THE Asean Foundation on Monday held a media conference, presenting its Digital Outlook and AI-Ready Research with insights to support policy dialogue on digital and AI transformation in the region.
The Asean Digital Outlook covers the projected trajectory, strategic goals, and rapid transformation of the digital economy across the 10 Southeast Asian nations composed of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
This year’s Outlook is defined by a shift toward artificial intelligence reality, sustainable profitability, and the creation of a unified digital market.
While Asean has strengthened its digital and physical infrastructure, the next phase of progress requires stronger governance, enhanced security, and continued investment in human capabilities, the outlook said.
A major concern is cybersecurity issues such as deep fakes, data breaches, cyber attacks, online misinformation, and scams.
To mitigate these issues, the outlook laid down the following measures:
– Protection of hardware, networks, and physical access to data centers;
– Safeguarding data in transit, communication channels, and connectivity;
– Securing software, platforms, and digital services;
– Ensuring data confidentiality, integrity, and availability;
– Addressing human and institutional vulnerabilities.
The Outlook also proposed the creation of a cyberthreat intelligence hub with a regional enforcement system, digital security-by-design program, and an infrastructure modernization fund.
Likewise needed are cloud and AI-ready data centers, industrial Internet of Things, and digital payments and open finance systems.
AI-readiness
The AI-Ready Research surveyed education communities, focusing on students, educators, and parents as key actors shaping how AI is adopted, understood, and governed.
Among its findings are: 87 percent of students in the region use AI to search information; writing assistance (75 percent); making presentations (37 percent); language learning (31 percent); and math problem solving (26 percent).
In the Philippines, 83.40 percent of students and 73.07 percent of educators use generative AI models.
However, fewer than half of educators express strong confidence in institutional AI policies and governance frameworks in the country.
On institutional readiness, educator support in Asean remains limited, with 50 percent agreeing that their institution provides adequate AI training, clear AI usage guidelines, and sufficient infrastructure, while 50 percent or fewer report inadequate technological support for students with disabilities.
On training and literacy gaps, educators say AI literacy declines with age, while younger educators call for mandatory professional training, and older instructors need targeted support.
Parents, meanwhile, have the lowest in AI literacy levels with limited capacity to guide AI use at home and regulate misuse or overdependence on AI.
The outlook says findings reveal a consistent gap between high levels of AI usage and actual readiness, particularly in AI literacy, ethical understanding and institutional support. While students emerge as adopters of AI, educators and parents face struggles.
The Outlook and Research have contributed to the progress of the AI-Ready Asean program that has reached more than 5 million beneficiaries, the foundation said.
“These two documents provide a shared and evidence-based foundation for educational reform, digital governance, and AI policy harmonization across the regions. For Asean, this is not just about technologies. It is about ensuring trust, safety, and people-centered developments as we integrate AI into our schools, public services, homes, and communities,“ Asean Foundation executive director Piti Srisangnam told reporters.
The Outlook is supported by initiatives like the e-Conomy SEA report by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company.
