The Perak ruler warns against repeating past mistakes, calling for advance regulation of AI and genetic engineering to prevent irreversible planetary harm.
KUALA LUMPUR: Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah has issued a stark warning that emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and genetic engineering must be governed proactively to avoid catastrophic future mistakes.
His Royal Highness drew a parallel with the historical failure to regulate the atomic bomb before its use, urging the global community not to repeat the error of “building first and governing later”.
He delivered this keynote address at the opening of the 8th Putrajaya Forum 2026, held alongside the Defence Services Asia and National Security Asia exhibitions.
“They demand governance in advance, not in retrospect,” Sultan Nazrin said.
He emphasised that the cost of retroactive governance could prove irreversible, particularly for the health of the planet itself.
While acknowledging technologies like AI, quantum computing and biotechnology as powerful tools for enhancing security, he cautioned they are simultaneously reshaping the global risk landscape.
Sultan Nazrin noted AI could deter cyber threats in real-time and enable pre-emptive action through predictive analytics.
He also highlighted benefits from blockchain for data integrity and advanced surveillance for public safety.
“But these technologies also carry grave risks,” he stated.
The deployment of AI in military contexts could inadvertently precipitate conflict through automation bias, where humans over-trust machines with life-or-death decisions.
His Royal Highness warned that AI errors in nuclear systems could have catastrophic consequences.
He further identified quantum computing as a major threat to online security and deepfakes as tools to destabilise society.
Critical infrastructure like energy grids and financial systems are increasingly exposed to digitised risks that could compromise sovereignty without conventional warfare.
“A cyberattack on a regional financial system could disrupt economies across borders within minutes,” Sultan Nazrin illustrated.
He also warned of coordinated misinformation campaigns eroding public trust and data breaches compromising national sovereignty.
The Sultan called for deeper ASEAN cooperation, particularly in developing AI governance frameworks that reflect regional values.
He stressed ensuring the fair distribution of technological gains is essential.
“True security lies in working together, not in isolation,” said Sultan Nazrin.
This means cooperating on governance frameworks that protect people and distribute technological wealth fairly, he added.
The Putrajaya Forum 2026 is a premier defence and homeland security event attracting global participation.
It is themed ‘ASEAN Security at the Edge of Emerging Technologies’, focusing on how rapid advancements reshape defence and regional cooperation.