Standards Australia Boosts AI in Southeast Asia with Responsible AI Training

Southeast Asia's digital economy is experiencing rapid growth, with artificial intelligence (AI) playing a key role. In the first half of 2024 alone, over US$30 billion was committed to building AI-ready data centres across Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. Despite this optimism, the region faces significant challenges in fully harnessing AI’s potential. Many projects remain small-scale due to barriers such as a lack of skills, knowledge, and organisational readiness. Additionally, scaling AI increases risks, including data privacy and security breaches.

To help build capability and understanding in the region, Standards Australia, in collaboration with leading Australian AI experts, is expanding its national presence to help build a strong, resilient, and digitally enabled Southeast Asian region where engagement with AI is considered from a trustworthy and ethical perspective upfront.

In support of this vision, Standards Australia is launching the Responsible AI Management Training in Southeast Asia. This initiative aims to equip governments, industry and third-sector leaders from eligible Southeast Asian countries with the knowledge and tools needed to implement AI responsibly and effectively.

Claire McFarland, Senior Manager International, Advisory and Project Delivery at Standards Australia, highlighted the importance of responsible AI in the region's growth. “Southeast Asia's digital economy achieved profitability of $11 billion in 2024, and AI was a key driver of this growth. This training, focusing on the AI Management System standard, will enable organisations across the region to responsibly use, develop, monitor, and provide AI-based products or services. It offers a systematic approach to organisations addressing AI-related challenges, including ethics, accountability, transparency, and data privacy,” she said.

Key benefits of the training:

• Enhance awareness: Increase understanding of international standards for AI risk management.
• Support trustworthy AI: Provide a framework for adopting and deploying AI in a trustworthy manner.
• Informed decision-making: Offer insights into the AS ISO/IEC 42001:2023 AI Management System standard to guide good decisions.

Meet the experts:

• Monica Gonzalez: Member of Australia’s AI and digital technology standards committees, bringing over two decades' international experience in data management and digital transformations across public and private sectors. She equips organisations with the knowledge and systems needed to implement ethical and effective AI and data governance practices.
• Jonathan Hatch:  Member of Australia’s AI Committee with over two decades experience in technology law, regulation, standards, and policy. He works across Asia on responsible AI design and governance, contributing to model laws and international frameworks.
• Claire McFarland: Standards Australia’s Senior Manager of International Projects, a digital and emerging tech expert with two decades of leadership in university think tank research, government policy and programmes, and digital product delivery in multinational companies.

‍Workshop schedule:

• Manila, Philippines – Monday, 26 May 2025
• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Wednesday, 28 May 2025
• Jakarta, Indonesia – Friday, 30 May 2025
• Dili, Timor Leste – Monday, 2 June 2025
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Wednesday, 11 June 2025
• Hanoi, Vietnam – Friday, 13 June 2025
• Vientiane, Laos – Monday, 16 June 2025
• Bangkok, Thailand – Wednesday, 18 June 2025
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For more information and to register for the workshops, visit Responsible AI Training in Southeast Asia

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