Southeast Asian countries are drafting governance norms and ethical guidelines for artificial intelligence (AI), according to five sources. Singapore is taking the lead in organizing negotiations on the content of the AI ​​guidelines, three sources said. Officials from Southeast Asian countries said that ASEAN is drafting AI guidelines and will strive to balance the economic benefits of the technology with its many risks: "The drafting work is underway and may be completed by the end of the year before it is accepted for discussion and approval by ASEAN member states." Another official said that once the draft is completed, it may be officially announced at the ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting early next year.

Besides Singapore, the other ASEAN countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed in February that an ASEAN "AI guideline" was needed for the region's 668 million people, but details of discussions among regional policymakers have not been reported before. (Reuters)