Experts Advocate for Sovereign AI Development in Emerging Countries

With the democratization of large language models (LLMs), it is vital for developing nations to establish sovereign AI. This conclusion was reached by participants at the CNBC East Tech West conference in Thailand.

Sovereign AI refers to a state’s capacity to independently govern its technologies, data, and infrastructure, ensuring autonomy while addressing the unique security needs and priorities of its context.

According to Kasima Tarnpipitchai, head of AI strategy at SCB 10X, such capabilities are currently lacking. He pointed out that many prominent global LLMs are predominantly based on the English language.

«The way you think, how you engage with the world, and how you express yourself in another language can be entirely different,» Tarnpipitchai noted.

Therefore, it is crucial for nations to take ownership of their AI systems by developing technologies tailored to specific languages, cultures, and nations, rather than merely translating English-based models, he emphasized.

The discussion participants agreed that the ASEAN region, with a population of approximately 700 million, is particularly suited for developing sovereign AI. About 61% of the population is under 35, and around 125,000 residents gain internet access daily.

«I believe this is incredibly important, and we are focused on how we can democratize access to cloud technologies and AI,» commented Jeff Johnson, managing director for the ASEAN region at Amazon.

The panel highlighted that one key approach to creating a sovereign AI environment should involve leveraging open-source models.

«There is a wealth of outstanding talent in Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand. If this potential isn’t harnessed in a way that benefits society or fosters ecosystem development, it would be a significant loss,» Tarnpipitchai remarked.

He added that engaging with open-source initiatives could generate the «collective energy» needed for Thailand to compete more effectively in the AI domain while advancing sovereignty to benefit the entire nation.

Open-source refers to software whose source code is publicly accessible, allowing anyone to review and adapt it to their needs.

Leading players in the open AI market include American company Meta and Chinese firm DeepSeek.

Cecily Ng, Vice President and CEO for the ASEAN and Greater China regions at Databricks, emphasized that the rise of more open-source AI models gives businesses and governments a diverse array of options compared to relying on a few proprietary models.

In addition to language localization, the application of local infrastructure and computing resources for neural networks is equally critical, noted Prem Pavan, Vice President and CEO of Red Hat for Southeast Asia and Korea.

Discussion participants noted that for developing nations like Thailand, cloud computing companies with local operations could address these issues. This includes AWS, Microsoft Azure, Tencent Cloud, AIS Cloud, and True IDC.

«We are here in Thailand and throughout Southeast Asia to support all sectors and businesses of all sizes—ranging from startups to large enterprises,» said Johnson from AWS.

He explained that the economic model of the company’s cloud services enables a «pay-as-you-go» structure, lowering entry barriers and simplifying the development of models and applications.

Various strategies and initiatives are being implemented across Southeast Asian countries to advance AI:

Initiatives are also underway in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Brunei.

Most ASEAN countries have already enacted personal data protection legislation, including Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia. Vietnam is in the process of drafting its privacy law.

Both public and private investments are being mobilized. Singapore is investing heavily in «deep tech» with a $245 million fund aimed at supporting AI-focused startups. In Malaysia and Vietnam, the government is participating in financing joint projects with corporations and training centers.

Companies like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, Tencent, and Alibaba are continually investing in the ASEAN region.

Throughout the region, there is a growing interest in generative AI, with collaborative initiatives with foreign partners emerging everywhere. There is a movement towards «responsible AI,» focusing on algorithm transparency, ethics, and data protection.

It is worth noting that in June, Thai authorities expressed their intention to approve the «Artificial Intelligence Law,» which aims to regulate the use of AI within the kingdom.