Malaysia will take a major step towards regional digital leadership by hosting the inaugural Asean AI Malaysia Summit on Aug 12 and 13 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (main image), Kuala Lumpur.
The event aims to enhance collaboration, strengthen governance, and drive innovation in artificial intelligence (AI). Policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and civil society representatives from around the world will explore how Southeast Asia can shape a sustainable, secure, and inclusive AI future.
The summit is organised by Malaysia’s Digital Ministry in collaboration with the National AI Office (NAIO) and MyDIGITAL Corporation, with support from the Asean Secretariat, Asean Foundation, EU-Asean, US-Asean Business Council, 500 Global, Alibaba Cloud, Grab, McKinsey, and Women in Tech.
It also reflects Malaysia’s commitment to advancing responsible AI development through regional cooperation. The platform aims to harmonise national strategies, align data governance, and unlock cross-border innovation opportunities.
Key topics include AI sovereignty, innovation, regulatory harmonisation, digital public infrastructure, talent development, and inclusive growth.
Among the headline speakers are:
• Dr Kao Kim Hourn, Asean Secretary-General
• Mishaal Ashemimry, Managing Director of the Centre for Space Futures and the first female aerospace engineer in the Gulf Cooperation Council
• Richard Stirling, Oxford Insights chief executive officer
• David Shrier, Professor of Practice at Imperial College Business School
• Khailee Ng, Managing Partner of 500 Global
• Suthen Thomas Paradatheth, Chief Technology Officer of Grab
More than 1,500 regional delegates and over 150 exhibitors are expected to attend. The event will include the Asean AI Trade Show, ministerial roundtables, youth forums, and showcases of AI in healthcare, education, agriculture, fintech, and more.
The summit will also promote gender and youth inclusion and foster public-private partnerships to strengthen Asean’s collective AI capabilities.
In conjunction with the summit, Kuala Lumpur will host KL AI Takeover Week from Aug 10 to 14. This initiative will turn the city into a vibrant hub of innovation and learning, featuring:
• AI Builder Hub – A space for talks, networking and co-working, tailored for developers and digital nomads
• AI Code Fest – A developer competition at MITEC with real-world AI challenges and prizes
• AI Horizon 2025 – A satellite event by Tech Dome Penang on future AI applications in education
• AI Ecosystem Events – Activities by global and local partners across the city
A Youth Caucus, organised by KiniEvents and the Malaysian Institute for Debate and Public Speaking, in collaboration with NAIO, MyDIGITAL Corporation, Google, and Khazanah Research Institute, will also be featured.
For participation, partnership, or exhibition enquiries, visit aimalaysiasummit.gov.my.
