By Andy Ng, Vice President and Managing Director for Asia South and Pacific Region, Veritas Technologies
As businesses in APAC rapidly integrate AI into various functions, from customer engagement to supply chain management, the challenge is not only to harness AI’s potential for operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making but also to manage the emerging risks in a landscape where cybersecurity threats are increasingly complex.
Understanding the AI Landscape in APAC
The APAC region’s embrace of AI is driving significant advancements in sectors such as e-commerce, fintech, and smart manufacturing. The swift integration of AI technologies has outstripped the development of robust risk management frameworks, creating a pressing need for solutions that can ensure the security and integrity of AI systems.
According to a recent Veritas research, 91% of office workers in the APAC region said guidelines and policies on the use of public generative AI tools (like Chat GPT) are important, but only 33% of employers currently provide any mandatory usage directions to employees.
Identifying the Risks
In APAC, where digital transformation is occurring at an accelerated pace, data quality is paramount. The diverse data landscapes and regulatory environments across APAC countries mean that AI systems must be fed with high-quality, bias-free data to maximise business outputs.
Furthermore, the varied regulatory landscape in APAC, with regulations like PDPA, GDPR, and others, necessitates a nuanced approach to compliance and ethical standards. For instance, in the same Veritas research, while almost half of office workers in Singapore (similar to the APAC average) said that their governments should introduce regulations for the use of public AI technologies, the sentiment is stronger in China, with 65% of employees saying so.
Security is another critical concern, as APAC has become a hotbed for cyber activity. AI systems in this region process valuable data and must be safeguarded against external cyber threats.
Singapore, in particular, is encouraging the adoption of AI to seize and maintain a competitive edge globally. Hence, investments in robust cybersecurity infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and public education also become essential to build and maintain trust among citizens, businesses, and the government.
Approach to AI Risk Management in APAC
Brands and companies should prioritise a tailored approach to AI productivity maximisation within the APAC context:
1. Data Protection and Integrity: It is crucial for organisations to find a reliable solution partner that offers robust data protection to ensure AI systems in APAC utilise reliable data sources, which is essential in a region with wide-ranging data governance standards. In 2024, it is expected organisations will largely use
Large Language Models (LLMs) to provide AI-generated insights. Private LLM models can provide high quality intelligence tailored to the organisation, minimising the chance of any sensitive business-critical data leaking or becoming public, facilitating better data protection and management.
2. Compliance and Visibility: Tools that enhance visibility of data and AI operations will help companies in APAC navigate the complex regulatory environment, maintaining compliance with both local and international standards. Regulatory compliance will be a strategic necessity and being able to use tools to prove compliance will become core to establishing competitive advantage and ensuring customer confidence.
3. Resilient Security Posture: Given APAC’s diverse cyber landscape, services that put priority on building a resilient security posture, integrating advanced threat detection and response mechanisms to fortify AI systems against sophisticated attacks will also protect corporate reputation, and maintain customer confidence.
4. Education and Governance: It is important to prioritise education on AI risks tailored for the APAC market, while advocating for governance structures that ensure accountability and oversight across different markets with varying levels of AI maturity and regulatory frameworks. We expect to see significant initiatives and new legislations in terms of security, and protection elements of data compliance legislation procedures, aiming to create an environment where organisations can base their datasets under regulatory conditions that enable secure and seamless cross-border data flows.
Looking Ahead
The journey of AI adoption in the APAC business sector is filled with promise but demands constant vigilance. Companies should have access to the tools and strategies necessary to leverage AI’s advantages. As AI’s role in APAC’s economic growth continues to expand, there’s a growing need for robust data protection and risk management solutions, ensuring they can confidently navigate the future of AI-driven innovation.
