Japan-ASEAN Ethics, Governance & Risk on Artificial Intelligence
Operationalizing Japan AI Guide for Business in Southeast Asia: Opportunities and Challenges
Appendices
Prolog
Advancing Ethical AI Governance for a Resilient Japan-ASEAN Partnership
The Vision: Toward Society 5.0
Rooted in Japan's Society 5.0, this partnership establishes "Trusted AI" as critical infrastructure to harmonize economic growth with human-centered social solutions in a resilient ecosystem.
Literature Review and Context
The Global and Regional Landscape
Global AI Governance Trends: From Principles to Practice
The global conversation on AI governance has shifted from high-level ethical aspirations to concrete, operational frameworks. While early discussions focused on defining "what" ethical AI is, the current imperative is determining "how" to implement it.
Japan's Approach: Agile Governance and Society 5.0
Japan offers a distinct alternative to rigid Western regulation, advocating for "Agile Governance" rooted in the vision of Society 5.0—a super-smart society where technology harmonizes with human needs.
The Strategic Opportunity: A Shared Governance Zone
The disparity between Japan's mature soft-law ecosystem and ASEAN's diverse range presents a unique opportunity for collaboration.
The ASEAN Landscape: Innovation Amidst Fragmentation
AI adoption in ASEAN is accelerating, yet the regulatory landscape remains highly fragmented, creating a "governance gap" that hinders cross-border scalability.
Policy Recommendations
For ASEAN Businesses
Apply the seven pillars through risk-based controls, stronger data governance, and vendor explainability, supported by training and sandboxes.
For ASEAN Governments
Institutionalize the seven-pillar framework regionally, align it with DEFA/Roadmap actions, and standardize high-risk AI assessments while building capacity.
For Japanese Government & Institutions
Provide toolkits, funding, and capacity support for pilots with ASEAN, and drive interoperability through standards collaboration.
Our Honorable Partner
As a primary collaborator, the Japan Foundation bridges Japanese technological innovation with human-centric values in Southeast Asia.
Strategic Partners
