AI Ready ASEAN is a regional initiative launched by the ASEAN Foundation, with the support of Google.org, to build AI literacy across the ASEAN region. With a USD 5 million grant, this 2.5-year programme aims to equip 5.5 million individuals from all ten ASEAN Member States with essential AI skills. The initiative is designed to prepare ASEAN citizens—including youth, educators, and parents—to thrive in the digital era and embrace AI responsibly and ethically.
The AI Ready ASEAN initiative will also contribute to the overall goals of relevant ASEAN masterplans and agreements, such as the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025 and ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, which aim to build an inclusive and sustainable digital economy for ASEAN. At the same time, the initiative will also follow the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics, ensuring AI is adopted responsibly, with a focus on transparency, fairness, and inclusivity.
Through this programme, the ASEAN Foundation aims to train 2,000 master trainers, who will, in turn, deliver in-depth AI literacy training to over 800,000 end-beneficiaries in local communities. To ensure the training addresses the specific needs of impacted communities, the ASEAN Foundation will work with local partners across the region to tailor the training curriculum for each country’s unique context.
“At the ASEAN Foundation, we are thrilled to launch the AI Ready ASEAN initiative with support from Google.org, which will empower millions of individuals across the region with the knowledge and skills to thrive in the digital age,” said Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of ASEAN Foundation.
“Enhancing AI literacy in ASEAN is not just about preparing our youth, educators, and communities for the future of work—it’s about ensuring that every citizen has the tools to navigate and shape the rapidly evolving technological landscape. By investing in AI education, we are building a stronger, more resilient ASEAN that can harness the power of innovation for sustainable growth and development,” he concluded.
The AI Ready ASEAN builds on the success of the previous digital empowerment initiative, ASEAN Digital Literacy Programme, that ran from 2021 to early 2024. Supported with a USD 1.5 million grant from Google.org, the programme addressed misinformation in ASEAN by facilitating access to media and information literacy materials for youth, teachers, parents, and the elderly.
Commenting on why Google.org chose to support the ASEAN Foundation again, Marija Ralic, Lead for Google.org, APAC shared, “Our $5M grant support to ASEAN Foundation’s AI Ready ASEAN initiative underscores our commitment to help ensure everyone, especially people in marginalised communities, can access the digital, technical and AI skills to pursue opportunities in the digital economy. Building on the success of our previous support in 2021, through which the ASEAN Foundation has helped hundreds and thousands of individuals across ASEAN to develop essential digital skills, we are excited to continue this journey supporting the ASEAN Foundation to bridge the digital divide and ensure that everyone can benefit from the transformative power of AI.”
H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, welcomed the AI Ready ASEAN initiative to uplift the AI literacy baseline and empower the region’s digital literacy and create opportunities for ASEAN youth to thrive in the digital age. He remarked, “I commend the ASEAN Foundation and Google.org for spearheading this initiative and for their commitment to advancing digital skills and literacy in our region…I strongly encourage the ASEAN Member States to seize this opportunity as we transform the region into a robust and resilient digital economy, guided by the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.”
The AI Opportunity Southeast Asia Forum was co-organised by the ASEAN Foundation and Google, with the goal of connecting regional stakeholders to drive discussions and develop recommendations for AI policies and regulations suited for ASEAN adoption. The forum was opened by remarks from Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google, and H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN.
Further Reading
(3) ASEAN Digital Literacy Programme
(4) The ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement: Uniting or Dividing? (The S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, RSIS)