Building public awareness and education on artificial intelligence (AI) must come before regulation, a Singapore-based AI governance expert said, emphasizing that understanding the technology is key to ensuring it is used responsibly.
In an exclusive interview during the Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW) 2025, Anthony Lim, Singapore’s Ambassador for the Global Council for Responsible AI (GCRAI), told PhilSTAR Tech that governments in Southeast Asia should prioritize educating citizens about the opportunities and risks of AI instead of rushing to draft policies that may not keep up with technological change.
“Governance is not laws. Governance is where we start with awareness. Awareness is part of the cycle of a policy, ” the ambassador for AI said.
Lim said AI awareness should extend to schools, workplaces, and government institutions to help users recognize both the benefits and dangers of relying on AI systems.
He noted that many in the region are already using AI tools without fully understanding how they work or the consequences of misuse.
“We don’t build — even in Singapore, the majority of us do not build our own AI models. We just use the AI,” he said.
He said that while European countries focus on regulating AI developers through strict privacy and data protection laws, Asia’s role as a user-driven region makes education and responsible use a more urgent priority.
The Singapore Ambassador for GCRAI also compared AI to any ordinary tool, saying it must be handled with care and responsibility to avoid causing harm.
AI evolving faster than policy
Lim also warned that AI continues to evolve at a pace faster than any existing regulatory or policy cycle, creating a moving target for governments attempting to establish clear governance frameworks.
He said this makes it necessary for policymakers to design laws that are flexible enough to adapt to new developments without requiring constant revision.
“Any technology is still evolving, so you have to keep the policy broad enough, not too specific. So that when there are some changes along the way, you don’t have to keep rewriting,” He added.
He cited the example of cybersecurity, where it took nearly two decades for countries in the region to align their laws and enforcement mechanisms, noting that AI could take a similar trajectory before shared standards are established.
Earlier, he said that it could take five to ten years for ASEAN countries to formally align their AI frameworks, though informal cooperation is already taking place through conferences and knowledge-sharing events.
Moreover, Lim added that governments should be proactive in studying potential misuse of AI, including ethical and emotional risks such as overreliance on AI companions or the spread of misinformation generated by automated systems.
“So, let’s use responsible AI, and not just responsible—responsible to yourself, responsible to people around you, the people who are receiving the information that you’re using AI to help you craft.”
Across ASEAN, countries are developing AI frameworks at varying speeds. Singapore, Japan, and Australia have introduced comprehensive governance guidelines, while other Southeast Asian nations are still in the early stages of research and adoption.
In the Philippines, the Department of Trade and Industry has launched the National AI Strategy Roadmap 2.0 and established the Center for AI Research to promote innovation and strengthen ethical standards.
The roadmap seeks to balance technological progress with governance, underscoring the importance of preparing citizens and institutions to use AI responsibly as it continues to evolve.
