The Ministry of Digital today officially announced the ASEAN AI Malaysia Summit 2025 from 12 – 13 August 2025 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur, a first-of-its- kind regional convergence designed to catalyse collaboration, governance, and innovation in artificial intelligence.
This landmark event will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and civil society from across the globe with a unified purpose: to shape a sustainable, secure, and inclusive AI future for Southeast Asia. The Summit underscores Malaysia’s leadership as the Chair of ASEAN and reflects its commitment to advancing responsible AI development through regional solidarity and action.
A Regional Turning Point for AI Governance and Collaboration
This flagship event will serve as a high-level platform to harmonise national strategies, align data governance standards, and unlock cross-border innovation opportunities. Discussions will span AI sovereignty, innovation, regulatory harmonisation, digital public infrastructure, talent development, and more.
This Summit plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of AI in ASEAN. Artificial intelligence has emerged as a key driver of regional economic and social transformation. ASEAN must step forward as a co-leader in charting the course of global transformation. Malaysia is committed to leading this effort, forging a collective pathway that ensures AI innovation empowers, protects, and benefits all.
Key Strategic Partners and Global Thought Leaders Take Centre Stage
The ASEAN AI Malaysia Summit 2025 is proud to be supported by a distinguished group of strategic partners, including the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Foundation, EU- ASEAN, US-ASEAN Business Council, 500 Global, Alibaba Cloud, Grab, McKinsey and Women in Tech. These partners play a pivotal role in co-creating the Summit’s agenda, driving high-impact initiatives and shaping the region’s AI trajectory.
The event will feature headline speakers from across the globe, including visionary leaders in government, frontier AI researchers, pioneering technologists, and influential voices from civil society. Among them are:
• H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN;
• Mishaal Ashemimry, Managing Director, Center for Space Futures and the first female aerospace engineer in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC);
• Richard Stirling, CEO, Oxford Insights;
• David Shrier, Professor of Practice, Imperial College Business School;
• Khailee Ng, Managing Partner, 500 Global; and
• Suthen Thomas Paradatheth, Chief Technology Officer, Grab.
As strategic dialogues and planning continue to unfold, additional partners and notable speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. These ongoing engagements reflect the growing interest from both regional and international stakeholders in supporting a unified, inclusive, and values-driven approach to AI development in Southeast Asia.
The Summit will also highlight success stories from across the region, promote gender and youth inclusion, and catalyse public-private partnerships to strengthen ASEAN’s collective AI capacity.
National Execution, Regional Impact
Organised by the Ministry of Digital in collaboration with the National AI Office (NAIO) and MyDIGITAL Corporation, the Summit is a testament to Malaysia’s growing AI leadership. Since its establishment in December 2024, NAIO has championed Malaysia’s AI agenda — strengthening AI innovation, collaboration, governance, infrastructure, and talent development in alignment with regional goals.
More than 1,500 regional delegates and over 150 exhibitors are expected to participate in the Summit, which will also feature the ASEAN AI Trade Show, ministerial roundtables, youth forums, and exclusive showcases of AI use cases in healthcare, education, agriculture, fintech, and more.
Amplifying Impact through KL AI Takeover and Youth Engagement
From 10-14 August 2025, Kuala Lumpur will transform into a vibrant hub of AI innovation with KL AI Takeover Week. This city-wide initiative will amplify the Summit’s impact, fostering discovery, collaboration and innovation through a series of dynamic events:
• AI Builder Hub – A central space for AI talks, networking and co-working, tailored for digital nomads and developers.
• AI Code Fest – A developer competition at MITEC, challenging participants with real-world AI use cases for prizes and recognition.
• AI Horizon 2025 – A special satellite event by Tech Dome Penang, exploring future-forward AI applications and educational advancements.
• AI Ecosystem Events – A series of independently hosted activities by global and local partners across the city, ensuring broad participation from the AI community.
The Summit will also feature a special event, Youth Caucus, held in conjunction with Malaysia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN. This event is organised by KiniEvents and Malaysia Institute for Debate and Public Speaking (MIDP) in collaboration with NAIO, MyDIGITAL Corporation, Google and Khazanah Research Institute. This platform empowers young Malaysians to critically discuss AI’s societal impact, preparing them to meaningfully shape ASEAN’s digital future.
Invitation to Shape ASEAN’s AI Future
As ASEAN navigates an era of accelerating digital transformation, the ASEAN AI Malaysia Summit 2025 also serves as a launchpad for action. Members from the Government and public sector, industry pioneers, technologists, civil society leaders, and academic institutions are invited to contribute to a shared vision where AI accelerates progress, safeguards values, and unlocks Southeast Asia’s collective potential.
For participation, partnership, or exhibition inquiries, please visit aimalaysiasummit.gov.my.
