KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has cautioned that the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) could exacerbate existing inequalities if left unchecked.
Speaking at the ASEAN Investment Conference 2025, held alongside the 12th ASEAN Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting (AFMGM) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Anwar stressed the urgent need for balanced digital progress.
“AI is progressing at lightning speed. If this asymmetrical digital growth is not managed carefully, it risks deepening social and economic divides,” he said in his keynote address.
He highlighted the importance of ensuring that investments in digital literacy, infrastructure, empowerment and governance develop in tandem. “The digital economy holds immense promise, but it also presents significant disparities. While digital transformation is advancing across the region, it remains uneven,” he said.
Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, emphasised the importance of deeper regional integration, particularly in digital payments.
He noted that ASEAN currently enjoys digital payment linkages between Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. “Later today, we will launch the extension of payment linkages between Malaysia and Cambodia. The goal is to eventually cover all ASEAN nations to help drive intra-ASEAN trade and tourism,” he added.
Earlier, Anwar officiated the ASEAN Investment Conference 2025, which was also attended by Finance Minister II, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.–BERNAMA
