ASEAN Foundation launches Digital Outlook, flags readiness gaps

The ASEAN Foundation on Monday unveiled two major regional studies aimed at reshaping how Southeast Asia approaches digital transformation and artificial intelligence, shifting the focus from access and infrastructure to governance, skills and people-centered readiness.

During the AI Ready ASEAN: 3rd Regional Policy Convening in Manila on 9 February 2026, ASEAN Foundation executive director Dr. Piti Srisangnam and AI Ready ASEAN project manager Diera Gala Paksi presented the launch of the ASEAN Digital Outlook and the first look at the AI Ready ASEAN Research Evidence to support inclusive, responsible AI education in Southeast Asia.

Foundation officials said the two documents are designed to provide evidence-based guidance for education reform, digital governance and AI policy across the region, as technology adoption continues to accelerate faster than institutions can manage it.

“While ASEAN has strengthened its digital and physical infrastructure, the next phase of progress requires stronger governance, enhanced security and continued investment in human capabilities,” the ASEAN Digital Outlook stated, underscoring a regional shift from building systems to ensuring they are well governed and widely understood.

The ASEAN Digital Outlook frames the region’s digital transition as moving beyond connectivity toward adoption and impact. It identifies digital infrastructure, policy harmonization and cross-border collaboration as core foundations, while pointing to high-impact priorities such as an interconnected digital public infrastructure ecosystem, broader AI adoption, regional cybersecurity and sustainable digital infrastructure.

“ASEAN’s digital future will be defined not by how fast technology grows, but by how well it is governed, secured and shared,” the report said.

Srisangnam said the outlook reflects ASEAN’s broader vision of inclusive growth under ASEAN Community Vision 2045, as AI increasingly reshapes economies, education systems and governance.

“Our priority is to ensure that digital transformation remains inclusive, equitable and aligned with the ASEAN community vision 2045,” he said, adding that AI should be deployed as a tool for empowerment rather than exclusion.

He said the ASEAN Foundation, through the AI Ready ASEAN program supported by Google, has focused on strengthening AI literacy, institutional readiness and digital capacity across all 10 ASEAN member states.

“AI is not just about technologies. It is about ensuring trust and people-centered development as we integrate AI into our schools, public services, homes and communities,” Srisangnam said.

Students lead, systems lag

The first look at the AI Ready ASEAN research highlighted a central finding: AI use across education communities is already widespread, but readiness remains uneven.

Students emerged as the primary drivers of AI adoption, with 87 percent using AI to search for information, 75 percent for writing assistance, 37 percent for creating presentations, 31 percent for language learning and 27 percent for math problem-solving.

The research found that high usage is driven largely by perceived usefulness rather than deep technical understanding, raising concerns about ethical use, accuracy and overdependence.

By contrast, educators and parents showed significantly lower levels of AI literacy. The study found that AI literacy declines with age, with younger educators calling for mandatory professional training and older instructors requiring more targeted support. Parents registered the lowest AI literacy levels, limiting their capacity to guide AI use at home or regulate misuse.

The study identified a clear AI readiness gap: high enthusiasm does not translate into high capability. Many existing training programs, it said, lack practical relevance, classroom alignment and accessibility, particularly for self-sponsored educators.

Taken together, the research concluded that AI readiness in ASEAN education is shaped by who uses AI, who lacks support and how training is delivered, emphasizing quality over mere access.

Reaching scale, addressing fear

Paksi said the AI Ready ASEAN program has reached 5.7 million individuals to date, making it the largest AI initiative in the region. He said the program has also exceeded its target for master trainers, growing from an initial goal of 2,000 to more than 3,000 trainers across ASEAN.

To ensure accessibility, Paksi said the learning platform was designed in multiple national languages and includes features such as discussion forums and an AI chatbot. He said around 8 million users are currently queued to access the platform, signaling strong demand.

The program has also received formal endorsements from governments or partner agencies in all 10 ASEAN member states, aligning it with both national and regional digital agendas.

Addressing resistance from some schools that have rejected AI outright, Paksi said part of the program’s work is to change perceptions that frame AI as a threat.

“Our job is to change the stereotype,” he said, adding that building trust and understanding remains a work in progress.

Srisangnam echoed this, saying fear often stems from a lack of understanding.

“AI will not replace people,” he said. “AI can empower them. When people understand this, they want to learn more.”

He shared the example of a teacher who initially resisted AI, later joined AI Ready ASEAN training, and eventually became a master trainer teaching thousands of learners.

The next 12 months

Asked about the most urgent AI readiness gaps ASEAN must address in the next year, Srisangnam pointed to three pillars: infrastructure, institutions and people.

While connectivity and systems continue to improve, he said rules, laws and governance frameworks must catch up. But he stressed that “peopleware” — preparing citizens to use AI responsibly — is where the region can make the fastest gains.

“These two documents give us evidence for education reforms, digital governance and AI policy governance,” he said, noting that policy recommendations from the convening will be shared with ASEAN governments, including the Philippines.