Bangkok has hit the brakes on new data centre licences, with governor Chadchart Sittipunt citing unresolved regulatory gaps around power, water, and fuel storage. While officials say the roughly 30–40 facilities already operating haven't strained city resources, unpermitted projects and safety concerns — including fuel stockpiling near residential areas — have pushed authorities to pause approvals until updated rules are in place. Major players like Damac Digital and KDDI-owned Telehouse remain among the projects already cleared.

Pemerintah mengingatkan perusahaan agar tidak menjadikan PHK massal sebagai jalan pintas efisiensi saat menerapkan kecerdasan artifisial. Melalui pendekatan human-centric transformation, pemanfaatan AI harus difokuskan pada reskilling dan upskilling tenaga kerja untuk meningkatkan produktivitas serta menciptakan nilai ekonomi baru di Indonesia.

Pemerintah menargetkan lonjakan kapasitas data center Indonesia dari 180 MW menjadi 1,3 GW. Langkah strategis ini disiapkan untuk menopang ekosistem AI dan transformasi digital, sekaligus mendorong pertumbuhan ekonomi nasional hingga 15% pada 2035. Penguatan infrastruktur fisik ini juga berfokus pada penggunaan energi bersih serta pengembangan kualitas talenta digital lokal.

Driven by global AI infrastructure expansion, robust order books, and accelerating semiconductor demand, Malaysia’s technology sector is set for a sustained bull run extending into FY27.

Vietnam is shifting from adopting foreign AI to building its own sovereign ecosystem. By advancing domestic models, high-performance infrastructure, localized data, and top-tier talent, the country aims to establish AI as a core driver of its digital economy and state governance.

As autonomous agentic AI enters Indonesia’s financial sector, Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Nezar Patria highlights the urgent need for robust regulatory frameworks, human oversight, and cross-agency collaboration to protect consumers and mitigate risk.

The Marcos administration has secured a $600-million grant from the United States to boost the Philippine healthcare system. Facilitated through the Strategic Objective Agreement, the funding will enhance disease surveillance, strengthen outbreak responses, and support key programs for HIV, tuberculosis, and maternal health without adding to the nation's debt.

Kelantan has surpassed Malaysia's 2026 national 5G target, reaching 87% network coverage in populated areas — ahead of the 80% goal. The milestone is backed by federal funding, including RM770 million for digital infrastructure near industrial zones and schools, and RM780 million under JENDELA Phase 2 to connect 2,700 new locations, as the state works to close the urban-rural digital divide.

Thailand's foreign business approvals climbed 26% to 736 companies in the first seven months of 2026, with total investment jumping 37% to THB219.2 billion. Singapore led by investment value, driven largely by data centre and digital services projects, while the Eastern Economic Corridor pulled in nearly 40% of all foreign investment capital — reinforcing Thailand's push to become a regional digital and AI hub.

Indonesia is targeting nationwide 5G coverage by 2029 to underpin its AI-driven digital economy, leveraging an existing fiber-optic backbone of over one million kilometers, including inter-island submarine cable systems. The push is prompting telecom operators to shift beyond basic connectivity toward AI cloud integration, high-performance computing, and IoT services — positioning the network as core infrastructure rather than just a communications utility.

Vietnam is mobilizing AI talent at home and abroad through a new global expert network and an ambitious national training program. The plan targets AI literacy for 80% of students, training for 10 million laborers, and development of 10,000 highly qualified AI researchers by 2030 — positioning Vietnam to master and apply strategic AI technologies rather than merely adopt them.

Thailand is embedding AI into government operations through three strategic pillars: data sovereignty via the homegrown Pathumma AI model, cost reduction through automation, and evidence-based policymaking using agentic AI. With 7,600 regulations under review and a leaner civil service on the horizon, Thailand aims to climb the UN E-Government Development Index from 52nd to 40th by 2032.

Maraknya aksi kejahatan siber berbasis komplotan di era perkembangan AI mendorong OJK memperketat pengawasan industri perbankan. Kepala Eksekutif Pengawas Perbankan OJK, Dian Ediana Rae, menegaskan pentingnya perbankan menguatkan mitigasi risiko, mitigasi fraud, serta menerapkan prinsip responsible & trustworthy AI demi menjaga keamanan data dan kepercayaan nasabah.

Kemajuan teknologi AI kini memudahkan siapa saja untuk melancarkan serangan siber yang terarah dan adaptif di sektor perbankan. Merespons ancaman ini, Badan Siber dan Sandi Negara (BSSN) mendorong kewajiban pembentukan Tim Tanggap Insiden Siber (TTIS) bagi seluruh pelaku industri keuangan.

Indonesia is charting a path from AI consumer to global AI contender. Deputy Minister Nezar Patria outlined a "full stack" strategy spanning energy, infrastructure, chips, talent, and applications — leveraging critical minerals for semiconductor supply chains while fast-tracking AI applications in health, agriculture, and education through post-trained open-source models.

The Hanoi People's Committee has issued Decision No. 3994/QD-UBND, launching a new regulatory sandbox covering AI, IoT, semiconductors, robotics, quantum technology, cloud computing, 5G, and blockchain. The mechanism lets companies, startups, and research institutes legally test emerging technologies in real-world conditions, with liability protection during testing. It implements Vietnam's Resolution 57-NQ/TW, which prioritizes strategic technologies to accelerate the country's digital economy. The Hanoi Department of Science and Technology will coordinate implementation and update the priority list as new technologies emerge.