ASEAN study flags AI readiness gap as use surges across region

Artificial intelligence (AI) is spreading quickly across Southeast Asia, but schools, institutions, and governments are struggling to keep up, according to two new regional studies released this week by the ASEAN Foundation.

The ASEAN Digital Outlook and initial findings from the AI Ready ASEAN Research were presented during the 3rd Regional Policy Convening of the AI Ready ASEAN Programme in Manila.

Researchers said there is a growing gap between how fast AI is being adopted and how prepared institutions are to manage and guide its use.

“Across ASEAN, we are seeing AI use grow faster than our systems’ ability to guide it,” said Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation.

He said the key question is no longer whether people are using AI, but whether schools, governments, and communities are ready to use it responsibly.

The findings come as ASEAN’s digital economy is expected to grow from $300 billion to $1 trillion by 2030.

The region has more than 660 million people, nearly one-third of whom are under 20—making skills training and responsible AI use especially important.

High AI use, policy gaps in Ph

In the Philippines, the study found that 83.40% of students and 73.07% of educators reported using generative AI tools in education.

Many students use AI for writing and paraphrasing, with 75.95% saying they use these tools, compared to 42.21% of educators.

However, despite the high usage, fewer than half of educators said they were confident in their institutions’ AI policies and guidelines. Researchers said this points to gaps in AI literacy, ethics training, and institutional support.

The broader ASEAN report also noted uneven levels of digital readiness among member states, including weaknesses in digital skills, cybersecurity, public trust, and responsible tech use.

Risks, challenges

The studies warned that AI use is advancing faster than the rules and safeguards meant to control it.

Risks include online scams, deepfake fraud, misinformation, and data breaches—problems that could erode public trust if not properly addressed.

The research was developed with the ASEAN Digital Senior Officials’ Meeting (ADGSOM) and supported by Google.org.

It builds on the AI Ready ASEAN Programme, which has reached over five million people through AI literacy training and helped more than 100,000 learners complete advanced AI courses.

In the Philippines, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the government is rolling out reforms to integrate AI into basic education.

These include the AI Ready ASEAN Philippines Training Programme for students, teachers, and parents, as well as pilot AI classroom tools developed by the Education Center for AI Research.

The Department of Education is also working with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Day of AI to develop a national AI curriculum, Angara said.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., in remarks cited during the launch of Project AGAP.AI, stressed that technology should support—rather than replace—discipline and hard work in learning.

Call for stronger policies

Overall, the studies say ASEAN governments need to go beyond simply promoting access to digital tools. They must also strengthen institutions, improve AI literacy, set clear ethical standards, and build stronger governance systems.

The ASEAN Foundation said the research aims to guide policymakers and educators in ensuring that AI adoption in the region remains inclusive, responsible, and fair.—MCG, GMA Integrated News