The international conference “Building AI Capacity in Southeast Asia: Education, Talent and Regional Cooperation” took place on October 20, at Tsinghua Southeast Asia Center (Tsinghua SEA). The conference was jointly organized by Tsinghua University’s Institute for AI International Governance (I-AIIG), Tsinghua SEA, and Globethics.

In his opening remarks, Liang Zheng, vice dean of I-AIIG, noted that realizing the benefits of AI depends on talent development, institutional capacity, and the effective alignment of technology with social and economic needs. Bonifasius Wahyu Pudjianto, head of the Agency for Human Resource Development on Communication and Digital Affairs at Indonesia’ s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, introduced Indonesia’ s initiatives in digital talent development and AI training. Tantowi Yahya, president of the United in Diversity Foundation, highlighted the importance of local needs, public trust, and collaboration in building AI capacity. Fadi Daou, executive director of Globethics, shared perspectives on AI literacy, institutional accountability, and international cooperation.

The forum featured two panel discussions: “AI Talent and Innovation: Strengthening International Cooperation” and “AI Industry and Regional Partnerships.” Participants explored the impact of AI on education systems and workforce needs, as well as ways for governments, universities, and businesses to strengthen collaboration. Discussions also covered AI applications in industry, public services, and legal services, with attention to talent development, educational innovation, and the challenges of translating AI initiatives into practical applications.

The formal academic and panel discussions concluded with closing remarks, followed by a dedicated networking session. The conference served as a collaborative platform to align educational frameworks, industry innovation, and governance approaches to support AI capacity-building throughout Southeast Asia.

Editors: Li Han, John Paul Grima